Ah, the vampire facial. You might have read all about the surprising technology and skincare developments that are helping all kinds of people get their Elizabeth Bathory kick — in a much safer setting, of course. Could PRP be right for you?
PRP, also known as platelet-rich plasma, is a therapy that uses a component in your very own blood — plasma — that contains proteins and factors that support cell growth, which can promote healing throughout the skin, and even other parts of the body.
By promoting healing and cell growth, PRP can help you achieve an array of skin benefits that don’t just impact the appearance of your skin — but also your skin’s health. Just like any medical procedure and technology, there are ways to find out if you’re a good candidate, and there are many methods of administering PRP.
PRP is still a newer form of skincare technology, but it’s making its way to providing encouraging results for clients. You can look into all kinds of options and see which ones work best for you.
How Does It Work?
By using the plasma in your blood to generate cell growth, your skin can heal from damage at a faster and more efficient rate.
Technically speaking, all kinds of “skin imperfections” you’d generally be looking to correct are various forms of damage. From aging and sun damage to breakouts or dryness, your skin is a vulnerable part of your body and often experiences different forms of damage. By using PRP to heal on a cellular level, you can treat both the symptom and the root cause.
There’s a variety of methods for administering PRP therapy treatments. One of the most popular is the facial — often referred to as the blood facial — but there are plenty of other options depending upon your goals and preferences. You can go for microdermabrasion or microneedling, topical treatments or even injections for injury and pain healing benefits.
No matter how you choose to go about your PRP therapy, there are so many benefits it can show for your skin. Here are just a few of them.
1. Reduced Wrinkles and Aging
One of the most common reasons why people go for the facial option of PRP therapy is to reduce visible signs of aging within the face.
Due to the healing benefits and quick cellular regeneration that PRP therapy offers, it can be an amazing anti-aging option. Whether you’re looking to PRP as a precautionary measure for preventing aging or you’re looking to correct lines, wrinkles and sagging already present, going for a standard blood facial can work wonders in addition to your regular skincare routine.
2. More Skin Elasticity
Just like the cell regeneration benefits of PRP can result in a tightening of wrinkles and lines, they can also work to prevent sagging, drooping and other losses of elasticity in the skin.
Often, PRP facials and microneedling treatments have a plumping effect on the face. That, combined with the collagen and elastin that are produced in the cellular regeneration process, can often result in a much tighter and resilient appearance.
3. Transepidermal Water Loss Prevention
Not everyone is worried about aging quite yet, but PRP isn’t just for holding onto youth. Transepidermal water loss is the process of your skin losing hydration, which causes it to dry out or overproduce oils. In order to prevent this, the best thing you can do is create a thicker moisture barrier in order to lock in hydration. This lets your skin know that it shouldn’t overproduce oil or simply dry out.
While stripping products and skin damage can break down the moisture barriers, the reproduction of new cells can make it stronger than ever. That way, you can hold onto moisture and maintain more balanced skin.
4. Smoother Skin Texture
Poor skin texture — especially texture that comes from scarring, sun damage or stretch marks — is often a result of skin damage of some kind. By producing new cells and collagen to smooth out the skin, PRP can often reduce texture in the skin and create a much more even tone across the face. While this works on a case by case basis, it usually offers some visible healing.
5. Fewer Breakouts
Often, breakouts and acne come as a result of imbalances in the skin caused by excess dryness, overproduction of oil or a stripped moisture barrier. By repairing these issues in the skin, PRP can make you much less prone to the occasional breakout. Your skin will be stronger and much less susceptible to damage and harsh environments, which will make for less vulnerable skin overall
6. Better Skin Hydration
By strengthening the skin and aiding in a stronger moisture barrier, PRP can help you hold onto hydration much more efficiently. By preventing transepidermal water loss, your skin will absorb and retain moisturizer much better than it would with a weaker external barrier.
Even if you’ve experienced sudden damage from a stripping product or treatment regimen you tried, PRP can help rebuild your skin’s water retention. That, combined with the collagen production, can help create a dewy, effortless look so many people crave.
Get Your Glow on With PRP
PRP can have so many benefits for all different skin types and goals. Whether you’re looking to correct dryness, damage or aging, the answers could be right inside you — flowing through your veins. While it might seem a bit unconventional, you might just find that there’s something there that makes you glow and shine.
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