Today, there is a growing interest in natural skin treatments like PRP facials for acne scars. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is a form of regenerative therapy that can be used for acne scars and other facial issues caused by damaged skin. It uses a client's blood and then separates platelets from that blood before injecting the solution back into the face.
It is an increasingly popular treatment for healing, and this article will explore the science behind PRP facials, the expected results, benefits, and essential aftercare tips.
Understanding PRP Facial Therapy for Acne Scars
In order to understand the benefits of PRP facial therapy for acne scars, you need to know how plasma and platelets work.
What is PRP Facial?
A PRP facial takes blood from an individual, separates the platelets, and then mixes them into a blood plasma base to inject them into the face, specifically around areas that are dealing with severe acne scars.
This concentrated injection can help expedite skin healing, doing away with scars, inflammation, and redness associated with acne.
Science Behind PRP and Skin Healing
Plasma is the liquid part of your blood, made up of proteins and water. It is also where red and white blood cells and platelets tend to be. Platelets are the cells required for healing, growth, and clotting.
After blood is taken from your body, it gets separated into those components so that the platelets can be concentrated. Under normal circumstances, you only have a limited number of platelets in your blood at any given time, but with PRP facial treatments, your platelets get concentrated into a mixture where they are between 2 and 8 times their normal amount. This higher concentration means between 2 and 8 times the normal healing and growth processes.
By injecting concentrated platelets, the body's natural healing and growth processes are improved, so new repairing cells get released, new collagen is stimulated, and acne scars are reduced.
PRP Facial Benefits for Acne Scars
Increased research has been done on the benefits of PRP facial treatments for acne scars. This type of substance stimulates natural growth processes as well as collagen production. All of this encourages the body's natural healing, which can remove and repair acne scars that might otherwise be permanent.
Here's what the science has shown:
- One study found that receiving three monthly sessions of PRP facials and a final assessment 3 and 6 months later, individuals had fewer acne scars.
- Another study confirmed that PRP facials increased collagen density and the elastic fibers of the facial skin, which helped to improve overall appearance.
- Research out of Egypt found that the increase in collagen production helped patients reduce the visibility of acne scars.
- More work concluded that PRP facials administered at intervals of 3 weeks significantly improved the severity of scars on the face and also helped to minimize fine lines, pore sizes, and wrinkles.
Additional research has reviewed the efficacy for long-term improvement, revealing that three sequential sessions spaced 4 weeks apart can significantly improve the appearance of acne scars, leading to higher life satisfaction in individuals.
PRP Facial Before and After Expected Results
If you are interested in PRP facial before and after scenarios, you need to know what to do after PRP facial treatments and have a deep understanding of what realistic expectations should be.
Immediate vs. Long-Term Results
PRP facial benefits come in the immediate and long term. Immediately after the procedure, you will experience some minor irritation, redness, and discomfort. it might even look like you have a moderate sunburn on your face. For the first two days, you might notice light scabs forming, but this is when your skin is actually healing from the procedure itself.
It will take several weeks before you start to notice improvement and several months before optimal improvement is achieved. Moreover, many people undergo a minimum of three treatments spaced 4 weeks apart in order to achieve long-term results. This means your full results won't be achieved until the end of this time frame.
Realistic Expectations
Care after PRP facial procedures is essential, but it is also important to have realistic expectations. This procedure does not immediately provide improvement for acne scars or other facial issues because it takes time for the platelets to encourage the production of new collagen and, as a result, to heal the skin.
Before and After Case Examples
The PRP facial before and after is important, too.
Right after the procedure, it might look like you have a sunburn, but after a few days, the swelling and bruising will start to go down. The redness should disappear after the first week, and your skin should start to feel softer. The full effects are noticeable within the first few weeks, with your skin showing fewer lines, wrinkles, and acne scars.
Realistically, these results last anywhere between 6 months and 12 months, so how frequently you need to get a PRP facial is based on what it is you are trying to improve. Acne scars might be alleviated, but aging signs like wrinkles and fine lines could eventually come back.
Essential Aftercare for PRP Facial
When you have a PRP facial, you might be asking about what to do after PRP facial treatments and how to optimize results. Rest assured that any treatment center providing these services will give you a detailed list of how to care for yourself and your skin after your facial.
What to Do After PRP Facial
Immediately after, it is important that you use clean linens during your recovery and follow instructions for when and how you can touch the area or clean the area. It is normal for light scabs to form, but you should keep these regions moisturized instead of scratching them.
Care After PRP Facial
As you continue to care for yourself, you can start to use a gentle cleanser and moisturizer, returning to your regular skincare routine after the first few days. your skin will feel a little dry after day three, at which point you can return to your regular skin care products and wear makeup.
The optimal results will begin to take effect after the first few weeks when new collagen forms, but it's important to remain patient as full results can take up to 3 months.
Do's and Don'ts for Optimal Results
Below are some general do's and don't to achieve optimal results:
- Do not go swimming for a minimum of 24 hours after your procedure
- Avoid exposure to direct sunlight or excessive heat for three days before the treatment and 10 days after
- Avoid alcohol-based toners for 14 days after your procedure
- Do not wear sunscreen or makeup for 12 hours after your treatment
- You can wash your face 6 hours after the treatment, but only with tepid water to remove any dried blood or serum
- Avoid using lotions or creams on your face for at least 6 hours after the facial
- Avoid medications that are anti-inflammatory in nature (like ibuprofen aspirin) as these interfere with the natural inflammation of the PRP facial.
Final Thoughts on PRP Facial for Acne Scars
Overall, PRP has great potential for reducing acne scars, with many other benefits, like improving your collagen production and alleviating signs of aging. It is important to understand that expected results don't manifest for a few weeks after the treatment, with optimum results appearing after your full recommended treatment plan. Aftercare plays an important role in this process, too.
Always consult with a skincare specialist to determine if PRP facial therapy is suitable for your needs, especially for acne scar reduction.
