Facial Procedures : Microdermabrasion Next » Chemical Peels
Professional Microdermabrasion and Dermabrasion
Professional Microdermabrasion
Professional microdermabrasion treatments are completely different from at-home microdermabrasion kits (which are more like fine scrubs). Professional microdermabrasion is much stronger and can reduce the appearance of light wrinkles, scars, and hyperpigmentation. As far as using microdermabrasion for active acne, it could help but would take multiple treatment sessions. The extent of improvement also depends on how your skin responds.
Microdermabrasion is becoming increasingly popular at spas and dermatologists’ offices. Like chemical peels, you can purchase microdermabrasion treatments as packages (of 5 or 6) because you will need more than one anyway for your desired results. You generally get microdermabrasion spaced one month apart to give your skin time to heal and regenerate.
There is little to no downtime associated with this facial procedure. Your skin might be red and pink for the rest of the day and maybe even the next day, but that's about it. (Some people also experience some tiny breakouts after microdermabrasion.)
Microdermabrasion is performed using either a diamond tip or tiny crystals. With crystal microdermabrasion, tiny crystal particles are used to exfoliate your skin. With the diamond tip, a wand-like device is used to exfoliate your skin instead. Both of these methods exfoliate your skin and then use a sucking motion to suck away the exfoliating grains and any dead skin cells.
It is this sucking motion that many people believe to help regenerate collagen, however, there isn’t much evidence backing up this claim. If you have skin prone to broken capillaries, you may want to avoid microdermabrasion because the suction could be overly irritating.
Dermabrasion
Microdermabrasion is often confused with dermabrasion. They sound like the same thing, but they aren’t. Dermabrasion is a much more serious cosmetic procedure.
In dermabrasion, the surface of your skin is pretty much sanded away, using lasers or mini-electric sanders (less common now). You will generally be give anesthetics (or a numbing cream on your face) because this treatment can be very painful. Like TCA peels, there is also downtime associated with dermabrasion. Your skin will be red and irritated for several weeks until it gradually heals and regenerates.
For both microdermabrasion and dermabrasion treatments, make sure to stay out of the sun and wear a good sunscreen. However, before you get any of these procedures done, make sure the person giving you the treatment is a qualified professional. Ask your friends for good aestheticians, dermatologists, or plastic surgeons.
(On a side note, I probably would be okay with getting microdermabrasion and "spa" type places, but for dermabrasion, laser, or chemical peels, I'd go to a dermatologist.)
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