What is Microdermabrasion?

What is microdermabrasion?

Microdermabrasion is a treatment that gently removes the top layer of dead and damaged cells to reveal fresher, healthier-looking skin. The result is brighter skin, with a more even tone and smoother texture. It is a great treatment for cleaning out the pores and giving skin a bit of a glow for a few days. It also improves the performance of your skin-care regimen by allowing products to penetrate the skin more easily.

While microdermabrasion has been recommended to reduce the appearance of acne scars and stretch marks, the effect on these issues is usually subtle. Unless the acne scars are very superficial, microdermabrasion is not going to do enough for them. You need deeper resurfacing for acne scarring, such as microneedling or laser treatments that go down into the dermis.  

Most people are good candidates for microdermabrasion, but people with rosacea or who are prone to broken blood vessels should avoid this treatment and consider other treatment options.

It’s also less recommended for people with active acne. If you have red bumps or deeper cysts, you may experience some irritation or flaring of your acne. 

People with sensitive skin or active acne aren’t good candidates for microdermabrasion.  

What are the pros and cons of microdermabrasion?

Pros:

The treatment takes less than an hour, and downtime is minimal to nonexistent.

Results can be immediate.

This is a noninvasive, safe procedure. You won’t need anesthesia or a numbing agent.

It’s safe for most skin types and tones.

Relatively cheap procedure.

Cons:

You’ll need more than one session for optimal results—and even then, the effect may be subtle.

Side effects are rare, but you might experience some swelling, tenderness, or redness for a few hours after your treatment.

How does microdermabrasion work?

There are two methods: crystal microdermabrasion and diamond microdermabrasion. Both are relatively quick, ranging anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour.

Crystal Microdermabrasion:

With crystal microdermabrasion, superfine crystals of (typically) aluminum oxide are sprayed over the skin. Because the system is on a closed loop, the crystals and dead skin cells are simultaneously vacuumed into a receptacle in the microdermabrasion machine and discarded. To protect your eyes, you’ll need to remove contact lenses and wear goggles. 

In the hands of an inexperienced provider, the procedure may spray crystals that can get in your eyes or lungs.

Diamond Microdermabrasion:

This technique uses a wand with a diamond-encrusted tip to exfoliate and resurface the skin with each pass. As with crystal microdermabrasion, the particles are vacuumed away with the same wand.

This form of microdermabrasion has the advantages of being safer for your eyes and ensuring that you won’t breathe in any particles. Some doctors also believe that the diamond tip reduces the redness and dryness that can occur after treatment. It’s also less messy.

What happens after microdermabrasion?

It’s normal for skin to be pink, tight, or dry following a microdermabrasion procedure. These side effects should subside over the next day, with the use of a gentle moisturizer.

For the first few days afterward, avoid using topical anti-aging or anti-acne products that contain salicylic acid, retinols, or benzoyl peroxide, which can irritate your skin.

In the next few weeks, your skin may be more sensitive to the elements, so it’s important to use a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.

Is microdermabrasion safe?

Microdermabrasion is a safe procedure at any age. But, like most procedures, the experience of the person doing the microdermabrasion is the key to getting a good result, with few adverse reactions.

Microdermabrasion is not recommended for people with undiagnosed skin lesions, facial warts, autoimmune disorders, or uncontrolled diabetes. You should also avoid microdermabrasion if you:

-Currently taking isotretinoin (sold as Absorica, Amnesteem, Claravis, Myorisan, Sotret, and Zenatane in the U.S.)

-Are using topical retinoids (Retin-A, Tazorac, or Differin)

-Have inflamed acne at the time of your procedure

-Have sensitive skin from rosacea, eczema, cold sores, or wounds

-Have recently had a chemical peel or laser resurfacing and your skin is still healing

Does microdermabrasion work for the long term?

Usually microdermabrasion works to brighten and smooth skin, results are temporary, lasting about two to four weeks as it doesn’t significantly affect the living, deeper layers of the skin. For more pronounced acne scars and wrinkles, alternative procedures like microneedling should be considered.

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www.Lilianalaser.ca