Back home (continental Europe) I would always get extraction facials. I have PCOS and while I'm lucky not to have aggressive cystic acne, I do have the white bumps all along my cheeks and jawline. I see a dermatologist who has confirmed it's 100% hormonal, and am currently on spironolactone to help manage it.
Despite this the pesky white bumps never go away completely, and every few months I need to go to someone who will squeeze them out for me (using their hands and a needle where necessary). It's the only thing that actually helps; I can usually go for 6mo with clear skin between visits. My dermatologist encourages this; she says the bumps are too stubborn to go away any other way.
The problem is, I can't find the right kind of facial here in the UK. I have gone for about a dozen treatments called an "extraction facial" but they never actually deal with the tough white bumps, they just do the odd blackhead. I need the kind of facial that is extremely painful and leaves me red for days, but then gives me perfectly smooth skin for months after!
I did have one great facial (in the style I'm used to) from a Polish lady, but that was when I lived elsewhere in the UK (400+ miles away).
At this point I'm tired of shelling out for "extraction facials" that turn out to be disappointing - I do always ask if they handle the bumps, they say yes, and then I end up disappointed.
Someone suggested before that it's something to do with lawsuits and/or rules around breaking skin here in the UK, I've also heard it's related to training for cosmeticians, I really don't know though... maybe I have just had very bad luck, but from talking to people I get the feeling it's not really a "thing" here - could be wrong though?
Anyway! How do I find an old-fashioned, extremely painful but effective extraction facial here in the UK? I am in London. Thank you!