What is Microdermabrasion?
Microdermabrasion is a mildly invasive procedure wherein abrasion crystals are sprayed on the skin to scrub off the topmost layer. It creates gentle abrasions just enough to remove dead skin cells. It’s basically a procedure of exfoliating and rejuvenating the skin. That’s why aside from mild acne problems, fine lines, dull skin, brown spots, and age spots are slowly get rid of after each treatment.
Keep in mind, however, that it does work for all forms of acne. On deep acne problems, microdermabrasion treatment is not recommended. Keloids scars and stretch marks do not suit the microdermabrasion treatment. Still, the treatment suits all skin types and colors.
After a microdermabrasion treatment procedure, down time is experienced but this will be very minimal. When the desired result for each procedure has been reached, microdermabrasion products will do the job of further healing and protecting the new skin.
You can see an improvement of the skin surface immediately right after a procedure as pictures of you will be taken before and after. Your skin is expected to recover after a day, but you will still feel that “burned from brushing” feeling for few days. Expect complete healing after a week or two. The overall effect of microdermabrasion is a softer and smoother skin.
Microdermabrasion treatment is almost the same as dermabrasion, the difference lies in the depth of abrasion.
How Does The Treatment work?
In microdermabrasion treatment, a crystal microdermabrasion device and microdermabrasion crystals are needed. The crystal microdermabrasion device has a compressor that draws in the microdermabrasion crystals. It has a wand that acts as a vacuum when it touches the skin. The microdermabrasion crystals blasted off on the skin picks up the dead skin surface, and then the wand will suck them up, ending up in a disposal bag attached to the device.
How deep the abrasion is determined by the skin professional or esthetician. Sometimes, he or she concentrates more on the thicker skin or those areas that needed more exfoliation while being more careful in areas of the mouth and nose.
Prior to carrying out the procedure, the skin professional is all suited up as part of the standard operating procedure in the clinic, like the wearing of gloves, a mask, and safety goggles for eye protection.
It’s not uncommon that you may feel uncomfortable at times, but it must not be painful. If ever you feel any pain, tell the skin professional immediately.
Types of Microdermabrasion
The type of microdermabrasion depends on what microdermabrasion crystals are used for exfoliation. It has evolved from rocks, stones and shells to crystals, particle-free diamond tips and particle-free bristle tips.
Some of the many microdermabrasion media used:
Aluminium oxide crystals (also known as corundum) – These crystals, which are in 100 micrometers in size, are sprayed and vacuumed up through the use of a wand (which is a part of a microdermabrasion device). Sometimes microdermabrasion that uses this type of crystals is introduced as particle resurfacing, power peel, derma-peel, or Parisian peel on some skin spa or salon.
Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) – Yes, baking soda is becoming a popular alternative to metal-based microdermabrasion crystals. Sodium bicarbonate is organic, water soluble, antiseptic, has a soothing effect on the skin as well as possesses a neutral pH balance.
Sodium chloride crystals (salt) – Unlike aluminum oxide microdermabrasion crystals which are harder, salt crystals are lighter so that it takes less air pressure to distribute them to the skin. Remember that using too much pressure during the procedure can increase redness and soreness.
Organic grains – Smooth out the skin as well as remove superficial skin problems using materials made from trees, plants, and some agricultural crops.
Diamond tips – The diamond tip carry out the exfoliating process, while a vacuum is maintained to suck up the removed dead skin cells. Natural and synthetic types are both used in the procedure. Aside from producing the same results, its main feature is to provide the patient with lesser discomfort and no crystal residue. This better for those with sensitive skin.
Bristle tips – These are flexible so that they move with the skin. Such pliancy minimizes skin irritation resulting in redness and tenderness after the treatment.
Water – Hydrafacial, as it is named, is the latest technology that uses water to exfoliate while infusing the skin with serums.
Is it safe?
How safe your microdermabrasion procedure will depend on the following:
Your skin doctor. Is he a registered dermatologist or skin professional? With this, you will know the credibility of the professional that you’re going to entrust your skin.
Do you talk about your skin problem thoroughly? It’s important that you are keen with what your skin doctor is telling you about your skin problem and the treatment it should undergo. However, do not just accept whatever he or she says. Empower yourself by reading about the problem, the suggested procedure, and the potential alternatives.
Standard Operating Procedure – is this being followed? For example, eye irritation happens because of crystals getting into the unprotected eye, wherein the patient and the skin doctor should be both wearing safety goggles. Such an incident will only happen if skin doctor is being negligent and did not follow SOP.
Heed the doctor’s advice. Follow the doctor’s after-care procedure such as avoiding sun exposure for the first week or so after microdermabrasion. Going to beach is definitely a no-no just yet.
Skin condition. If you have an extremely sensitive skin, diabetes, vascular conditions like rosacea, skin inflammation, bacterial infections, lack of tactile sensation, keloid scarring, cuts and abrasions, or have gotten Botox within 72 hours, microdermabrasion is definitely not for you.
How long does it last?
The effects of microdermabrasion depend on how well you take good care of your skin after a series of treatment. Yes, microdermabrasion involves a series of treatment. It does take effect immediately with just a single procedure.
Home, clinic, or spa: Where to get treatment?
Home microdermabrasion has different results compared to microdermabrasion done in spas or clinics, although both work by removing the topmost layer dead skin cells in the skin.
Home microdermabrasion kit usually acts more like of a scrub. Sometimes, it becomes too abrasive that results in skin irritation. Microdermabrasion home kits prices could reach up to $100, depending on the brand product.
Microdermabrasion in spas and clinics is where true microdermabrasion happens. There are specialized equipments used and skin doctors or professionals that can really assess the exfoliation. The whole treatment cost depends on the number of procedures you underwent and/or the spa or clinic you’ve been to. Treatment could reach up to $600 or more.
Alternatives to Microdermabrasion
There are many alternatives to microdermabrasion if it’s not an available option for you and it includes the following:
Chemical peel – where a combination of chemicals that soften the upper skin layer and leaves skin smooth and renewed.
Laser resurfacing – uses lasers to remove the dead skin layer and this is very specific in targeting problem areas. It also targets skin problems like acne through the inner layer of the skin.
Ultrasonic skin care – a patented gel is applied over the target area after which an ultrasonic wand is passed over it. The wand heats up the gel, breaks it down, and allows it to penetrate into the skin. This will help stimulate the production of collagen to eliminate the skin’s uneven pigmentation, wrinkles, and scars resulting from acne and surgery.
MyoFacial – uses the concept of burning fat to build muscle resulting in smooth, younger looking skin. Electrical impulses are utilized to rouse the smaller muscles in the face – building and making them taut as well as stretching the skin to get rid of wrinkles and other skin problems as well as enhancing the skin’s thickness.
Vibradermabrasion – is quite similar to microdermabrasion in the sense that both are forms of mechanical peels. Vibradermabrasion uses paddles which vibrate at a very fast speed. These paddles are also covered in minute abrasive particles that together with the high speed vibrations effectively remove the top layer of the skin.
Even though microdermabrasion is only a mildly invasive treatment for acne scar removal as well as for a host of other skin problems, it is does not guarantee significant results after just one treatment (unless you only have very light and mild scars). More often than not, it requires a series of visits to your skin doctor to achieve the desired results. After-care guidelines must also be strictly followed since the skin is still raw and very vulnerable to irritants.
You may want to consider other alternatives to microdermabrasion with regards to the number of treatments you need and the cost of each treatment since this could really add up.