How to Use an Ultrasonic Skin Scrubber Safely and Effectively

Reviewed by Onyeka Obioha, MD

We all know that exfoliation is fundamental to a healthy skincare routine. Whether done physically or chemically, exfoliating helps even skin texture and increases skin cell turnover for brighter and more youthful-looking skin. Most people turn to alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs) for chemical exfoliation, but if you're looking to step up your physical exfoliation game, it's time you started ultrasonic skin scrubbing.

This technique is done with ultrasonic skin scrubbers (aka ultrasonic skin spatulas). These skincare tools resemble tiny metal spatulas that help unclog pores by gently pushing out debris and build-up. And while the process looks intense on social media (IYKYK), with proper skin prep and technique, this type of exfoliation can help deliver your dream complexion.

To better understand how to use ultrasonic skin scrubbers and get to the bottom of whether or not they actually work, we tapped dermatologists Michele Green, MD, and Scott Paviol, MD. Keep scrolling to learn what the process involves, including a step-by-step tutorial on how to use them, plus why your skin type should be a deciding factor on whether or not it's for you.

Meet The Experts

• Michele Green, MD, is a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist based in New York City.

• Scott Paviol, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City.

What Is Ultrasonic Skin Scrubbing?

Ultrasonic skin scrubbing is a method of skin exfoliation achieved with an ultrasonic skin scrubber. Typically, this tool has a handle with a metal spatula-like head that imparts high-frequency vibrations via sound waves to transform skin from cell to cell.

“Cells start ‘talking’ to each other, and your pores open wide, so dirt and debris are gently vibrated and scrubbed away,” Green explains. By removing dirt and debris, she says that these ultrasonic skin spatulas are able to gently exfoliate the skin, as well as collect what’s being sloughed off.

Paviol adds, “Much the same way a Clarisonic brush utilizes vibrations with its brush mechanism, or the Foreo face brush (a silicone face brush) uses vibrations for deep cleansing as well, an ultrasonic skin scrubber/spatula does the same thing, only through ultrasonic soundwaves (essentially high-frequency vibrations)."

The Benefits

There are many benefits to physical exfoliation, but using an ultrasonic skin scrubbing device comes with a unique combination of pros, including that it:

• Deeply cleanses skin

• Exfoliates skin

• Shrinks the appearance of pores

• Improves skin texture and tone

• Gently exfoliates the skin

While pores can’t actually shrink in size—they’re genetically predetermined—Green says that using a deep-cleaning skin scrubber can dislodge even the most stubborn, built-up dirt and debris, effectively making pores look less stretched.

Additionally, by removing all the build-up, treatment products are better able to penetrate the skin, which Green says helps to improve texture and tone, often leading to smoother, brighter skin overall.

Skin Type Considerations

One of the most significant benefits of an ultrasonic skin scrubber is that they’re one of the most gentle forms of exfoliation on the market. As such, Paviol says that they’re especially great for those who don’t respond well to other exfoliation methods, such as scrubs, brushes, or chemical peels. “The scrubber/spatula trend is a great treatment for those with sensitive, over-reactive, rosacea-prone, or acneic skin types,” he explains. “While microdermabrasion is a cult classic for deep exfoliation, it uses crystals or a diamond tip, plus negative pressure vacuum suction, which can cause redness and can dilate or break capillaries depending on how sensitive someone’s skin is.”

Potential Side Effects

As gentle and exciting as ultrasonic skin scrubbers are, they’re not so gentle that they can be used incessantly. “Clients who have purchased skin scrubbers for home use [can become so] excited to see their oil lift up off their skin that they overuse the device or use it too aggressively, which can lead to unnecessary sensitization or injury to the skin,” Paviol explains.

With that in mind, it’s important to remember that skin scrubbers are, first and foremost, exfoliation devices. As such, it’s essential not to use them twice daily, just as you wouldn’t with facial scrubs, brushes, or some chemical exfoliants.

Since skin scrubbers are still relatively new to the world of at-home dermatology, Green says that when in doubt, it’s best to see your dermatologist for guidance. “There are many options and these devices are safe to use if users follow the instructions for use carefully,” she says. “The only drawback is the user’s ability to follow the instructions carefully without causing harm to the skin.”

