The Skinny on Microdermabrasion

The Skinny on Microdermabrasion

There is that tagline which goes, “It’s hard to face your problem if the problem is your face.” There is still some truth in that statement, but microdermabrasion practically rendered it false. Acne scars, fine lines, enlarged pores discoloration, dullness—these are five major skin concerns people from all walks of life encounter everyday, and microdermabrasion has the power to take care of these problems.

Microdermabrasion is a process that involves spraying very small crystals on your skin using a handheld device serving as a suction tube once it comes into contact with your skin. The crystals, upon release, act as abrasives used to scrub off the skin’s damaged outer layer to expose the fresh one underneath. The vacuum sucks in both crystals and dead skin for later disposal. The whole process is done in about half an hour. Microdermabrasion is a simple procedure, but its effects are seen almost immediately after a session. Your will skin experience slight swelling but it can go unnoticed, and it will subside within a few hours of treatment.

Microdermabrasion takes several sessions within a period of eight to twelve before treatment is finished, but the expenses and discomfort involved are nowhere near to those of plastic surgery. Because it’s both affordable and relatively painless, microdermabrasion has become quite a popular cosmetic procedure. It virtually has no side effect, and it doesn’t take much recovery time after treatment. Another good thing is microdermabrasion isn’t limited to facial skin. It can be used on your arms, neck, hands, and back. In effect, you can do a body polish using microdermabrasion and have healthy skin all over.

Due to the immense popularity of microdermabrasion, it’s not surprising to see a lot of over-the-counter kits in the market today. These kits contain a small handheld device used for suction and crystal-spraying, and one or two jars of cream containing crystals. These microdermabrasion-simulating kits are definitely much cheaper than a visit to the dermatologist. However, self-implementation of microdermabrasion can be messy. It also leads to over-exfoliation of your skin which causes conspicuous swelling and stinging sensations.

Microdermabrasion has also its limitations. It only works on the surface of your skin and doesn’t penetrate deep into the heart of the problem. It’s essentially a quick fix and not a long-term solution to skin problems. To maintain its good effects, you should have regular sessions. Microdermabrasion also doesn’t work well with pitted scars, particularly the ice-pick kind, since removing a layer of skin will only make them more jagged and visible. Microdermabrasion doesn’t work for deep wrinkles for the same reason.