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Last Updated: Nov 5, 2026
Medspa
Microdermabrasion aftercare
Free PDF 2 pages, print-ready Clinician-reviewed
Microdermabrasion aftercare is the set of instructions a patient follows after treatment to protect the skin while it recovers. This free template puts them on one handout. It explains the redness and swelling to expect, and it lists what to avoid and for how long. Makeup waits 24 hours, exfoliation and heat wait 72 hours, and AHA, retinol and glycolic acid products wait 7 days. It also covers SPF 30 for two weeks, the signs of infection and follow-up visits, and it ends with a patient confirmation to sign.
Template details
- Format
- Printable PDF, 2 pages
- Best for
- Medspa
Free download
Download your free microdermabrasion aftercare template
A ready-to-use aftercare handout covering post-treatment care, what to avoid, sun protection, when to contact your practitioner, and patient sign-off.
What’s inside
- Expected skin reactions: redness, swelling, peeling and possible minor bruising
- Timed restrictions on makeup, exfoliation, heat, swimming and active skincare products
- Moisturizing two to three times a day and SPF 30 for two weeks
- Infection warning signs, follow-up advice and a signed patient confirmation
Generate it. Send it. File it automatically.
Turn this template into a Smart Form
Start from scratch, or upload this PDF or any form you already use, and Pabau's AI Form rebuilds it with tick boxes, text fields and a signature. Attach it to the treatment once, and every patient gets it on time.
- Generate with AI from a PDF, Word file or photo
- Precare before the visit, aftercare after checkout
- Signed forms saved to the patient record
Why practices run their forms on Pabau
Bring your forms across fast
AI Form rebuilds the consent, history and aftercare forms you already use. You review each one, then publish.
Save hours every week
Patients complete forms on their phone before they arrive, so the front desk stops retyping paper.
Stay audit-ready
Every signed form is versioned and attached to the treatment record, ready when you need it.
Ask patients once
Set how long a consent stays valid. Returning patients skip forms they have already signed.
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Key takeaways
A microdermabrasion aftercare handout gives every patient the same written instructions, whichever practitioner treated them.
The template sets fixed windows: no makeup for 24 hours, and no exfoliation, heat or strenuous exercise for 72 hours.
AHA, retinol and glycolic acid products stay off the skin for 7 days, and patients wear SPF 30 or higher for 2 weeks.
Redness and swelling should be much improved after 48 hours, while signs of infection mean contacting the practitioner.
Practice software such as Pabau can send the instructions after each appointment and file the signed confirmation to the patient record.
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What a microdermabrasion aftercare handout should cover
A microdermabrasion aftercare handout is a written sheet a patient takes home after treatment. It lists what to do, what to avoid and for how long. It works because the patient can check it at home, on the evening the questions come up.
Advice online varies on the details, such as how long to skip makeup or stay out of the sun. A handout settles that with one set of timings the whole practice uses. A complete one covers these points:
- The skin reactions to expect, and how long they usually take to settle
- Each restriction with its own time period, from makeup to further treatments
- A moisturizing routine and daily sun protection
- The signs of infection that mean calling the practitioner
- Advice on attending follow-up appointments
- A confirmation the patient signs to show they read and understood it
Immediate care after treatment
The first day is when the skin is most sensitive, so the handout should lead with the simplest instructions. Patients keep the routine gentle and avoid anything that adds heat or friction.
- Cleanse with a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser and lukewarm water.
- Apply a moisturizer two to three times a day, and more often if the skin feels dry or peels.
- Avoid makeup for 24 hours, because it can increase the risk of infection.
- Avoid hot showers, saunas, steam rooms and strenuous exercise for 72 hours.
- Avoid rubbing or picking the treated area.
The skin may feel tender and look red and slightly swollen, much like mild sunburn. Some patients notice peeling too. The template says this should be much improved after 48 hours, though it can take longer to settle.
Minor bruising is possible as well, and it can take one to two weeks to fade.
Recovery over the first two weeks
Recovery runs in stages, and each stage lifts a different restriction. The table sets out what the template asks of the patient at each point.
What to avoid after microdermabrasion
Most aftercare problems come from irritants, heat or exfoliation applied too early. The template gives each restriction a fixed period, so patients can scan the list quickly.
- Makeup, for 24 hours
- Excess alcohol or caffeine, for 48 hours
- Skin exfoliation, perfume, fake tan and other harsh chemicals, for 72 hours
- Strenuous exercise, saunas, sunbeds, heat and swimming, for 72 hours
- Products containing AHAs, retinol or glycolic acid, for at least 7 days
- Waxing and other hair removal, for 2 weeks or until the redness and swelling have resolved
- Botox, dermal filler and other cosmetic treatments, for 2 weeks unless the practitioner advises otherwise
- Rubbing or picking the treated area, at any point
Laid out against the calendar, the windows fall into three groups: the first day, the first three days, and the first two weeks.
