What is Microdermabrasion? Microdermabrasion Facial Benefits | Vanity Planet
At its core, microdermabrasion is a cosmetic procedure that uses an abrasive surface to gently exfoliate and sand away dead cells from the surface of your skin.
And like all exfoliation efforts, the goal of microdermabrasion is to reduce the appearance of sun damage, wrinkles, stretch marks, acne scarring, and any other type of skin blemish that you might be battling. Ā
However, microdermabrasion is more than just your run-of-the-mill skin procedure: microdermabrasion is the procedure for improving the quality and appearance of your skin.
In this article, we will cover all the wonderful benefits that microdermabrasion can provide.
Microdermabrasion vs. Exfoliation: Whatās the Difference?
While microdermabrasion might sound a lot like regular exfoliation techniques, there are some important differences between these two procedures.
First, exfoliation usually encompasses a variety of hand-held, non-mechanical tools such as brushes, pumices stones, and also abrasive cleansing creams.
On the other hand, microdermabrasion is always a mechanical form of exfoliation, which comes in one of two forms: Diamond Microdermabrasion and Crystal Dermabrasion.
In diamond microdermabrasion procedures, a diamond-tip applicator makes direct contact with your face and exfoliates your skin, removing dead skin cells and other impurities. While this is occurring, the exfoliated particles are suctioned into the microdermabrasion device.
Crystal dermabrasion works in a similar fashion, but instead of a diamond-tip applicator, tiny crystals are sprayed onto the surface of the skin at a relatively high velocity. The impact of these crystals on the skin produces the exfoliation effect and like diamond microdermabrasion procedures, the dead skin cells are then suctioned away.
Finally, even though both microdermabrasion and exfoliation work to improve skin complexion, itās only the suction of microdermabrasion that improves skin circulation, meaning that this process tends to produce better results. Ā
Because with improved circulation, skin cells can absorb far more oxygen and nutrients than they normally would, which improves the condition and elasticity of your skin, making it look younger, healthier and more beautiful than before.
Microdermabrasion Benefits & Effects
Microdermabrasion procedures can provide several important benefits, including:
- Reduces the appearance of wrinkles
- Reduces the appearance of stretch marks
- Masks uneven skin tones
- Improves melasma
- Can help lighten the appearance of hyper-pigmentation
- Reduces scarring
- Improves skin damage caused by the sun
- Enhances the absorption of skincare products up by to 50%
- Promotes collagen production
- Helps to reduce acne by clearing away dead skin cells and impurities that can clog pores and lead to inflammation and spots
How Does Microdermabrasion Work?
How can one procedure, let alone one device, provide so many microdermabrasion facial benefits?
The truth of the matter is that skin blemishes such as wrinkles, scars, and stretch marks all have one thing in common: they exist on the upper-most layer of your skin.
By removing this upper layer of skin via the microdermabrasion process, the appearance of the skin blemish will start to diminish over time as the skin heals.
During the exfoliation process, microdermabrasion suctions away dead skin cells and other impurities, which helps reduce the formation of clogged pores, blackheads, and acne breakouts.
In addition to removing impurities, microdermabrasion also improves the effectiveness of your favorite skincare creams, lotions, and cleansers by up to 50%.
How?
By removing dead skin cells and other impurities, thereās less āgunkā standing in the way of your favorite skincare products, so their skin healing properties are essentially amplified.
In addition to removing impurities, the toolās vacuum suction also helps stimulate and activate the skinās production of collagen and elastin, which help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and other skin blemishes once the skin heals.
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Please note that we donāt recommend doing microdermabrasion more than once a week, as your skin will need a full week of healing before using the tool again.
Does Microdermabrasion Hurt?
Absolutely not!
That being said, itās important that you do not useĀ an at-home microdermabrasion deviceĀ on acne breakouts, cold sores, blisters, open wounds, or other skin conditions like rosacea, eczema, etc., as doing so will only make these conditions worse.
If you do experience redness or soreness, refrain from using anĀ at-home microdermabrasion device for at least 10 days.