Dermatologist Advice on At-Home vs. In-Office Skincare Treatments

All your beauty questions—answered. Our resident dermatologist, Dr. Geddes-Bruce, breaks down the biggest topics in beauty, from hair loss to Botox and everything in between. Send us a DM @camillestyles with your own burning questions and we may address it in a future column. 

My skin changed when I started getting regular facials. But, while I love the luxurious feeling of getting pampered in an office, I realized it wasn’t just about the magic hands of my esthetician—the real secret was gaining a better understanding of my skin. I always ask my facialist to explain step by step what they’re doing and (this is the key) why. By having an expert explain how each step addressed my skincare concerns, I could take that knowledge home with me. While I trusted the bigger ticket treatments to the professionals, I would adapt my skincare routine so that I could get as close to the in-spa feeling every day, right from my own bathroom counter.

If you’ve ever wondered if facials are really worth the cost, or experienced an underwhelming treatment that you felt like you could do at home, you’re not alone. Some treatments, I’ve found, can be replicated with the right know-how. But others can actually cause damage if you try them yourself—no matter what TikTok trends might tell you. To get to the bottom of at-home versus in-office skincare treatments, I spoke to Dr. Elizabeth Geddes-Bruce.

Featured image from our Wake Up Call with Shanika Hillocks.

Breaking Down At-Home vs. In-Office Skincare Treatments

Elizabeth Geddes-Bruce, MD

Elizabeth Geddes-Bruce, MD is a board-certified dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon specializing in the practice of both cosmetic and medical dermatology. She views cosmetic dermatology as synergistic to a happy, healthy lifestyle and regularly counsels her patients in a balanced, natural approach to both cosmetic and medical dermatology.

Q: I’m curious about in-office treatments, but I don’t know which ones are worth it. What is the difference between at-home versus in-office skincare treatments?

There are DIY alternatives to many treatments on a spa menu. Products claim to do the same thing—but can they?

“At-home treatments tend towards easier and milder, and therefore, can also be less effective,” says Dr. Geddes-Bruce. “There’s nothing wrong with that—as long as your expectations are appropriate.”

In other words, an at-home face mask can help with maintenance and overall skin health, but it probably won’t change your life. Other at-home treatments might work better but, because most of us aren’t trained estheticians or dermatologists, more extensive services should be left to the pros.

“Treatments that are offered in an office setting tend to carry a few risks and may require a more substantial healing period,” she explains. “They also tend to produce more noticeable results.” To find out which at-home versus in-office skincare treatments might be right for you, Dr. Geddes-Bruce breaks down some popular treatments one by one below.

What are the best at-home vs. in-office skincare treatments?

Reminder: There is no universal treatment that works best for everyone. Skincare is personal. Your skin, with its temperaments and changes throughout the years, is uniquely your skin. Any treatment that you do, whether at-home or laid flat on an esthetician’s table, should reflect your own needs, lifestyle, and budget.

“It all depends on your treatment goals,” says Dr. Geddes-Bruce. “It’s never a bad idea to start with a professional consultation to get personalized guidance.”

Tips for Safe and Effective At-Home Skincare Treatments

You wouldn’t go to an unlicensed esthetician. So, when looking for dramatic at-home results, don’t risk your skin’s health on products you aren’t 100% confident in.

“Make sure your treatment is intended for at-home use,” Dr. Geddes-Bruce advises. “Don’t order acid from Amazon and attempt to give yourself a chemical peel; start with a peel pad designed for home application.”

Prep is just as important as the products you use. Before treatments, your dermatologist or esthetician will tell you how to ensure your skin is safe to treat. At-home products might not give the same disclaimer. According to Dr. Geddes-Bruce, the general rule is to “discontinue any harsh or irritating topical skincare (like retinoids and light acids) for 5-7 days before any sort of treatment.”

If your skin is currently tan, irritated, or has any active infection, wait until it has cleared up and is closer to your natural skin tone before giving yourself a treatment. 

Your Guide to At-Home vs. In-Office Skincare Treatments

At-Home Facial vs. Professional Facial

The term “facial” is broad. That means it can be anything from a steam session to a multi-step process of layering masks on your face. Whether you do a facial at home or in-office, giving your skin attention is always a good thing. “Both are a nice way to get (temporarily) soft, glowy skin,” says Dr. Geddes-Bruce.

“A professional facial is an indulgence and a nice way to relax. An at-home facial is simple and inexpensive. I’d recommend saving the professional one for before a big event and trying the DIY version when you feel like having a spa night at home.”

At-Home Red Light Therapy vs. In-Office

According to Dr. Geddes-Bruce, “The benefits of red light therapy are likely only seen if exposed consistently, so at-home therapy seems more practical and effective.”

Pro tip: Make sure to use red light products before you use any skincare products. Clean, dry skin is best.

Dr. Geddes-Bruce says going in-office specifically for a red light procedure probably isn’t necessary, but it depends on your treatment. “I’d skip any in-office treatment with red light unless it is used for healing after a more aggressive procedure, like lasers.”

Red light can be added to most facials these days, but to supplement your at-home red light therapy, try visits to red-light saunas for a quick sweat under infrared lights. The full-body glow will be an added boost.

At-Home Microdermabrasion vs. In-Office

Microdermabrasion is like exfoliation that goes much deeper. The effect: Imagine taking a buffer to your face and giving it a filtered look. While some scrubs can give you a quick polish at home, in-office treatments win this round.

“You’ll likely get much better results from an in-office microdermabrasion than using at-home topicals or scrubs for exfoliation.”

At-Home Laser Hair Removal vs. In-Office

One of the latest crazes on the market is at-home laser hair removal. It’s part of the trend of being “high maintenance to be low maintenance.” Ergo, you can invest time and money into laser now so that you don’t have to spend much time shaving later. At-home lasers promise to zap away your hair and the hefty cost, but is it too good to be true?

“It depends on your skin type, ethnicity, propensity to tan or burn, and hair color,” says Dr. Geddes-Bruce. “All influence how good of a candidate you are for these devices and how risky they can be to use.”

For this one, in-office might be best because a trained professional can guide your journey. They’re also likely have more powerful lasers. 

At-Home Chemical Peels vs. In-Office

Chemical peels range from light brightening treatments to deep, intense procedures with several days of peeling. Light peels usually target brightness and texture, while deeper peels work to give a clean slate free of hyperpigmentation and fine lines.

“Light peels can be done safely at home,” says Dr. Geddes-Bruce. “While more aggressive, deeper peels should be done in an office setting. You may require prescription pre- or post-care medications.”

At-Home Dermaplaning vs. In-Office

“Dermaplaning is basically just shaving your face,” says Dr. Geddes-Bruce. However, using a blunt blade or incorrect technique could lead to irritation, acne, or even micro-tears in the skin. Some estheticians recommend leaving this to the pros—especially to prevent ingrown hairs—but if you want to do it at home, apply facial oil first for a smoother glide.

At-Home Microneedling vs. In-Office

According to Dr. Geddes-Bruce, microneedling rollers or devices designed for at-home use create shallow channels in the skin to improve product penetration. “This is a good idea if the skincare product is designed to go deeper,” she says, “and a bad idea if the product is designed for topical use only.”

For more intense microneedling treatments, choose to go in-office. But, if you’re mindful of the serums you’re using, at-home microneedling can be effective. Just be gentle on your skin! Too much of a good thing can damage your skin barrier.