By Mats Sumellin
Over the years, a skin-care technique named microdermabrasion has grown in popularity. This noninvasive treatment is painless, and most of all, affordable. Those who would like some skin enhancement but lasers, injections or other cosmetic procedures are worrisome, it is a good option.
Some of the benefits to be gained are to lessen age spot prominence, make rougher skin smoother, make lines and wrinkles less prominent, pores can be made less visible, all because of microdermabrasion. The procedure actually makes it easier for your skin care products to penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin and help build collagen which gives skin its youthful appearance.
Microdermabrasion is a powerful exfoliation performed with special equipment. This process removes the uppermost layer of dead skin cells from the skin.
A compressor is used to suck air through a wand that is hand-held, as part of the crystal microdermabrasion equipment. A vacuum is produced as the wand makes contact with a patient's skin. Aluminum oxide crystals are directed across the skin's surface, picking up dead surface skin cells along the way. The crystals and dead skin cells are quickly sucked up through a different tube in the same wand.
Microdermabrasion is also done using a diamond-tip, no crystals are involved with this method, but vacuum technology is still applied. Similarly, a vacuum is used but this time, the diamond tip does the work of dislodging the dead skin cells. Different kinds of tips are selected based on the type of skin the patient has, and how uneven the texture is. Crystal microdermabrasion is a little more comfortable that diamond-tip, but they have the same result for the patient. For sensitive skin, this is the more beneficial option.
The skill of the treatment provider can improve upon the already significant effects of microdermabrasion. Multiple treatments are usually suggested in order to get the most from this technique, skin texture and type will determine how many are needed. Depending on the results that you want, your skin's overall condition, the issues that are present and your response to the first treatment a plan of care can be structured. Patients in many cases are delighted after they see the effects that the first session brings, but for a comprehensive treatment for all skin concerns, more visits are usually necessary. In most cases, every several months a patient should have another session in order to have the effects be ongoing. An expert treatment provider will know how to set up the equipment in the proper way, according to the skin type, so that patients with overly sensitive skin can also take advantage of this technique.
Side effects do result at times from microdermabrasion, although they are usually minimal from this non-surgical treatment. Basically, it's like using a sandblaster on the skin, so naturally, it will react to that temporarily. Skin sensitivity sometimes occurs, along with minimal bruising and skin can be slightly red and tight feeling. It goes away within hours, and is expected. Other side effects can be tiny skin abrasions and small bleeding spots. Anaesthetics are not necessary with microdermabrasion, no dangerous chemicals are involved on the sensitive skin on your face, and there are minimal risks involved. This process is much easier on the skin and safer than facial peels that involve chemicals or lasers.
