Spa Skin Treatments

Types of Spas

There are several different types of spas, all offering skin treatments. Spas offer services based upon the skills and certifications of their staff and the licenses obtained by the facility. Understanding the types of spas will help you understand your spa skin treatment options.

Day Spa

A day spa is the ideal place for a day of rest and relaxation. These spas offer treatments a la carte or full packages. A visit at a day spa can last an hour or two or the entire day, but it is never overnight. Traditional day spas employ massage therapists and licensed estheticians. These spas are not allowed by law to offer deep-skin treatments, laser treatments, or invasive procedures.

Destination Spa

Spa resorts are a vacation unto themselves. These high-end facilities can be located in remote locations for a back-to-nature simplicity, but many are located in the middle of high speed cities like New York. These spas offer an opportunity to escape from the real world, either overnight, for the weekend, or for several weeks. Fitness and diet programs are often included and skin treatments are usually luxurious rather than medical.

Medical Spa

Medical spas, or med spas, are a unique combination of healthcare and luxury. They are operated under a physician's watch. At some facilities, the physician is the one performing the procedures; in others, the doctor simply supervises. Regulations and guidelines vary by state. Most med spas do offer traditional spa treatments. However, since these spas are classified as medical facilities, they are also able to offer much more intensive and invasive procedures than regular spas. A medical spa is usually a day spa, but some destination spas are also medically supervised.

Traditional Skin Treatments

Basic spa treatments can be performed at any type of spa location. These include:

• Facials. A facial is a deep cleansing of the skin. A good facial should leave the skin soft, clean, hydrated, and free of blackheads and other impurities.
• Facial Mask. This facial treatment involves placing some type of concoction on the face and leaving to allow it to dry. Masks can be made of algae, seaweed, mud, or any number of materials. After the mask is removed, the skin should feel tighter and smoother. Depending on skin type and mask chosen, a facial mask may also exfoliate, hydrate, or treat acne.
• Body Scrub. The body scrub is an exfoliating treatment, designed to remove dead skin. There are many different types of body scrubs, all using different oils, vitamins, and salts, but the basic goal is the same: soft, smooth, hydrated skin.
• Body Mask. A body mask is exactly like a facial mask, except it is used on the entire body. Body masks are usually used for exfoliation.
• Body Wrap. There are different types of body wraps, with completely different goals. Some wraps are intended to detox the body; others promise to quickly remove pounds and inches. Either way, the procedure is the same: your body will be covered in a liquid, cream, or mud and then tightly wrapped. Be aware that any weight lost in a body wrap will be water weight, so the results are short-lived. Still, if you have the money to spare and you need to fit in a special outfit, a body wrap can help.

In addition, most spas also offer a variety of massages, pedicures, and manicures.

Medical Spa Skin Treatments

Since medical spas employ on-site doctors, they are able to offer much more intensive procedures. Keep in mind that some of these procedures are painful and requiring recovery times. Make sure that your chosen facility is actually licensed to offer the service. In addition, make sure the person performing the procedure is qualified. Med spa procedures include:

• Dermabrasion. In dermabrasion, the surface of the skin is sanded away to reveal new skin underneath. The procedure requires general anestesia, and recovery time lasts several months.
• Chemical Peels. A chemical peel uses a chemical-based solution to burn away the top layers of skin, revealing youthful new skin. Chemical peels can be light, medium, or deep depending on the physician's credentials, the chemicals used, and the treatment selected. Deep chemical peels are very painful, require anesthesia, and require a lengthy recovery time.
• Botox. Botox is an injectible form of the bacteria, clostridium botulinum. When placed in a person's face, it temporarily makes the muscles unable to contract, thus smoothing wrinkles.
• Photo Rejuvenation. For photo rejuvenation, the practioner uses lasers to smooth away wrinkles, fine lines, age spots, and other skin conditions.

Many med spas also perform tattoo removal and laser hair removal.