BB GLOW: The risks of the controversial beauty treatment that promises perfect skin

The BB Glow is a treatment that, with just a couple of years in the market, generates passions and discords because it offers to be the great solution to achieve an impeccable face, free of imperfections, helps improve spots, brands, and expression lines,and provides greater luminosity and hydration.

Yes, it sounds almost perfect, but between the proper form of application and the quality of the compounds that contemplate it there is a significant amount of questions that put it in the eye of the storm.

It is a painless treatment, which is practiced on an outpatient way and does not require rest days.The amount of virtues that promises for the skin after its application is amazing, but so is the amount of details that must be taken into account before submitting to it.

BB Glow owes its name to two fundamental characteristics: the "BB" comes from "Blemish Balm" or "Balm for imperfections" -the same as the efficient BB Cream with color that abound in the market-, and "GLOW" that in SpanishIt means glow.So, what this treatment offers in essence is a radiant complexion, thanks to moisturizing substances that nourish the skin to make it look splendid, and the balm for imperfections composed of pigments to match the color of the skin.

These ingredients apply in the surface layers of the skin to make it shine and unify its color, but in some cases it could cause serious adverse reactions that, until now, have no solution.

What is the BB Glow about

This beauty technique comes from Korea, - where more if not from the titan of beauty and skin care - and proposes, according to cosmetologist Johana Méndez the injection of moisturizing agents, such as hyaluronic acid, vitamins, peptides and evenNiamicide, a vitamin with depigmenting qualities between the upper layer and the middle layer of the skin.

“It is carried out with a microneedling pen, which is a speech that has a set of tiny needles and operates them in the form of a sweep to cover the greatest amount of space.

Injected substances are like a powerful intense hydration shot in a layer of the skin that really needs it, and stimulate the production of collagen and elastin, which achieves the "Glow", that is to say a radiant appearance on the skin ".

It is as if the results that we obtain in the long term when applying creams and sera we obtain them immediately after treatment.That is the great advantage of the famous BB Glow, it offers noticeable results immediately after application.

“Next to the Glow, you have the BB, which contains pigments that will help the appearance of the skin to be much more uniform in terms of tone.It is as if you inject diluted makeup base into your skin in order to balance your skin tone and reduce spots as if the illusion of permanent makeup was created.In fact, this is how it has merchanted: as an alternative for those who do not want to make up and want a fresh, fresh appearance, with a unified color, ”says Méndez.

"The detail is what happens after.When the skin is renewing, pigments should be absorbed, but it turns out that they could be encapsulated because they are agents that the body does not recognize as its own.If they apply more deeply, or with the highest diameter needles, the matrix could be hurt.As that is a regenerative zone, the body is creating its new cells, but when detecting a strange agent the reaction could be encapsulate the pigment and form lumps in the skin that are known as granulomas ".

The specialist also warns that with this treatment it is not that a small amount of pigments is applied, no.They apply generously and even abuse the frequency of sessions."On many occasions, they are offered as resorbable, but the truth is that this is not guaranteed, nor are treatments approved by the FDA or other international organizations.".

In this sense, the dermatologist and tricologist Sofía Hernández explains that this is a very recent procedure that does not yet have regulations of any entity that supports it and warns that it is not yet known if it can bring long -term complications.

Hernández adds that the complications generated by this treatment, such as granulomas, are very difficult to handle and that these pigments are not eliminated with laser and when trying it can result in a dark, black or green pigment.It ends warning that the BB Glow does not represent any solution to the rosacea or acne or skin spots.

Another detail that both specialists highlight is that the products that are applied with this treatment contain titanium dioxide, a frequent component of solar filters and that is in many cosmetics.“This is a pigment that helps to reflect the light and creates as a kind of solar screen.It provides a radiant aspect, but with it the wrong idea is sold that when you apply it injected we do not need sun protection and that is definitely false, ”says Méndez.

All that glitters is not gold

There are many questions regarding the type of application and the previous evaluation to define whether or not this treatment is indicated in each patient, because not all skins are the same, they do not have the same thickness or the same needs or all the areas of the face haveThe same density, so that it is a delicate process that often do not carry out specialists but not qualified aestheticists.

Méndez, who is also an advisor to beauty products consumers, explains that being a relatively new treatment, the average consumer is very difficult to identify what type of product they are applying, their origin, their quality and even hygiene levels, so that it is logical that cases with adverse reactions are frequently presented.

“Of course there are good quality products on the market, biocompatible, as well as plant pigments that are usually easier to absorb, but these in turn have great allergenic potential.Mineral pigments, on the other hand, although they do not cause allergies, are more difficult to absorb, so there is a wide range of situations that can make something go well ”.

In addition, when such treatment is done, needles should be changed according to the areas of the face that are being treated and if we are not with professionals with ethics, there is a risk that this change is not even done due to costs of costs.

“It is necessary that patients get involved, ask and make sure what type of products will be used and what will be the procedure.In addition, it is important that they resort to the right specialist.In this case, professionals trained to determine if our skin needs and supports this treatment are plastic surgeons, dermatologists and aesthetic doctors ”.

More risks and contraindications

Méndez explains that for those with hair fragility or a very thin epidermis this treatment is contraindicated because the thinner, the more difficult the metabolism of these substances and their balanced distribution in the face.

“Applying this treatment in fragile skin can cause inflammation, congestion, in addition to other risks involved in the use of microneedling pen as infections such as infections.Nor is it suitable for those who have sensitive skin.In addition, people with rosacea, keratinization disorders, psoriasis, skin fungi, neurodermatitis and acne, these treatments should not be applied ”.

Another detail, if they were few, is the care that must be taken when selecting the pigment that coincides exactly with the skin color and if the technique is not adequate, we run the risk of stains because sometimes you cannot controlHow the skin will distribute the pigment.

In addition, Johana Méndez adds that until now this is not an inclusive treatment, which means an important limitation in the variety of tones.This treatment comes from Korea, where great efforts are usually invested in the skin, so that those who have the darkest skin would not find an adequate tone."The basic colors that can be mixed to create new tones are very few and, so far, do not reach the darkest skin tones".

Finally, it is true that amazing results are immediately seen.The reason is that, according to Méndez, when you use this technique of assaulting the skin with minimal needles, inflammation and the consequent blood irrigation occur.The moisturizing components that apply are used for the amount of repair fluids that arise with inflammation and we can immediately observe a more tense and bright skin.However, this effect disappears as soon as inflammation lowers.

The BB Glow is fashionable, and there are many people who are showing wonderful results.Without a doubt, the appearance and feeling of the skin but you have to calculate very well at what price.There is no treatment yet to treat granulomas, they are not eliminated with laser or dissolve.Are you willing to take the risk?

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