%Start What Is a HydraFacial? How It Works, Benefits & Risks Everyday Health MenuNewslettersSearch Dermatology 101
What Is a HydraFacial How It Works Benefits Risks and Where to Get One
By Jessica MigalaMedically Reviewed by Shenara Austin Sexton, MDReviewed: January 13, 2022Medically ReviewedThe HydraFacial exfoliates and infuses skin with serums.iStockEveryone wants smooth, bright, and youthful-looking skin.
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Sebastian Silva Member
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Friday, 02 May 2025
Instead of spending a fortune on oils, creams, essences, and serums in a multistep skin-care routine, you may be able to achieve a natural glow with a facial that some say is rising in popularity. Proponents of the trendy treatment, called the HydraFacial, bill it as a way to pursue and maintain long-term skin health, which makes it more than your typical spa treatment.
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Ava White Moderator
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Friday, 02 May 2025
According to the HydraFacial website, a HydraFacial is performed every 15 seconds, and it is currently available in more than 80 countries, including the United States. “The HydraFacial is a multistep facial treatment typically performed with a proprietary machine (HydraFacial MD) manufactured by Edge Systems. In one session, aestheticians can use the HydraFacial [device] to cleanse, exfoliate, extract, and deliver a variety of rejuvenating serums,” explains Glen Crawford, MD, of Schweiger Dermatology Group in Philadelphia.
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Daniel Kumar 1 minutes ago
It’s become an in-demand service because it creates an instant “wow factor” in terms of bright...
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Grace Liu 4 minutes ago
RELATED: The Skin-Care Glossary Every Woman Needs
How Does a HydraFacial Work Exactly
The HydraFac...
It’s become an in-demand service because it creates an instant “wow factor” in terms of brightening and firming skin, says Sarah Akram, master aesthetician at Sarah Akram Skincare in Alexandria, Virginia. People can get the treatment before a big event or regularly to maintain skin health, she adds.
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Julia Zhang 7 minutes ago
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How Does a HydraFacial Work Exactly
The HydraFac...
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Scarlett Brown Member
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RELATED: The Skin-Care Glossary Every Woman Needs
How Does a HydraFacial Work Exactly
The HydraFacial is similar to another treatment called microdermabrasion, says Akram. Microdermabrasion uses a “mildly abrasive instrument to gently sand your skin, removing the thicker, uneven outer layer,” according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
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Dylan Patel 10 minutes ago
That said, it’s not exactly microdermabrasion, and some people say it’s far better. “The [Hydr...
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Liam Wilson 9 minutes ago
After skin is exfoliated, serums are infused into the skin, she says. That last step is the key reas...
That said, it’s not exactly microdermabrasion, and some people say it’s far better. “The [HydraFacial] device uses an exfoliating tip paired with suction to remove dead skin cells from the surface of your face,” says Akram.
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Ryan Garcia 19 minutes ago
After skin is exfoliated, serums are infused into the skin, she says. That last step is the key reas...
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Alexander Wang 23 minutes ago
There is no downtime — a common word for recovery time in dermatology — and the entire treatment...
After skin is exfoliated, serums are infused into the skin, she says. That last step is the key reason proponents say it’s so effective. There are three steps in the HydraFacial treatment, according to the company.
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Grace Liu 16 minutes ago
There is no downtime — a common word for recovery time in dermatology — and the entire treatment...
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Elijah Patel 17 minutes ago
“Exfoliation is the process of removing dead skin cells from the outer layer of the skin. It has l...
There is no downtime — a common word for recovery time in dermatology — and the entire treatment can be done in as little as 30 minutes. Here are the three steps involved in a HydraFacial:
Cleanse and Peel
This is the resurfacing step, when skin is exfoliated.
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Elijah Patel 28 minutes ago
“Exfoliation is the process of removing dead skin cells from the outer layer of the skin. It has l...
