What to know
- Service names and product formulations describe different things.
- Read each exfoliating product's cautions.
- Ask the treating provider about overlap and personal timing.
Separate an in-clinic service from a product
Dermaplaning is a named in-clinic exfoliation service. A home product has its own formulation, directions and cautions. Even when both are described as exfoliating, the service and the product do not become interchangeable or establish a combined regimen by themselves.
Ask the provider to explain what the booked service includes and how it differs from your existing routine. A product purchase does not determine whether dermaplaning is appropriate, and an appointment does not mean every exfoliating product should be used around the same time.
Sources: SkinMedica product information; SkinMedica product information; Chicago Medspa service information
Read the exact product label
SkinMedica's AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cream contains alpha-hydroxy and beta-hydroxy acids and is described as an exfoliating product. The AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser is a separate product. Similar ingredient language does not replace each item's directions or establish that they should be layered together.
The cleanser's manufacturer information includes a sunburn alert because its AHA content can increase sun sensitivity. That is a material product caution, not a detail to omit when discussing the product simply as a cleanser. Read the current label and ask the provider how its cautions relate to your routine.
Sources: SkinMedica product information; SkinMedica product information; Chicago Medspa service information
Ask about overlap instead of inventing timing
Bring a list of the products you actually use, including exfoliating cleansers, creams and prescribed skincare. Ask which items the clinician needs to review before the procedure and how any changes will be communicated. This guide does not assign stop dates or restart intervals.
If the plan is unclear, request written instructions naming the products and the procedure. Advice about another peel, facial or laser treatment may not apply unchanged. The useful decision is whether the selected service and routine make sense together for your skin, rather than trying to maximize the number of exfoliating steps.
Sources: SkinMedica product information; SkinMedica product information; Chicago Medspa service information
Sources and further reading
Manufacturer descriptions explain the product or technology. They do not replace an individual assessment or your provider’s instructions.