What Could Go Wrong With a HydraFacial, and Why? | Dr Hala
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  • Writer's pictureAli Rislan

What Could Go Wrong With a HydraFacial, and Why?

Updated: Jan 15

Have you ever thought about what could possibly go wrong with a skin treatment such as HydraFacial? Or maybe you're wondering if anything could go wrong at all?

A woman looking at a reaction on her skin in a mirror

We could sit here and sing the praises about how amazing the HydraFacial is, and we really do believe it is amazing, but the fact of the matter is that unfavourable outcomes can happen. While they are very rare with HydraFacial, it's best to know about them. In this article, you'll learn what could go wrong with a HydraFacial and we promise that by the end you'll know exactly what to expect and do if you have a rare unfavourable outcome.


What could go wrong with a HydraFacial?

You'll have learned a little bit about what could go wrong with a HydraFacial when reading about what to expect after a HydraFacial, but we'll go into some more detail here. Keep in mind that these adverse reactions are very rare, but here's what could happen:

Skin Treatment | An allergic reaction on a woman's cheek
  • Itchy and red rashy skin which may be sensitive to touch.

  • Tight skin which may also be sensitive to touch.

  • Puffiness and swelling.

  • Stinging and painful skin that feels dry and sensitive.



You may be tempted to consider minor breakouts after a HydraFacial to be an adverse reaction, but actually, it's totally normal. If you're treating congested skin you could have slight breakouts after most treatments, but once you deal with them and continue your treatment plan this should happen less and less.


What Can Cause This?

After reading the symptoms list of a bad outcome above, you might already have a good idea of what the cause is. It sounds a lot like an allergic reaction or sensitivity to an ingredient, right? It sounds like that because it likely is an allergic or sensitivity reaction. Knowing if you are allergic or sensitive to any of the ingredients can decide if HydraFacial is right for you.


The HydraFacial is such a gentle non-abrasive treatment that it's not likely to be directly causing adverse outcomes, but more so indirectly from one of its ingredients. With that in mind, the main ingredients that could be causing an adverse reaction are lactic acid, salicylic acid, and glycolic acid.

While these ingredients may already be present in some of your skincare, they may not be in the same amount and concentration as in a treatment.


Ultimately if you are having or have had an adverse reaction to HydraFacial treatment then it's likely that the treatment is not right for your skin. If that's the case, don't worry, there are other treatments available that could work for you instead!


How to Deal With it Best

If you have an adverse reaction to a treatment it can be so tempting to try and fix it yourself. This could be putting on a calming cream or mask, washing your face, or any other home remedy. But, and we can't stress this enough, you should not try to remedy an adverse reaction by yourself at home. Instead, you should:


1. Contact your practitioner and explain to them what's happening with your skin. At this point, it would be great to send them photos or set up a video call to show them. They'll assess the situation and recommend the next steps. This could be a visit to the clinic for a calming procedure such as an LED light facial, or it could be advice on what to do at home.


2. Follow your practitioner's advice, don't deviate from their guidelines in favour of another home remedy you might know about.

A close up of someone meditating to stay calm sitting cross legged

3. Try to be as calm and patient as possible. It's a bit of an oxymoron really, "try to stay calm", but in truth, it will help you with dealing with the adverse reaction. Just remember that your skin can return to normal, it may just take a bit of time. Give your skin between 1-3 weeks to recover.


4. Stay in contact with your practitioner and update them on your progress. They may recommend changes to how you're dealing with your skin at home, or they may invite you back to the clinic once more.


5. If you develop serious symptoms such as difficulty breathing or nausea and vomiting, seek medical attention.


If you're having an adverse reaction to a HydraFacial, or another treatment or product, keep these guidelines in mind. You'll have a much better understanding of what's going on and how to manage the reaction, which should make the whole process much more manageable for you. But, we know that these situations can be stressful and you may want to speak to a professional. Click the button below and fill out the form to book your free consultation with Dr Hala. You'll be able to identify and manage adverse reactions using a plan with Dr Hala or learn more about possible reactions to a treatment you're considering having.






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