All the questions you never dared to ask your dermatologist

Why is it so important to cleanse your face? And is it true that you should cleanse your skin morning and night? 

Yes, it is very important! The purpose of cleansing is to remove anything that can disrupt the proper functioning of the skin: irritating particles of pollution, infectious germs, excess sebum, residues of makeup and sun protection... This is why cleansing must be done twice a day, even if you don't wear makeup. Why should you do this? To preserve the integrity of the skin and the cutaneous microbiota and not to durably modify the pH of the skin (slightly acid by nature).

Is there a real difference between cleansing the skin at home and cleansing the skin in a salon? 

A skin cleansing at home or in a beauty salon does not allow for the elimination of microcysts and blackheads. Only dermatological skin cleansing is really effective. It is a 3-step medical treatment: application of a superficial peel, extraction of the microcysts, then LED session (blue and red) to shorten the healing process and eliminate the inflammatory lesions that are often associated with microcysts.  

Is the extraction of pimples a good or bad idea? 

If you have microcysts, comedones or pimples on a regular basis, you should consult a dermatologist who will have a suitable and lasting solution. They will know how to implement the best strategy to get rid of these imperfections, using a classic medical treatment and/or physical treatment: skin cleansing or LED treatment (photomodulation or phototherapy for example). And they will be able to recommend a skin care routine adapted to your skin.

Can "bad" skin cleansing (by which I mean unsuitable cleansing) really be responsible for the appearance of imperfections? 

Yes and no. In fact, an unsuitable or overly aggressive cleansing method strips the skin and induces irritations, even lasting dryness. To compensate for these feelings of tightness or discomfort, we tend to apply products that are too oily and unsuitable, leading to micro-cysts or even pimples. Too often, we see mixed to oily skin that is completely dehydrated during consultations.

For you, what are the 3 golden rules for beautiful skin? 

• Cleanse your skin twice a day with appropriate products, even if you don't wear makeup.
• Double-cleanse every evening, especially when using your daily sunscreen. 
• Systematically apply a treatment product after cleansing. 

And the 3 habits to forget? 

• Cleansing with aggressive products, for example soap-based products, with no hydrating ingredients and an alkaline pH that will totally dry out and irritate the skin. 
• Also avoid at all costs the untimely handling of imperfections, they are likely to leave marks and a dull complexion. 
• And finally, calm down with the exfoliation ;-) In consultations, we too often see mixed to oily skin in particular which is completely dehydrated.