Microdermabrasion

Regain Your Youthful Skin Without Chemicals And Without Surgery

Microdermabrasion is popular skin-refreshening technique in medical and day spas, doctor's practices, and salons all over. It is a cosmetic procedure that uses light abrasion to remove, partially or completely, the dead and outermost surface of one's skin--the stratum croneum. In layman's terms, microdermabrasion takes rough, tiny grains and uses them to buff away the outer layer of one's skin. Normally done on one's face, neck, arms, chest, and hands, microdermabrasion also goes by the name of microderm.

Microdermabrasion is used to remove or even lessen dark spots on the skin, scars, and sun-damaged areas of one's skins. It is also effectively used in treating stretch marks, fine wrinkles, and scars left from acne. This procedure is reported to be mildly painful, but requires no use of any anesthesia. Various products and numerous treatments makes use of this buffing-away method; including those offered in medical or cosmetic practices, high-end salons, and even in the advertised scrubs and creams used at home.

Recent media coverage tends to champion microdermabrasion as a kind of instant facelift. It is hailed and advertised as an effective alternative to the more expensive but familiar choices--chemical peels, Botox injections, and plastic surgery. The familiar choices are also invasive and expensive when compared to microdermabrasion. One clue to its popularity is that more men are reported to be trying it, instead of the traditional cosmetic surgical solutions.

The different microdermabrasion methods include mechanical abrasion coming from jets of either zinc oxide or aluminum oxide crystal, a roughened surface, or organic particles. The particles an the removed materials end up being vacuumed off using a handpiece or a wand from which the abrasive particles came. It is more common to apply the procedure using a wand with a rough surface. Undergoing microdermabrasion can and is often used with treatments offered in facial spas.

The procedure works in two ways--first, by cleansing one's skin pores (and therefore heals acne found on the skin), and second, by removing dead skin cells (and in the process prevents pimples from appearing again). Microdermabrasion includes techniques that include crystal and noncrystal machines on one hand, and at-home peeling systems on the other.

The Peeling technique does away with harsh chemicals, such as metal oxides and zinc, and relies instead on micro-crystals that acts as debris-leechers. The process, which is often reported to be akin to a deep-tissue massage, is often done quickly and easily in spas, clinics, and even at home.

The Corundum Crystal Machine technique uses corundum or aluminum oxide for four reasons. First they are good for abrading and cutting due to their coarseness and evenness. Second, they are cheaper but their hardness is second to diamonds. Third, they cause no allergies. Fourth, their bactericidal properties are good for acne treatment.

Another crystal machine technique exists, but uses other crystals, like those of sodium bicarbonate, magnesium oxide, and sodium chloride. There are also techniques that do no make use of crystals, and instead devices with diamond tips are used to abrade the skin.

Microdermabrasion has its limits, despite the media-mileage it may enjoy. It can be used to remove scars when the scar is above the surrounding skin, but it becomes less effective when the scars have sunk in. Contrary to what some people believe, microdermabrasion does not seem to stimulate formation of collagens, or at least there is little evidence to support the claim that it does. Lastly, the procedure can be used to acne treatment buy only if repeatedly applied.