Skin treatments at a glance
Skin treatments are the services on a med spa menu that work on the skin itself, apart from injectables and hair removal. The usual group is facials, chemical peels, microneedling and light-based treatments such as intense pulsed light. Some are gentle and quick. Others are more involved and come with aftercare instructions. Strength, depth and the device used all vary. A licensed provider decides what is suitable for you after asking about your skin and health. This site passes your consultation request to a provider in or near Chicago.
Who does the treatment, and under what rules
Depending on the treatment and on Illinois rules, skin treatments may be done by an esthetician, a nurse, a physician assistant, a nurse practitioner or a physician. Rules on who may do deeper peels, microneedling or light-based treatments differ from state to state, and some require a supervising physician.
It is reasonable to ask who will do your treatment, what license they hold, and who oversees them. You can also ask how they decide if a treatment is suitable for your skin, and what happens if you have a reaction afterward. A licensed provider should be able to answer all of these plainly.
Preparing questions about cost and visits
Price and timing questions are easier to ask when you have them written down. Cost is set by each provider, so ask for it at the consultation. Useful questions to note:
- How many visits do people usually have for this, and how far apart?
- Is the consultation itself charged?
- What does aftercare involve, and what products would I need?
- Are there times of year when this treatment is less suitable?
- What happens if I need to reschedule?
Add notes on your skin, health and medicines, and you will have most of what the provider needs.
Questions about skin treatments
What is microneedling?
Microneedling uses a handheld device with very fine needles to make tiny punctures in the outer layer of the skin. A numbing cream is often applied first, and some providers pair it with a topical product. Who may perform it depends on state rules. A licensed provider decides whether it is suitable for you.
Do my medicines matter?
Yes. Some medicines make skin more sensitive, including acne medicine taken by mouth, vitamin A creams and some antibiotics. Bring a full list, including supplements, to your consultation. Do not stop a prescribed medicine to prepare for a treatment unless the person who prescribed it agrees.
Should I avoid the sun before a skin treatment?
Many providers ask you to avoid tanning, sunburn and self-tanner before peels and light-based treatments, since recent sun can change what they are willing to do. Ask the office for its own instructions before your visit, and mention any recent sun at the consultation.
A licensed provider decides what is suitable for you. Send a request to begin that conversation.
Request a consultMore consultation topics
Injectables
Rules on who can give injectables are set by Illinois. A consultation with a licensed provider comes first.
Laser hair removal consults
General notes on how laser hair removal works and the questions worth asking a provider first.
Body treatments
Non-surgical body treatments such as body contouring. Ask a local provider what a treatment involves and whether it may suit you.