If you’ve ever looked in the mirror and noticed that your skin appears drab or unhealthy, you may want to consider microdermabrasion. Environmental issues, as well as aging, affect the health of our skin. Microdermabrasion is a non-invasive procedure that physically exfoliates your skin and is a very gentle skin resurfacing technique.
Microdermabrasion is ideal for many people and significantly rejuvenates your skin’s condition. This article will discuss how microdermabrasion works and its many benefits.
How Does Microdermabrasion Work?
Before your appointment, it helps to know what to expect with microdermabrasion. Microdermabrasion is a gentle, effective way to renew your skin. It triggers the body’s wound healing process by physically buffing away the skin’s outermost layer, resulting in a renewed skin surface, fewer blemishes, and a more even complexion.
Microdermabrasion also stimulates the production of collagen, an essential protein that gives your skin its shape, structure, and suppleness. You will find your skin surface feels firmer and smoother to the touch and has better texture and contour.
How Is Microdermabrasion Done?
Microdermabrasion procedures are offered in many salons, spas, and dermatologist offices, and it does not require sedation or anesthesia. Before your treatment, the clinician will cleanse your skin and give you protective eyewear.
Microdermabrasion treatments are performed with a diamond-tipped handpiece or a crystal-based device that buffs away old skin using a jet and fine crystals. The vacuum attachment sucks away the dead skin cells and debris as the machine passes over your skin.
Usually, the clinician passes over each area two or three times during the treatment, with the session taking between 30 and 60 minutes. Follow-up microdermabrasion treatments should be performed at least one week apart to ensure the skin has enough time to heal. People with more sensitive skin may need up to eight weeks to recover.
The Many Benefits of Microdermabrasion
Many people benefit from microdermabrasion, and treatments improve the skin and reduce the appearance of many skin issues.
1. Reduction in Acne
Acne results from pores becoming clogged in the skin with dead skin cells, debris, and sebum, an oil your glands produce to maintain hydration. As pores become clogged, bacteria begin to grow within them, leading to blackheads, whiteheads, and other forms of inflammatory acne. It effectively reduces sebum production and exfoliates dead skin cells, which reduces pore blockage and helps avoid future breakouts.
2. Smoothing Fine Lines and Wrinkles
Let’s face it, as we age, many of us develop fine lines and wrinkles due to genetics and sun damage. Signs of aging, like fine lines and wrinkles, increase as our skin gradually loses elasticity and firmness.
Microdermabrasion treatments effectively stimulate an increase in collagen production which aids and fills in and smoothing the fine lines and wrinkles, Improving the texture and appearance of aging skin.
3. Treating Hyperpigmentation
Hyperpigmentation is usually caused by inflammation, acne, or sun damage. It is a condition where areas of your skin appear darker than the surrounding skin. Some cosmetic procedures, such as laser treatments or chemical peels, may also trigger hyperpigmentation if performed poorly or with improper tools.
Melasma which commonly affects women, is a type of hyperpigmentation that develops blotchy patches of darker skin. It is thought to be exasperated by hormonal changes and sun exposure, especially during and after pregnancy.
Hyperpigmentation is generally the result of an increase in the production of melanin. Microdermabrasion helps to even out your skin tone by slowing melanin production.
4. Decreases the Appearance of Acne Scars
Many people suffer from acne and sometimes end up with significant scarring. When you have degradation and unstable collagen production, it can result in scarring along the area healing from acne breakouts. The most common type of acne scar is called an atrophic scar, an indention that happens when damaged tissue below the skin surface cannot regenerate.
Microdermabrasion treatments are effective in treating acne scars because they stimulate collagen production. This process allows the scars to fill out smoothly and resurface your skin. Microdermabrasion treatments are clinically effective in treating atrophic acne scars; however, it is ineffective for treating keloid or raised scars.
5. Shrink Pores
Various things can cause large pores, including collagen loss, photodamage, acne, and build-up of cosmetic products and excess sebum. Enlarged pores are prone to acne forming on your skin. Microdermabrasion is highly effective at removing dirt, oil, and debris from pores, reducing the risk of them clogging.
6. Reduce the Appearance of Stretch Marks
Stretchmarks are often the result of a sudden change in weight or post-pregnancy, lower melanin production, and changes to the collagen fibers in the skin. Microdermabrasion is as effective as topical tretinoin cream for reducing the appearance of stretch marks and is more effective when used with platelet-rich plasma(PRP).
7. Enhance Transdermal Absorption
Microdermabrasion increases skin permeability and enhances its ability to absorb serum infusions.
Microdermabrasion Limits
While microdermabrasion is highly effective at treating many skin conditions, it is not recommended for anyone who:
- Is having an active acne breakout
- Is experiencing an active skin infection, such as human papillomavirus, impetigo, herpes simplex, or varicella-zoster virus
- Has rosacea or telangiectasis
- Has applied topical isotretinoin in the past six months
Occasionally microdermabrasion may reactivate dormant viruses such as herpes in someone who has previously had the disease.
If you have an allergy to aluminum, tell your doctor or esthetician ahead of time. They can use diamond-tipped handpieces or another type of crystal instead of the commonly used crystal microdermabrasion handpiece.
Side Effects
Even though microdermabrasion is gentle and requires no sedation, there may be mild side effects, including the following:
- Redness
- Tenderness
- Bruising
- Swelling
Schedule Your Skincare Appointment Today
For many people, microdermabrasion is the ideal choice for skin rejuvenation, eliminating uneven skin tone, calming acne and inflammation, and resurfacing their skin. Other alternatives include microneedling, chemical peels, laser resurfacing, oxygen infusion facials, and other medspa treatments.
At Dulce Lash and Skin, our goal is to help you look and feel your best! Our team of skilled expert aestheticians is here to help you design a personalized plan to improve your skin.
Our specialized treatments include Microneedling w/PRP, Oxygen Facial Treatments, and IPL laser. We also offer relaxing facial treatments, microblading and eyelash extensions, lifts, and tints.
Contact us today to book an appointment to rejuvenate your skin and freshen your look!