Beauty And The Blog

Microdermabrasion is an anti-aging and restorative skin care procedure being used by many women. There are good candidates for this treatment and some who should stay way clear of it. In general, this is a great tool for treating aging skin, dark and unwanted pigmentation, acne scarring, blackheads, fine lines or wrinkles, and thickened or dull skin. It is also useful in reducing the appearance of enlarged pores.

Women who have any of the following issues should not consider Microdermabrasion. Rosacea, active acne, dermatitis, any type of lesion, eczema or psoriasis, cold sores, hepatitis, active diabetes, broken or fragile capillaries, and anyone taking prescription blood thinners. Anyone who has taken the drug Accutane should wait 6-12 months before having treatment. Your skin is in a highly sensitive state after the use of Accutane. If you are pregnant or nursing Microdermabrasion should be avoided. And if you are 14 years of age or younger. These last two issues are hormone related, you could end up with permanent discoloration.

OK, so now we have that out of the way. Are you a candidate?

If you are this is how it works and what you need to know.

Microdermabrasion is a non-invasive exfoliating treatment. Most Estheticians and Cosmetic Dermatologists will tell you it is painless or mildly uncomfortable. The latter is more closely the truth. In some instances it can be quite uncomfortable. Sensitivity varies from person to person. Also the settings chosen on the device itself will have an impact on comfort. So if it hurts, ask to have the settings lowered for more comfort.

It is important to remember that after treatment care should be taken to avoid additional chemical or manual exfoliation for a period of time. Also avoid direct sunlight, perfumes, makeup and heat for 48 hours. Use of a good broad spectrum sunscreen of no less than SPF 15 is essential. Follow up products may be recommended for you to use at home and it is a good idea to take this advice.

So what exactly happens during treatment? Microdermabrasion is friction. This friction is caused by tiny crystals of aluminum oxide being applied to the skin through air pressure. A hand held tube is applied to the surface of the skin that expels the crystals on to the skin. As the crystals hit the skin they break up dead skin cells and debris and are then vacuumed back off the skin by the same device.

Not all crystals are created equal, either. There are different sizes, the term for the size being ‘grit’. The larger the grit number, the finer the crystal. Kind of like grades of sand paper. A smaller crystal provides a smoother outcome to the procedure. What you want in grit is 100-120. Smaller than that can be inefficient, removing less dead skin and debris, as well as taking a longer time to do an inadequate job. Not good. Fast and top quality results are what you are looking for, right?

The treatment should include two passes over the skin in all areas, from two different directions. This assures a complete exfoliation and is the proper way to administer Microdermabrasion.

When I was doing Microdermabrasion in a spa I always applied a calming and anti-inflammatory masque after treatment. This is a nice way to finish as it reduces any residual redness or discomfort. Ask for this if not offered. Also make certain that the facility you select for your treatment uses an autoclave to sterilize instruments between treatments. Bacteria can be spread easily by tools that are not properly cleaned.

Microdermabrasion provides increased blood flow to the layers of your skin which supplies more nutrients to the area. This aids the skin in producing healthy new skin cells to replace the dead and unhealthy cells that are being removed. Increased collagen production takes place as well. Microdermabrasion can be a useful tool in anti-aging to reduce the appearance of some wrinkles and skin issues, leaving the skin smoother in texture.

I would like to suggest that you take great care in choosing where you have your treatment done. Make certain you have an experienced person providing the treatment. You will need anywhere from 5-10 treatments, 1-2 weeks apart. Then maintenance every 4-8 weeks. And with many things, you get what you pay for. Expect to pay in the range of $120-$180 per treatment, maybe more. But more should include some extras, such as that masque I mentioned, and maybe a nice hand and/or foot massage while the masque does its magic. That is what I did for my clients…

Now, I know that this post has been purely informational. You needed to know this stuff. Would you like to read a funny story about my own first experience with Microdermabrasion? You do, you know you do, who doesn’t like a funny story? Check this out.