My First Electrotherapy Facial (Galvanic facail)
At 35, I’m starting to seek professional help to keep my skin looking young, clear, and firm. Between YouTube and the good people at Sephora I’ve done a pretty good job, but I do have some redness and bumps that have been bothering me and so I decided it was time to step it up a notch.
Last week I got my first electrotherapy treatment at Dermaspace Seattle. Specifically, I booked the Iderm Foundational Treatment which uses a galvanic current to stimulate tissue and increase the absorption and effectiveness of the mineral and vitamin solutions they use. I didn’t really pick this treatment for any specific reason. I just needed a place to start and the promised results sounded good to me so I thought, “why not”. I’ve only had one facial before, a 30 min facial massage at a spa on Sammermaa (an Estonian island). It was nice but more of a pamper session than a “treatment”
Before I walk you through my personal experience with this treatment, let me give you some basic info about what it is and what it does. I’m not a doctor or licensed esthetician so I am lifting info from various websites and explaining to the best of my ability.
Come with me to get my first electrotherapy facial! Watch the Vlog!
What is a galvanic current?
Here is the “technical “ explanation I found.
“Galvanic current is one of the oldest forms of therapeutic electricity. The waveform is a continuous or pulsed flow of electrons. The flow of electrons in the direction of the negative pole results in electrochemical effects at the poles of the circuit. The electrochemical effect results in certain physiological alterations to the tissues at the site of application. Eliciting physiological changes of the tissue based upon the effects of the current is referred to as medical galvanism. This effect is harnessed for driving ionic medication into tissues in the process of iontophoresis.”
Source: http://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/biochemistry-genetics-and-molecular-biology/galvanic-current
Translation: It’s a low-frequency electrical current that helps your skin tissue do things.
What are the benefits of medical galvanism?
Per the Dermaspace website, this treatment is, “skin detox at its best…The absence of dirt, oil, and dead skin cells allows light to reflect, giving your skin a younger appearance. Increased circulation provides a radiant glow without makeup. Your skin also holds more moisture, so it feels softer and plumper. For rosacea sufferers, the galvanic current constricts blood vessels and soothes inflammation, thereby reducing redness. For those with acne, it helps unclog pores so that sebum (excess oil) can easily be removed…Further treatments diminish fine lines, even skin tone, and provide a clearer complexion.”
That’s a lot to promise
My Experience
I found Dermaspace via google and it’s one of the top-rated “Spas” in Seattle, for facials. I called to make an appointment and the staff was extremely friendly and helpful. It did take me about five weeks to get in, so clearly business is good for them.
When I arrived for my appointment I was introduced to my Esthetician and shown into a treatment room. The room was small but comfortable. The aesthetics of the space are about on par with the place I go for sugaring. It’s not a spa and they make note of that on their website. This is a skin treatment and while they do make it a relaxing experience…it’s not going to feel like a day at the Four Seasons.
My Esthetician was named Cora and she was fantastic! She did a great job of explaining what I should expect and talked to me about my concerns and routine. She helped me understand what my treatment options were (they have other treatments and add-ons) but she was never pushy. Cora confirmed that the redness and bumps I have on my cheeks are likely mild Rosacea and talked to me about what I could do to adjust my skincare routine and reduce my triggers. Everything she said tracked with what I have been hearing from online experts and the last dermatologist I saw.
My skin before my facial.
The treatment itself goes like this:
- The esthetician does an initial cleanse of your skin
- Your face is wrapped in cloth strips soaked in a Yuca root solution and then you lay there for eight minutes with an infrared heat doom on your face to bring dirt and impurities to the surface.
- The esthetician removes the wrap and extracts the “junk” from your pores. As far as I can tell they did not use a vacuum, but that might have been specific to me.
- The esthetician wraps your face in cloth strips soaked in a mineral and vitamin solution, puts a cloth under your back to help the electrical current flow, and straps the mask (leather) to your face.
- They let the current run for about 18 minutes.
The mask and cloth are removed and any excess solution wiped from your face. - The esthetician then rubs some serums and moisturizers into your skin and uses warm stones to give you a bit of a massage. This was by far my FAVORITE part.
And that’s it! You look like “a glazed doughnut” and go your merry way. They do sell products if you want them and can make other recommendations if needed. Dermaspace does recommend a few treatments in quick succession for the first few and then you can go longer in between to keep your skin clean and toned.
My Thoughts On The Treatment
Cora noted that my skin was very velar and that I didn’t have much to extract. While this is good, it does mean that I didn’t notice a big difference in the “clarity” of my skin. Someone who suffers from acne or has clogged pores might see more immediate results.
As I noted, I do have mild rosacea and the impact of this treatment on my redness and bumps may take a few sessions to see. It might not even be very noticeable to me since I do have poor vision and because it is mild. I did see some extra redness in the first day or two after, but that’s expected, and it is more important to take note of the skin a week or so after treatment.
Results
Row 1 = the day after, Row 2 = two days after. Row 3 = a week after.
I did book a second treatment for five weeks after my first session. I am not convinced this is something I really need to be spending my money on, but I’ll do three or so sessions before I decide. The treatments do cost about $135, which is not cheap but far from the most expensive thing you can do.
While my judgment on the treatment itself is TBD, I really liked the staff at Dermaspace and would rate my first experience a 10/10. If I do see noticeable results, I will be singing their praises to everyone I know.
What do you think? Did the treatment help my rosacea? What treatments do you do and which ones would you recommend to others? Do you have any questions I can answer about
Thanks for reading!
Rainy Day Rags 