KOR
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CHNPost-procedure care
My skin feels dry and tight after a procedure. How should I care for it?
After washing your face, the skin feels very tight, and even when you apply moisturizer it soon feels rough again. When this happens after a procedure, you may wonder whether something has gone wrong.
After a procedure, the skin barrier may become temporarily sensitive and may not hold moisture well. This article goes through, in order, why this happens and what helps and what is better to pause.
Why does my skin become dry after a procedure?
When the skin receives heat or physical stimulation from a procedure, the barrier of the outer layer may become temporarily weaker. When the barrier is weaker, moisture escapes easily, which can cause a dry, tight feeling.
How dry the skin gets depends on the type of procedure, the season, the indoor environment, and your usual skin type. Even after the same procedure, some people notice it more clearly in dry seasons.
What can I do at home?
The basics are gentle washing, sufficient moisturizing, and sun protection. It helps to wash briefly with lukewarm water and to apply moisturizer in thin layers several times, while the skin is still slightly damp after washing.
The table below is the care direction generally referred to when there is dryness right after a procedure.
| Category | Recommended direction | Better to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Washing | Lukewarm water, briefly | Hot water, rubbing |
| Moisturizing | Gentle moisturizer, applied often | Strongly scented products |
| Flaking skin | Moisturize without touching it | Scrubs, picking |
| Environment | Keep indoor humidity up | Long exposure to dry wind |
How dry is too dry to need a consultation?
If, despite steady moisturizing, stinging or itching keeps getting worse, redness spreads, the skin cracks or oozes, or there is no sense of improvement after several days, it is better to cut down the products you are using and contact the clinic.
A functional product you were using at home may have made the dryness worse, so telling the clinic which products you are using helps in finding the cause.
Frequently asked questions
Q. Can I keep using the functional cosmetics I normally use?
A. Exfoliating care or functional products that may irritate the skin are often advised to be paused until the skin has settled. When to resume depends on the type of procedure and your skin condition, so please check with the clinic.
Q. Does drinking a lot of water reduce dryness?
A. Drinking enough water is good for your health, but dryness on the surface of the skin is strongly affected by the state of the barrier, so drinking water alone often does not solve it. It is better to moisturize with products applied to the skin and to reduce irritation as well.
Q. Can I use packs or sheet masks?
A. While the skin is sensitive, packs with complex ingredients may be irritating. If you would like to use one, first check the product and the timing with the clinic where you were treated.
