Woman Gets Multiple Beauty Treatments—Not Prepared for Results

A nurse from Oklahoma has shared her cautionary tale about the potential risks of skincare treatments after a microneedling facial abroad left her with a painful reaction.

During a visit to South Korea, Coleman decided to try out a facial treatment at Seoul clinic Individuel Geneve. Ebony Coleman, 37, opted for a microneedling treatment paired with red light therapy, and while the experience was initially promising, things soon changed.

“When I woke up at 5 a.m. the next morning, I was shocked by what I saw in the mirror,” Coleman told Newsweek. Her face was swollen, red, and covered with white raised bumps. The texture of her skin was rough, and there were crusted areas that burned and felt painfully dry. Her eyes were swollen, adding to her distress. In that moment, fears of unclean needles, an allergic reaction, or even permanent damage ran through her mind.

Despite the initial panic, Coleman said that the clinic supported her, providing a simplified aftercare regimen, including a foam cleanser, moisturizer, medicated pads, and sunscreen. Her skin began to improve within days, but reintroducing other products caused further breakouts, which prompted her to opt for more stripped back and basic skincare routine.

“Ebony had what is called in aesthetics ‘purging,'” a spokesperson for Individuel Geneve told Newsweek. “It is actually common and can be considered a normal and necessary part of the healing process.”

They explained that purging involves “temporary breakouts, redness, or flakiness as the skin pushes out impurities and clogged pores” and that while it might be unsettling, it “usually indicates that the treatment is effectively stimulating skin turnover and renewal.”

Individuel Geneve added: “This phase typically lasts a few days to a couple of weeks.” They also clarified that they “guided Ebony before the treatment about the possible outcomes” and supported her with any questions along the way. According to their records, “purging started on the 8th of Nov and lasted until the 14th when she confirmed her skin completely healed. This means her skin completely recovered in just seven days, well within the typical two-three weeks for full results.”

Individuel Geneve said that microneedling is a “fantastic solution to improve skin tone and texture” and emphasized that the treatment is “highly safe, non-invasive and very effective,” improving “more glow, great for hydration, acne scars, and anti-aging.”

This is something echoed by professional makeup artist and skin therapist Joyce Connor, who said that Coleman’s reaction, though initially distressing, is not unusual for microneedling. “The microneedling has punctured the skin’s surface, causing damage, and the histamines in the skin are reacting to repair itself,” Connor told Newsweek. “The side effects will eventually reduce and reveal much healthier skin.”

In recent years, Korea has become a destination for medical tourism—and particularly for aesthetic procedures. The phenomenon, known as K-beauty tourism, reflects the popularity of Korean beauty products and procedures.

K-beauty practices have soared in popularity in recent years as the rise of K-pop culture saw more people turning to multi-step beauty routines to achieve their perfect skin.

Connor highlighted the importance of assessing the skin’s condition before undergoing treatments. “If your skin is very dehydrated prior to the treatment I would advise doing two weeks of homecare to hydrate the skin first, especially if this is the first time,” she said. “Excessive and invasive treatments like this can have the opposite effect we desire.”

Now back home, Coleman wanted to share her experience on TikTok to warn others about the risks of trying new skincare treatments in unfamiliar settings. After sharing her experience online, Coleman had lots of advice. “I wouldn’t necessarily warn against microneedling, but I do believe in doing thorough research and preparation. Due to this experience, so many people have reached out to help me on different platforms from personal experiences, to skin experts. I am so grateful,” she said.

Coleman is also a nurse practitioner in functional medicine, helping people heal the root causes of inflammation and imbalances. She believes that there is a connection between gut and skin health and is working to share her experiences of both on her TikTok page.

With her skin now healed, she hopes that her experience will help others in the future. “Ultimately, everything isn’t for everyone. Skin health is deeply personal, and what works for one person might not work for another,” she said.