The skin is cleaned in several stages, depending on the level of contamination. There are two main types of cleansing: mechanical and ultrasonic. Combined cleansing combines both of these methods.

Combined cleansing is indicated in cases where one method is not enough to achieve the desired result - for example, with deep comedones (blackheads) and pustules. During combined cleansing, deep comedones and pustules are removed by mechanical action, and surface impurities are removed using ultrasound or vacuum.