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Apparatus facial cleansing

, medical expert
Last reviewed: 06.07.2025
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Hardware facial cleansing is a procedure in which the skin is exposed to vacuum, ultrasound or galvanic current. In addition to these, laser peeling is considered a hardware procedure, which helps smooth out minor imperfections in the skin relief.

Advantages and disadvantages of hardware facial cleansing

Among the advantages of ultrasonic cleaning:

  • The skin tissue is not damaged;
  • The results of the procedure appear very quickly;
  • Ultrasonic cleaning improves local blood circulation;
  • Local immunity improves;
  • The procedure takes a maximum of 30 minutes;
  • It allows the tissues to be saturate with oxygen.

There are almost no disadvantages to this method of facial cleansing. The only downside is that you need to visit a cosmetologist constantly, at least once every 2 months.

Among the advantages of vacuum processing:

  • After such cleaning, you will not need special care for the areas that were treated;
  • under the influence of air, blood supply to tissues becomes better;
  • Thanks to this procedure, traces of acne disappear from the face;
  • rosacea disappears from the face;
  • the process of cellular metabolism is stimulated.

The disadvantages of vacuum skin cleaning are that it is a rather superficial method, compared to other hardware procedures. Such treatment does not always completely remove the keratinized skin layer. In addition, this cleaning cannot be done at home, since it requires a special device.

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Indications for the procedure

Indications for such procedures include:

  • enlarged skin pores;
  • skin turgor or decreased skin tone;
  • sebaceous plugs on the skin of the face;
  • the appearance of blackheads;
  • keratinized layer of skin.

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Preparation

Preparation for the procedure is as follows: there are 3 stages that help prepare the face for hardware treatment.

The first stage is cleansing. To improve the result, all dirt and sebaceous gland secretions must first be removed from the skin. For this, products such as foams with gels, as well as tonics and lotions, etc. are used. It should be remembered that they must be suitable for the skin type. Then the face is treated with antiseptics - this is necessary because during the cleansing process the upper layer of the skin is removed, which makes it more vulnerable to various infections.

The second stage is vaporization. The essence of this procedure is the treatment of the skin with steam - this opens the pores, softens sebaceous plugs and various impurities. In addition to the hot vaporization method, there is also an alternative procedure - special gels or masks are applied to the face, which warm up the skin. The goal of these methods is the same: to expand the pores to make the skin cleansing deep and effective.

The third stage is desincrustation or galvanic cleaning. This is one of the hardware treatment methods that helps cleanse the face and rejuvenate it. It is often used as an independent procedure.

The method is based on the principle of electrophoresis, which helps remove fat and other impurities from the skin. The procedure is carried out as follows: the face is lubricated with a soda solution (10%) or special polarizing preparations that contain substances such as potassium with aloe extract, as well as magnesium ions. After this, treatment is carried out using direct electric current. Under its influence, electrolyte solutions are converted into active alkaline and acid ions. During the treatment, the concentration of alkali ions occurs at one pole, and iontophoresis moves them deep under the skin, where they interact with triglycerides. As a result of this reaction, soaps are formed - chemical compounds. They are easy to remove from the skin with plain water or by vacuum cleaning. Thanks to desincrustation, the keratinized layer of the epithelium is destroyed and removed from the face, the pores are cleaned, as well as the sebaceous and sweat ducts.

It should be noted that galvanic cleaning is not considered mandatory, sometimes it may even be contraindicated. For example, in such cases:

  • molluscum contagiosum;
  • dry seborrhea or xerosis of the skin;
  • inflammatory processes on the skin (including purulent);
  • gestosis during pregnancy;
  • damage to the integrity of the skin (cuts, scratches, abrasions or combs);
  • hemangioma or rosacea;
  • herpetic eruptions;
  • diseases in which the blood clotting process is disrupted;
  • use of a pacemaker.

Technique facial

A technique for performing hardware cleaning using a vacuum. It can be done wet or dry. In the first case, you must first apply a mask or special cleansing milk to your face - this allows you to increase the effectiveness of the treatment. The procedure is carried out using a special device that has several replaceable attachments, selected depending on the purpose for which the face is being cleaned.

The beak-shaped attachment is used to clean areas where there is increased oiliness of the skin.

The flat attachment is used to smooth out skin folds and wrinkles.

The round attachment is used to activate lymph flow through the lymphatic vessels.

