Skin Treatments

Skin treatments can help with everything from fighting acne to wrinkles. Learn more about skin treatments at HowStuffWorks.

Learn More

In health and beauty circles, safflower oil is gaining popularity as an effective and affordable moisturizer.

By Jamie Palamon & Brion O'Connor

Some spa treatments sound like they'd be perfect balms to sooth a pregnant woman's frazzled nerves and tired body. But not every treatment is safe for an expectant mother. Which ones should you avoid, and what are the dangers?

By Jessika Toothman

In esthetics school, students learn much more than mud masks and pimple popping. The training prepares estheticians to help burn victims and cancer patients.

By Charles W. Bryant

Advertisement

Sometimes, your skin just isn't at its best, and instead of radiating a healthy glow, it just looks dull. When you decide a spa day is the cure to your complexion ills, it’s likely a steam is in your future.

By Rachel Oswald

One of them went to medical school. And one of them went to trade school. And both can assist you with skin problems. Who should you see for what kinds of problems?

By Charles W. Bryant

For most of us, bird poop is something we have to wash off our cars (or our heads, if we're unlucky), but some people are paying good money to slather it on their faces. Welcome to the geisha facial -- and a faceful of nightingale poop.

By Shanna Freeman

If you have acne-prone skin, your esthetician may suggest a facial that includes extractions. Will these help or harm your skin?

By Julia Layton

Advertisement

A relaxing facial with steam and massage can be a great way to renew your spirit and skin from the outside in. When you're contemplating a little pampering, though, don't make the mistake of thinking that all spas are created equal.

By Sara Elliott

Red and irritated. Dry, scaly and cracking. None of us want our skin to look and feel this way, but sometimes it seems there's not a lot we can do about it. But is there a new way to fix it?

By Tom Scheve

Bleach -- that household cleaning staple -- hardly seems like a soothing treatment for itchy, painful eczema. So is it a good idea to bathe your skin with the same stuff you scrub your tub with?

By Jessika Toothman

A little water therapy after a long, hard day at work can feel really good. Is that bath benefiting your health, too?

By William Harris

Advertisement

You're supposed to leave a spa refreshed and rejuvenated -- not with a nasty fungal infection or bruises on your back. What are five dangers lurking in spas, and how can you avoid them?

By Jessika Toothman

Tyra Banks calls it one of her biggest beauty secrets. But the real secret is that you probably already have some of this inexpensive emollient around the house to sooth your cuts or grease your door hinges.

By Maria Trimarchi

The people in Finland love saunas so much that they've been known to bring portable saunas on camping trips. What do these beloved sweat boxes do for your body anyway?

By Robert Lamb

Several dermal fillers can improve the condition of damaged or aging skin. Choose the right one for you by understanding the differences between their active ingredients.

By John Barrymore

Advertisement

Many people are turning to facials to deeply cleanse and smooth out their skin. What kinds of facials are out there, and could one be right for you?

By Sarah Siddons

Want to hide signs of aging? Laser skin resurfacing is a treatment that burns certain layers of the skin to reduce the appearance of age marks and foster growth of tighter, younger-looking skin.

By John Barrymore

Oxygen facials are said to plump up skin by airbrushing oxygen and moisturizing serum into the pores, but some medical experts have their doubts. What's involved in this favorite trend of celebrities?

By Sarah Siddons

Worried about the appearance of sagging skin? From surgeries and lasers to lotions and creams, plenty of options are out there to help you firm up your skin.

By Sarah Siddons

Advertisement

Used and endorsed by celebrities, Thermage has earned some clout as a treatment for sagging skin. But some evidence suggests that this anti-aging tool may not be for everyone.

By Sarah Siddons

Want to look like you've spent the afternoon at the spa getting a facial, but don't want to shell out lots of cash? These ideas for homemade face masks just might do the trick -- and at a fraction of the cost.

By Sarah Siddons

For those wanting a quick fix to hide scars or cellulite, some health experts recommend carboxytherapy as a more affordable and less invasive alternative to surgery.

By Sarah Siddons

Collagen injections are a popular procedure for ridding yourself of wrinkles, creating a flawless face or attaining Angelina Jolie's perfect pout. But are collagen injections right for you?

By John Barrymore

Advertisement

Looking for a way to hide wrinkles, scars and sun damage? Chemical peels just might help reduce the appearance of skin imperfections. See what treatment options are available and what it could cost you.

By John Barrymore

Although it can't stop the aging process, a facelift can make you appear years younger. How is the facelift procedure performed? And what risks are involved with this type of cosmetic surgery?

By Stephanie Watson