If your protocol differs for a particular skin type, write the change on the handout before the patient leaves. That way the sheet at home still matches what the practitioner said.
Products that support recovery
Product advice should stay at category level. Patients need to know what kind of product to look for, not a brand name.
- A gentle, fragrance-free cleanser
- A moisturizer, applied two to three times a day
- A broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, worn daily for at least 2 weeks
Daily sunscreen is the one step patients keep for the full two weeks, because the treated skin stays more sensitive to sunlight.
Adjusting the advice for sensitive and dry skin
Patients with dry or sensitive skin often take longer to recover. Ask them to flag existing dryness or sensitivity at the consultation, before treatment starts.
The practitioner may then extend a restriction or add a step to the routine. Record that change in the patient record, so whoever answers a follow-up call can see what the patient was told.
The same approach applies to other gentle resurfacing treatments. Compare it with the dermaplaning aftercare sheet, which covers a blade-based exfoliation with a similar recovery.
What’s in the free template
The downloadable PDF is a patient handout. It sets out the aftercare instructions as one block of written advice, followed by a confirmation the patient signs. It covers:
- What to expect: redness, swelling, peeling and possible minor bruising
- Restrictions on makeup, exfoliation, heat, swimming and active products, each with its time period
- Moisturizing two to three times a day, and SPF 30 sunscreen for at least 2 weeks
- The signs of infection that mean seeking medical attention and contacting the practitioner
- Advice to attend follow-up appointments, even when recovery seems to be going well
- A patient confirmation declaration to sign
Practices offering more than one facial resurfacing treatment can pair it with the HydraFacial aftercare template, so each treatment goes home with its own sheet.
How Pabau delivers aftercare after every session
Most practices hand over a printed sheet at checkout, or retype the advice into an email after the session. The patient’s signed confirmation then sits on paper, away from the treatment record.
In Pabau, you can set up aftercare workflows per treatment. A microdermabrasion appointment then sends the microdermabrasion instructions by email or SMS once it ends, without a team member retyping them.
The patient confirmation can be a digital form the patient signs on their phone, and it files to their record. Because Pabau is software for med spas and skin practices, the aftercare sits beside the treatment note and the next booking.
Send aftercare after every microdermabrasion session
Pabau sends treatment-specific aftercare by email or SMS once the appointment ends, and files the patient’s signed confirmation to their record. Every patient goes home with the same advice, and your team stops retyping it.
Conclusion
A written handout works because its timings are fixed. Makeup waits 24 hours, heat and exfoliation wait 72 hours, and active products wait a week. The patient no longer has to remember what was said at checkout.
Download the template and check its timings against your own protocol before you use it. Then hand it to every microdermabrasion patient and keep the signed confirmation. Paper only helps if the patient reads it at home, which is the trade-off of a printed sheet.
Book a demo to see how Pabau sends the right aftercare after each session and keeps the signed confirmation on file.
Continue your research
Offering dermaplaning as well? Dermaplaning aftercare gives patients the restrictions and timings for blade-based exfoliation.
Running HydraFacial treatments too? HydraFacial aftercare covers the first days of recovery after a hydradermabrasion facial.
Need a sheet for collagen induction? Microneedling aftercare sets out the longer recovery after needling treatments.
Want to flag sensitive skin before treatment? Facial consultation form records skin type, history and concerns at the consultation.
Adding skin boosters to your menu? Skin booster aftercare advice covers the instructions patients need after injectable hydration treatments.
Frequently asked questions
What is microdermabrasion aftercare?
Microdermabrasion aftercare is the set of instructions patients follow after treatment to protect the skin while it heals. It covers gentle cleansing, moisturizing, sun protection, and avoiding makeup, exfoliation, heat and active products for set periods.
What should I avoid after microdermabrasion?
Avoid makeup for 24 hours, and exfoliation, perfume, fake tan, heat, saunas, swimming and strenuous exercise for 72 hours. Keep AHA, retinol and glycolic acid products off the skin for 7 days. Skip waxing and other cosmetic treatments for 2 weeks.
Can I wear makeup after microdermabrasion?
The template advises no makeup for 24 hours after treatment, because makeup can increase the risk of infection. Follow any different advice your practitioner gives at the appointment.
Is it normal for skin to peel after microdermabrasion?
Some patients notice mild peeling, which the template compares to mild sunburn. It should settle on its own, so avoid picking at it. Contact the practitioner if the skin turns hot, red and shiny, or you develop a fever.
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