microderm

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Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion is a very popular skin care treatment aimed at improving skin texture. I have a lot of patients coming to my practice with huge expectations about this treatment that they think is very special or miraculous or aggressive. They expect amazing results. In fact, microdermabrasion is a very gentle, very safe treatment that offers minimal long term benefit. The procedure is one of the most popular treatments in our office, because patients love how their skin looks and feels afterward. They use words like "smooth", "touchable", "kissable", "glowing", and "vibrant".

Time inevitably takes its toll on our skin; exposure to the sun and antiradicals causes it to become damaged and dull. Fortunately, there is a simple solution. Microdermerbrasion can minimize fine line and wrinkles, acne scarring and even lighten age spots. It can be performed on any part of the body. By gently and precisely exfoliating the surface of the skin over a course of weekly sessions, microdermabrasion treatments whisk away years of skin damage, revealing a more beautiful new you.

FAQ

What is microdermabrasion? This is a mechanical technique used to rejuvenate skin.

What is microdermabrasion used for?
Doctors first began using dermabrasion in about 1950 to help people with facial scarring, particularly from acne. This treatment technique was very aggressive and required three to four weeks of downtime. In the 1990’s, a variation of this technique was developed that was much less aggressive. This technique is now used for minor skin resurfacing. The major benefit is in skin texture. But think "subtle". The prefix "micro" that has been tacked in front of "dermabrasion" is there for a reason. Whereas dermabrasion can remove a layer of skin thicker than a piece of paper, microdermabrasion removes only the microscopically thin outer layer of dead skin cells (the stratum corneum). There are claims that microdermabrasion will reduce pigmentation. Maybe it will, because the outermost layer of skin does contain some pigment. But most of the pigment that is visible in your skin is in the next layer down, the epidermis, and this layer is minimally affected by microdermabrasion. If pigmentation is an issue for you, microdermbrasion and chemical peels are much better options.

Some claim that microdermabrasion will reduce pore size. Well, not in our office! It does a great job of improving the appearance of blackheads by removing dirt and debris stuck to the surface of the oil that is trapped in the pore, but it won't reduce pore size.nd others claim that it will flatten scars such as acne scars. Again, maybe it will, with enough sessions, but acne scars are relatively deep injuries to the skin. For treatments to be successful, they must be aggressive. This means there will be downtime, risk, and discomfort to reduce acne scarring. True dermabrasion and deep chemical peels are other methods available for treating acne scars.

what are the benefits of microdermabrasion?

This procedure removes the outermost layer of skin cells, the stratum corneum.
This layer of dead skin cells can make your skin look opaque and grey, and it makes your skin feel rough. Removing this layer freshens up your appearance. It makes your skin transparent, glowing, and smooth (and in the words of one of my patients, "Oh, so touchable").Over several treatments, it will also take a layer or two off raised scars and flatten them. This is not easy to accomplish. In my office, I don't promise that microdermabrasion will improve scars.

What kinds of microdermabrasion machines are there?

There are currently three types of devices in use: Crystal, Diamond and Vibration. Crystal devices are by far the most common. This technique involves shooting fine crystals over the skin at high velocity and immediately vacuuming them away. As the crystals hit the skin, they cause exfoliation of dead skin cells and other debris. The flow of crystals and the degree of suction can be adjusted to vary the depth of treatment. Diamond devices use diamond-encrusted hand pieces that are pulled across the skin to exfoliate. The diamonds are of different sizes for doing fine, medium, or coarse microdermabrasion. The hand pieces are also connected to suction to remove debris as it is scraped off the skin.

Vibration devices use a set of small hand pieces that look like miniature ping pong paddles. Like the diamond hand pieces, they are encrusted with fine, medium, or coarse crystals. The paddles are connected to a device that vibrates the paddles at very high frequency. The paddles are massaged over the skin to exfoliate it.What areas can be treated?
Any skin can be treated, but the most common areas treated are the face, neck, décolleté, and hands, legs and buttocks.

Who is a good candidate?

Almost everyone from 20 to 80 could benefit from microdermabrasion. Microdermabrasion should be thought of as partially restorative (returning skin to better health) but mostly a maintenance technique.

How are treatments done?

After cleansing the skin, the microdermabrasion is turned on.
The applicator is applied to the skin and passed over it in short strokes (or small circles with the vibrator type of microdermabrasion). Two or three passes are made over the entire face, with the direction of the passes altered slightly to avoid streaking. Treating the entire face takes 20-30 minutes.Do these treatments hurt?
When done properly, microdermabrasion is painless.
People say it feels like a cat licking your skin.

How many treatments are required and how long do the effects last?

Beneficial effects of microdermabrasion can be seen and felt immediately following the first treatment, and the results can improve with each treatment. With a single treatment improvement will occur in the smoothness and clarity of skin. Over the course of several treatments, you may also notice an improvement in fine lines, pigmentation, and minor scars. A lot of people use this treatment to freshen up their skin prior to special events like weddings and other parties. Microdermabrasion does not provide permanent improvement, and maintenance treatments are suggested at monthly intervals

What can I expect following treatment?
You will be a bit red for an hour or two, and that's it.
There should be no scratches or oozing.What skin care do I need following treatment?
You need to be careful about sun exposure for a few days.
The treatment has removed most of the stratum corneum (the outermost layer of skin made up of dead cells). This layer provides some protection from sunlight. A sunscreen with SPF 30 is a must to protect the skin from sun burn.

What are the side effects of microdermabrasion?
There are virtually no side effects. The crystals can cause eye irritation.

You should remove contact lenses before treatment. Eye protection (wet eye pads) will be applied. Treatments can trigger cold sores, if you are prone to them. Ask your doctor for a prescriptive medication to prevent the outbreak of cold sores. With active coldsores,treatment could spread the virus to areas of the skin that were never affected b before.