First 48 Hours After Facial and Microdermabrasion: ADVANCED ACNE FACIAL DETAILED EXTRACTIONS
By Glow Skin Care | August 17, 2026
Downtown Santa Rosa, near the Railroad Square historic district
A client told me after her visit that her face looked better than facials she’d had at Medi Spas and five-star resorts. To protect that kind of result after an ADVANCED ACNE FACIAL DETAILED EXTRACTIONS, the single most important rule for the first 48 hours is simple: hands off. No picking, no squeezing, no “just this one.” Keep your skin clean, calm, and protected, and you’ll usually heal faster with less redness.
0–24 Hours: hands-off, no sweat, and keep it light
Right after extractions, your pores have been cleared and your skin is doing what it should: calming down. In Santa Rosa’s Mediterranean climate, that means you’ll want to avoid the two biggest troublemakers right away: heat and friction.
Quick rules for today: Skip makeup, skip heavy oils, skip the gym, and don’t touch your face unless you’re cleansing.
Cleanse once, gently
I generally recommend a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser and lukewarm water the evening of your facial. Pat dry with a clean towel. No scrubby washcloths. If you’re commuting through Downtown Santa Rosa, Railroad Square, or Courthouse Square and you’ve been outside in wind, heat, or wildfire smoke, rinse and cleanse sooner rather than later. Smoke and sweat can irritate healing skin.
Moisturize and protect
Use a non-comedogenic calming moisturizer. If you’re going outdoors, apply SPF. Even a short walk in the sun can keep redness hanging around longer than it needs to.
24–72 Hours: the “don’t undo your extractions” window
This is when people feel better and accidentally overdo it. I get it. A lot of my clients leave feeling “literally glowing, ” and it’s tempting to jump right back into strong products. But the skin barrier is still settling.
Hands-off still applies: picking and DIY extractions are the fastest way to turn a small bump into a scab, a scar, or an inflamed breakout.
What to avoid (for at least 72 hours)
- Retinoids (including tretinoin), retinol, and strong exfoliating acids
- Scrubs, cleansing brushes, microderm-at-home tools, and anything abrasive
- Saunas, hot yoga, steam rooms, and strenuous exercise that makes you sweat a lot
- Pools and hot tubs (bacteria and chemicals are not your friends while healing)
- Heavy occlusive oils if you’re acne-prone
If you’re coming in from Rohnert Park, Cotati, Windsor, Sebastopol, Sonoma, or Petaluma, treat those first couple days like a simple reset. You don’t need a 10-step routine to get great results. You need consistency.
Days 3–7: when to bring back actives (and when to wait)
By day three, most people are ready to return to a more normal routine, but I still like to keep it thoughtful. I’ve had clients tell me their skin feels “so clean, exfoliated, hydrated, and glowy” after seeing us, and the goal is to keep that feeling without triggering irritation.
A simple reintroduction plan
I generally recommend waiting at least 72 hours before retinol or tretinoin. Then reintroduce slowly, usually every other night at first, and only if your skin feels calm. If you’re still tender, flaky, or noticeably red, wait a few more days. It’s not a race.
Heads up: A small “purge-y” moment can happen after extractions, especially if you had congested pores. A couple of small bumps that come to the surface is usually different than a hot, painful breakout that keeps spreading.
If you booked because you were searching for facials near me, this is the part that keeps your results looking like you just left the studio, not like you fought your skincare all week.
The aftercare routine I want you doing in 3 minutes
Your ADVANCED ACNE FACIAL DETAILED EXTRACTIONS includes deep pore cleansing, enzymes, focused extractions, LED to reduce bacteria and inflammation, and finishing steps like moisturizer and SPF. At home, I want your routine to match that same “calm and consistent” approach.
AM
- Gentle cleanse (or a rinse if you’re very dry and not oily)
- Light, non-comedogenic moisturizer
- Sunscreen when exposed to daylight, even on overcast Santa Rosa mornings
PM
- Gentle cleanse with lukewarm water
- Calming moisturizer
- Actives only after 72 hours, and only if your skin feels stable
Curious about the difference between classic options and acne-focused work? You can read our classic facials in Downtown Santa Rosa and compare what fits your skin best.
Red flags vs normal healing: when I want you to reach out
A little redness, mild tenderness, and tiny scabs in a few extraction spots can be normal in the first couple days. What I don’t want you doing is guessing if something feels off. One of our regulars put it best:
“They don’t just do a treatment and send you home, they think about what your skin actually needs and build on it over time.”
One of our long-time clients
Reach out promptly if you notice:
- Increasing pain or heat in one area
- Redness that’s spreading instead of settling
- Pus, yellow crusting that worsens, or anything that looks infected
- Fever or feeling unwell
If you’re planning ongoing acne work, I also recommend reading what to expect from your first ADVANCED ACNE FACIAL DETAILED EXTRACTIONS and the benefits of our advanced acne facial. And if you have a question after your visit in the Railroad Square historic district, call or email me. I’d rather you check in early than worry at home.
Glow Skin Care | 858 2ND St., Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Call: +17075297086 | Email: umakemeglow@gmail.com