Microdermabrasion*
Your skin is exposed to environmental elements every day. Over the years, the sun's rays, pollution, and other damaging agents can take a toll on your skin. Microdermabrasion treatment can help reduce or eliminate the wrinkles and fine lines, "crow's feet," age spots, light acne scars, and undesired pigmentation that may appear on the skin over time.
What Is Microdermabrasion?
Microdermabrasion is a non-chemical, non-invasive procedure that uses a spray of microcrystals to remove the outermost layer of dry, dead skin cells and reveal younger, healthier-looking skin. Microdermabrasion also encourages the production of a new underlying layer of skin cells with higher levels of collagen and elastin, which further improves your skin's appearance. Microdermabrasion is much gentler than dermabrasion. Dermabrasion is a more intensive procedure used to treat deeper facial lines, extreme sun damage, and scars.
Microdermabrasion Candidates
In general, good microdermabrasion candidates are adults who are in good physical health, with realistic expectations for the outcome of their treatment. People who do not have enough available time to undergo more invasive skin resurfacing treatments such as dermabrasion, laser skin resurfacing, or chemical peels may also be good candidates for microdermabrasion.
Risks and Benefits of Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion is a safe, non-surgical, "lunch hour" procedure that provides many benefits. Microdermabrasion reduces or eliminates fine facial lines, wrinkles, and other signs of aging; it improves the appearance of acne scars and other light scarring; and it gives skin of all colors and types a fresh, healthy-looking glow. It does all this with virtually no side effects. And because microdermabrasion uses non-allergenic crystals to treat the skin, it is an excellent treatment for skin that is sensitive to chemicals. Microdermabrasion does not present any serious risks when it is performed by a qualified provider. Some people may experience slight skin irritation after microdermabrasion. Since everyone's skin and health history differ to some degree, the risks and benefits of microdermabrasion must be considered on a case-by-case basis.
The Microdermabrasion Procedure
In a microdermabrasion procedure, the dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon uses a handheld device that sprays fine crystals onto the surface of your skin, providing gentle abrasion, or "polishing," to remove the outer layer of old skin cells. Each treatment takes about 30 minutes to an hour and six to twelve microdermabrasion treatments at two- to three-week intervals are recommended for optimal results.
Microdermabrasion Recovery and Results
Microdermabrasion is often called a "lunch hour" treatment because it's a quick procedure that can be performed at a doctor's office during your lunch hour with little or no discomfort. The treated skin may be pink after the treatment, but this will usually fade within a few hours. You can apply makeup soon after undergoing microdermabrasion to conceal any visible signs of the treatment. Microdermabrasion recovery and results are among the most favorable of all the noninvasive facial treatments available today.
*info courtesy of docshop.com |