The face should be treated in the direction of the sides, starting from the center. You cannot treat the same area for a long time, as this may cause a hematoma or redness to form on the skin.

Upon completion of the treatment, final procedures are performed: a light peeling is performed using soft cosmetic preparations, then a special mask is applied to the face to tighten the pores, and then the skin is moisturized.

Exclusively hardware facial cleansing lasts about 20 minutes, but due to the procedures carried out at the preparation and completion stages, the process is extended and can take a total of 1.5 hours or even more.

Hardware ultrasonic facial cleansing

Ultrasound cleaning is a method of treating the face using ultrasonic vibrations that are fed to the tip of the device, which looks like a scraper-blade. The treatment makes the skin softer, fresher, evens out the complexion and moisturizes. Since the procedure enhances lymphatic drainage and blood flow, this reduces tissue swelling. Reducing the thickness of the stratum corneum allows active substances from the upper part of the skin to more intensively penetrate into its deep layers.

Hardware facial cleansing at home

If you want to carry out the cleaning procedure yourself, you need to prepare cosmetic products in advance, which are needed for the treatment process itself, as well as for the procedures carried out before and after the cleaning session. Such a session will consist of several separate stages.

First, the skin is cleansed using a scrub or lotion with a gentle effect.

Next comes the steaming process. In this case, a phytotherapeutic herbal decoction is best suited - skin vaporization with it should be performed for at least 10 minutes.

Next comes facial cleansing, which requires a special device used at home.

After this, the skin must be treated with a disinfectant containing alcohol to prevent the possibility of infection.

Next, you need to narrow the open pores - for this, a gel or mask is applied to the skin. Alternatively, you can wipe your face using an ice cube made from a soothing herbal decoction.

Then a moisturizing cream is applied – this procedure completes the process of hardware facial cleansing at home.

Cleaning is allowed to be performed 1-3 times a month (the amount depends on how dirty the skin is). Even if irritation does not occur, cleaning should not be overused - frequent treatments can cause damage to the skin or the formation of hematomas.

Contraindications to the procedure

Contraindications to the procedures are:

  • oncological diseases;
  • pregnancy;
  • purulent process, dermatoses or inflammation in acute form;
  • cardiovascular diseases and severe acne;
  • chronic inflammation of the skin;
  • viral dermatoses (such as herpes, etc.);
  • rosacea and eczema;
  • rosacea in a state of inflammation;
  • overly sensitive or dry skin.

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Complications after the procedure

Since the treatment is carried out delicately, complications occur quite rarely. Usually they are the result of the patient ignoring contraindications or not following the rules for performing the procedure.

Bruises or bruises occur if the patient has a vascular network on the face, or if the vessels are extremely fragile. In addition, a hematoma can form if one area of the face is treated for a long time or if too much pressure is applied to it. Repeated or prolonged cleaning of one area of the face can cause tissue swelling or irritation.

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Care after the procedure

Although hardware facial cleansing is not considered a traumatic method, the skin is still exposed to aggressive influences, after which it briefly becomes hypersensitive to irritants. To protect the skin from infection and speed up the recovery process, you need to follow some important rules.

Do not use cosmetics for 12 hours after cleaning.

Avoid using aggressive substances when washing your face for 2-3 days. Instead, use a soft milk or facial foam.

If there are microdamages on the skin, disinfectant solutions should be used so that the tissue heals faster. Cold compresses also help well in this case.

In addition, when washing, you can use soothing herbal decoctions - with calendula, chamomile or sage. Another option is to add a little apple cider vinegar to the water used for washing.

After 24 hours, you can start using your usual medications again. However, it is recommended to include protective moisturizing creams in your list of everyday products, as well as medications with an antioxidant effect.

When cleansing in the summer, before going outside for the first 2-3 days, you should apply a cream containing a UV filter.

It is not permitted to use scrubs or remove exfoliating skin particles mechanically.

Skin restoration is effectively stimulated by special masks, which can be applied immediately on the day of the cleansing. Since metabolism and blood circulation become more active during the treatment, useful elements get under the skin faster, which helps with better hydration and deeper nutrition. A mask made of whipped egg whites and olive oil is considered very effective. It narrows the pores and nourishes the skin with the useful elements it needs. If the skin begins to peel as a result of the cleansing, you need to apply a mask of parsley juice and heavy cream. In addition, raw cucumbers or potatoes, or watermelon/melon pulp puree are often applied to the face.

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