How to Use Ultrasonic Skin Scrubbers

As Paviol points out, ultrasonic skin scrubbers are water-based exfoliation devices. As such, in order to work, he says it has to have a flat shape and must be used while the skin is wet, which allows the ultrasonic vibrations to form and build.

While exact use will vary from device to device (so it’s essential to read the directions), as a general rule of thumb, ultrasonic skin scrubbers are to be used as follows.

Wet your skin

Remember: An ultrasonic skin spatula will only work if the skin is wet.

Run the spatula along your skin

Using gentle pressure, push the scrubber along your skin in an upward and/or outward motion. For example, if you’re scrubbing your forehead, start between your brows and push up. While the actual direction of the device can change, we recommend going upward and outward, as it prevents the debris from potentially pooling in the creases surrounding your nostrils, into your brows, and so on.

Go slow if you're trying to extract

While running the device along your forehead and cheeks will significantly even the texture of your skin if you have blackheads. The slower you go, the deeper and more effective the spatula's effects will be.

Follow up with your daily skincare routine

After scrubbing, feel free to cleanse, tone, and moisturize as you regularly do. If you don’t usually tone, know that following a scrubbing session with toner will help close up your pores to keep them fresher for longer.

Clean your device when done

Once you finish cleansing with your spatula, it’s imperative that you disinfect your device.

How Often Can You Use an Ultrasonic Skin Scrubber?

As with regular exfoliation—whether with a scrub or brush—Green says that it’s best to use an ultrasonic skin scrubber no more than two to three times per week. She suggests watching how your skin reacts and upping or lowering your use from there.

Byrdie Tip

You don't want to use an ultrasonic skin scrubber too often as doing so could damage the skin. It's best to aim for no more than two to three times per week, but talk to your dermatologist beforehand to get the best guidance for your skin.

The Best Ultrasonic Skin Scrubbers:

“I usually recommend the Skin Gym Ultrasonic Lumiscrub Pro Skin Spatula ($80) for my patients just starting out using a skin scrubber,” Paviol says. “Its easy-to-use modes—there are only three: lifting, moisturizing, and cleansing—make this skin scrubber very easy to use. It does the work for you, so depending on what part of your skincare routine you are at, you can select the appropriate mode and experience what Ultrasonic technology is really all about.”

Another one of Paviol’s go-tos is the Halipax Ultrasonic Cordless Skin Scrubber ($280). “It’s a super-sleek option that exfoliates the face and firms and lifts the skin via its microcurrent pulse and intermittent ultrasonic technologies,” he says. “The positive ion mode of this device removes excess buildup, dirt, and oil and deeply cleanses the skin, while the negative ion mode (you would flip the spatula over and use it in an upward motion) is used for product penetration and skin lifting, giving a light massage helping your skin easily absorb the skincare ingredients you have applied.” That said, his favorite part about this device is that it also utilizes blue LED therapy within the handpiece. “Blue light is amazing for [lifting] P. acnes bacteria that causes acne, and it diminishes inflammation and can help lessen the look of acne scarring,” he adds.

The Bio-Therapeutic BT-Micro ($590) is pricey, but according to Paviol, it's worth it. “Featuring four pre-programmed modes with high and low options, this device allows for a completely customizable facial experience," he says. "There’s an exfoliation, serum, cream, and clear mode. The ‘serum’ and ‘clear’ modes use ultrasonic and low-dose microcurrent technology to pulse applied creams deeper into the skin to maximize their benefits, while my personal favorite modes are the exfoliation and the clear. The exfoliation mode works much like any skin scrubber, but I find the high-speed ultrasonic vibrations on this particular device create that gentle cavitation peeling effect within the skin, which effectively removes build-up, dirt, oil, and debris and preps the skin for better product penetration.”

The Final Takeaway

Ultrasonic skin scrubbers are a spectacular tool for all skin types, especially those with highly reactive skin, as they’re just about as gentle as it gets when it comes to exfoliation. “The skin scrubber or spatula, whichever you want to call it, is a great investment if you’re just starting out using gadgets in your routine or if you’re a pro and using it in your treatment room,” Paviol says. “This device is great for all skin tones, textures, and colors; just make sure to read the instructions for the proper use of your specific skin scrubber so that you are using it safely and effectively to get the most out of your treatment.”

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