Professional microdermabrasion treatments involve the use of a tool that resembles a small blowtorch. This torch emits crystals on the surface of the skin and then gently polishes it. This polishing gets rid of the old exfoliated old skin cells and encourages new skin cells to grow. The stimulation to the smaller blood vessels in the facial skin is often immediately obvious because it brings a fresh baby pink glow to the face.
These exfoliating and polishing treatments for sun-damaged skin are very popular. Microdermabrasian involves removing the superficial damaged layers in a non-invasive ways. These skin layers look healthier and the thickness of the skin is improved. However microdermabrasion works best if you attend a series of treatments so that the cells have the constant opportunity to renew and rejuvenate themselves. If you have acne scars or severe damage, you need a session every two to three weeks to achieve a smoother, healthier skin texture.
Before the advent of home microdermabrasion kits, microdermabrasion was always performed in an office. Each treatment usually took thirty minutes to an hour and cost about a hundred dollars. Now thankfully several cosmetic companies are putting out their own versions of this procedures which you can do yourself at home. This is a boon to busy and budget conscious women and men as most of these home dermabrasion kits only cost between $25 and $60 and contain several treatments in one kit. This allows you to turn your bathroom into a high efficiency salon that you can visit at your leisure to polish your skin. This type of home microdermabrasian kit is also ideal for the slightly shy teenager who would rather try to take care of his or her acne scars in private. Some microdermabrasian products promise results in about four weeks but of course this all depends on how often and how well you use the product.
Unlike the salons, these home microdermabrasian kits often contain creams or gels with small polishing granules. Some are thermogenic meaning the cream or gel heats up while it is on your face further stimulating your skin's circulation. Some kits also come with a battery operated skin polishers, which contain a slightly abrasive plastic pad to thoroughly scrub away dead skin cells and exfoliate the top layers of the skin.
Whether you are getting microdeermabrasion in a salon or using a home microdermabrasion kit it is quite common for the skin to suffer from some irritation and redness immediately after the treatment. This is due to the exfoliation of the skin, which eventually leads to the birth of new skin cells. These new skin cells will cause wrinkled skin to look plumper, dull skin to look more vibrant and skin with acne scars to appear less pitted. If you do suffer from mild skin irritation after a treatment then usually a mild anti-inflammatory painkiller such as Advil does the trick for relieving the discomfort.
For maximum results you should also avoid wearing make up for a few days after a treatment so that you don't hamper the renewal and healing of your newly abraded skin in any way.
If you have acne and are planning to use a home microdermabrasion kit you should be aware that these kits are not recommended to use in conjunction with Accutane, nor should you attempt microdermabrasion on your face if you have taken Accutane in the past six months. Skin that has been exposed to accutane is naturally thinner and redder and there is greater risk of injury if you abrade your skin in any way while you are taking this drug.
As microdermabrasion only removes the top superficial layers of the skin it is considered to be quite safe. Due to the fact that skin cells regenerate quickly any redness that does occur on your skin after using a microdermabrasion kit should clear up within an hour or two. Used correctly a microdermabrasion kit can save you the money you would normally spend repeatedly visiting a dermatologist, cosmetologist or plastic surgeon to get your skin resurfaced. However keep in mind that you will still need to do several treatments at home to achieve the same results that you would visiting a salon for several microdermabrasion sessions.