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Aria Nguyen Member
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“Exfoliation is the process of removing dead skin cells from the outer layer of the skin. It has long been known to have beneficial skin effects, including leaving the skin looking brighter, unclogging pores, and — with long-term use — increasing collagen production,” says Dr.
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Oliver Taylor 6 minutes ago
Crawford. This is all done in the HydraFacial with the HydraFacial tip....
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Zoe Mueller 6 minutes ago
This “generates a fluid vortex over the skin that gently dislodges impurities and dead skin cells,...
This “generates a fluid vortex over the skin that gently dislodges impurities and dead skin cells,” says Crawford. Extract and Hydrate
The tip gets gunk out of pores and delivers topical moisturizers simultaneously. Infuse and Protect
Your treatment will finish with “boosters,” or serums.
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Natalie Lopez 20 minutes ago
These are geared toward your skin goal, which may include reducing the appearance of hyperpigmentati...
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Charlotte Lee 20 minutes ago
DiamondGlow Dermalinfusion is another such treatment that purports to exfoliate, extract, and infuse...
These are geared toward your skin goal, which may include reducing the appearance of hyperpigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles, dull skin, or enlarged pores. The treatment is entirely customizable through these “boost” serums, which is a major perk for patients. As an alternative, there is the Geneo Super-Facial, another three-step facial that combines exfoliation and active topicals.
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Liam Wilson 38 minutes ago
DiamondGlow Dermalinfusion is another such treatment that purports to exfoliate, extract, and infuse...
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Kevin Wang 17 minutes ago
Ask your dermatologist or aesthetician which treatment is best for you, and which ones they offer. R...
DiamondGlow Dermalinfusion is another such treatment that purports to exfoliate, extract, and infuse for radiant and rejuvenated skin. The premise behind all of these is similar — exfoliation and an infusion of serums — but the patented technology differs.
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Ella Rodriguez 43 minutes ago
Ask your dermatologist or aesthetician which treatment is best for you, and which ones they offer. R...
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Ethan Thomas 21 minutes ago
While that’s certainly not a guarantee, there are some important complexion perks. Along with exfo...
Ask your dermatologist or aesthetician which treatment is best for you, and which ones they offer. RELATED: 5 Bedtime Skin-Care Mistakes to Avoid
The Potential Benefits of Getting a HydraFacial
The company says it delivers “the best skin of your life,” which is a big promise.
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Jack Thompson 11 minutes ago
While that’s certainly not a guarantee, there are some important complexion perks. Along with exfo...
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Ethan Thomas Member
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Friday, 02 May 2025
While that’s certainly not a guarantee, there are some important complexion perks. Along with exfoliation, the device delivers active ingredients into the skin, says Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. “Depending on the specific active [ingredients] used in the HydraFacial, the treatment can improve hydration, radiance, and even skin texture and pore size,” he says.
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Thomas Anderson Member
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The company uses their own serums but has also partnered with companies like Alastin Skincare, ZO Skin Health, and HydroPeptide to offer a wider range of choices. (What will be best for you is a conversation to have with your dermatologist or aesthetician.)
There is some older research to suggest the premise is effective, though designated research on HydraFacial itself does not exist. A small past study on 20 female participants ages 34 to 65 looked at the benefits of hydradermabrasion.
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Amelia Singh 2 minutes ago
This is a treatment that combines microdermabrasion with antioxidant serums, and it is similar to th...
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Ava White 19 minutes ago
Another group received the antioxidant serum only, which was smoothed on the skin by hand every week...
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Hannah Kim Member
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This is a treatment that combines microdermabrasion with antioxidant serums, and it is similar to the HydraFacial, but this study was not done on the HydraFacial treatment itself. In the study, one group received six treatments, each about a week apart.
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Sofia Garcia 14 minutes ago
Another group received the antioxidant serum only, which was smoothed on the skin by hand every week...
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Jack Thompson Member
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Another group received the antioxidant serum only, which was smoothed on the skin by hand every week. Researchers measured the results via photos, skin biopsies, and antioxidant levels in the skin.
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Ava White 64 minutes ago
At the end of the study, only the hydradermabrasion group had increased thickness in the outer layer...
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At the end of the study, only the hydradermabrasion group had increased thickness in the outer layer of skin and the papillary layer (which contains collagen), and increased antioxidant levels. In terms of appearance, that all equaled fewer fine lines, more cinched pores, and a more even skin tone.
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Nathan Chen 26 minutes ago
Another past study published by the same author aimed to discover if microdermabrasion was indeed ma...
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Overall, the two studies found that a microdermabrasion treatment combined with topical antioxidants...
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Lucas Martinez Moderator
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Another past study published by the same author aimed to discover if microdermabrasion was indeed made better by combining it with an antioxidant serum. Each female participant received a microdermabrasion treatment, and an antioxidant-rich serum was applied to half of their face. After six weeks of weekly treatments, skin biopsies revealed that the microdermabrasion serum side had increased skin thickness and fibroblast density (fibroblasts make collagen, per the National Cancer Institute), and antioxidant levels increased by 32 percent.
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Mia Anderson 44 minutes ago
Overall, the two studies found that a microdermabrasion treatment combined with topical antioxidants...
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RELATED: Can Sipping Bone Broth Make You Look Younger? Who Should Not Get a HydraFacial and Why
The ...
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Ella Rodriguez Member
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Overall, the two studies found that a microdermabrasion treatment combined with topical antioxidants (similar to what you’d find in the HydraFacial) was more effective than each on their own. A HydraFacial essentially combines a microdermabrasion-like treatment with an infusion of serums. This is delivered through their patented technology and device.
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RELATED: Can Sipping Bone Broth Make You Look Younger? Who Should Not Get a HydraFacial and Why
The ...
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Pregnant women should also skip it. “Some of the ingredients used during the HydraFacial, such as ...
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RELATED: Can Sipping Bone Broth Make You Look Younger? Who Should Not Get a HydraFacial and Why
The HydraFacial is appropriate for all skin types, according to the company. But you should avoid a HydraFacial if you have an active rash, sunburn, or moderate to severe acne or rosacea, says Gretchen Frieling, MD, board certified dermatopathologist in Wellesley, Massachusetts.
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Pregnant women should also skip it. “Some of the ingredients used during the HydraFacial, such as ...
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Pregnant women should also skip it. “Some of the ingredients used during the HydraFacial, such as salicylic acid, haven’t been tested and proven safe during pregnancy,” she says. That said, there’s some controversy on this — the American Academy of Dermatology says salicylic acid may be safe to use for a limited time during pregnancy.
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The takeaway: Check with your obstetrician or dermatologist before getting a HydraFacial while pregnant. Another thing to take into consideration: You may have to tweak your normal skin-care routine before your appointment. “We recommend you stop using prescription creams for a few days before the treatment to avoid irritation,” says Akram.
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How Much Does It Cost to Get a HydraFacial and Who Performs Them
You can safely get a HydraFacial f...
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RELATED: 10 Things Your Skin Is Trying to Tell You — and How to Respond
One Last Thing About Hydr...
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How Much Does It Cost to Get a HydraFacial and Who Performs Them
You can safely get a HydraFacial from a trained aesthetician or dermatologist. Prices will vary based on location and specific practice, but as an example, a 45-minute HydraFacial at Sarah Akram Skincare is $185.
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RELATED: 10 Things Your Skin Is Trying to Tell You — and How to Respond
One Last Thing About HydraFacials
The HydraFacial is a treatment that is suitable for all skin tones and requires no downtime. In fact, your complexion will likely look better walking out the door. “Many patients report seeing visible skin refinement and an even, radiant skin tone after just one treatment,” says Dr.
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What Is a HydraFacial? How It Works, Benefits & Risks Everyday Health MenuNewslettersSe...