Does Microdermabrasion Really Work?

Microdermabrasion is a growing buzzword in lots of different skin care products, but it really refers to removing the outer layer of skin on the face in an effort to improve its condition. It’s involves small crystals that are meant to exfoliate and slough off the skin, revealing new, albeit raw, skin underneath. It is supposed to be able to do away with things like acne, fine lines and wrinkles, and generally improve the look of your skin. But what about the actual results?

Overview
There are many skin care products on the market saying that they produce the same effects as getting a microdermabrasion treatment, but in actuality they are talking about simple exfoliation, and it is not an apples to apples comparison to genuine microdermabrasion. The actual procedure involves a professional conducting the treatment

The Claim
Microdermabrasion says that by shooting a jet stream of micro-sized crystals onto your skin, that it can do away with irregularities, and reveal the untouched layer beneath it. You might have to go in for additional treatments to get the desired effect, since it works layer by layer, and what you want removed might take several layers to happen.

The Hype
Many of these types of procedures are thought to be only for the rich and famous because that’s who is depicted as getting them done in movies and TV shows. For example Samantha gets the procedure done on an episode of Sex and the City, and then her face is all red when she is supposed to be attending one of her events. But it’s not just for the New York hipsters, and lots of people are realizing they can get it done for less money than they thought, and even do it themselves at home.

The Cost
The cost of Microdermabrasion has come down considerably, with more and more at home treatments becoming available, offices have had to reduce the cost of their treatments in order to compete. Your exact cost will vary depending on where you live, which office you go with, and how technologically advanced the procedure is. Expect to pay a few hundred to a few thousand dollars depending on the above factors.

The Commitment
Compared to your other options, this procedure is not as involved as you’d think. Many problems like fine lines and acne can be greatly improved with one visit. Deeper lines and acne scars will take repeated visits but you’ll eventually be rid of them.

Evaluation
Microdermabrasion looks like you’re getting your face airbrushed, and really it’s not too far from what is happening. It is using air to spray your face with the crystals, and also to suck up the used up crystals and skin at the same time. This is how it works, and why getting it professional done is your best option. If you go over the same spot too many times in one session you wind up taking too much skin off and end up with redness that will last for a while.

When you think about it, it makes sense. Your skin is there to protect you, so when you start zapping it off too quickly, it responds by getting red and causing pain, which is meant to alert you that there’s a problem in the area, and to stop and desist if you’re the one causing the problem.

Risks Involved
There aren’t as many risks as you might think, and now as many that come with dermabrasion. Of course you will want to discuss any concerns you have with your doctor beforehand, and ask them what specific risks you should be concerned about. This is a good test to see just how honest they’re being with you. If they try to assure you that there are none, look for a different doctor. They should be upfront with you as to just what is involved and should not be shy about fully disclosing everything you need to know, for risk of souring the deal.

Final Microdermabrasion Review

Microdermabrasion has been shown to work, and is

an upgrade to traditional methods of dermabrasion that can take the skin months to heal from. With the micro upgrade you generally don’t feel much pain, and there is less likelihood of taking so long for your skin to heal. You may have to go back for more treatments than you would with dermabrasion, but trade off seems like a good idea in most cases. Many of us don’t have months to spend in isolation while the redness on our face goes away.

Our Recommendation
This is a viable option for many people, and a way to get some pretty quick results. You have to be willing to withstand a bit of pain, but there aren’t a lot of alternatives out there that can give you these sort of results. If you go with creams and lotions you are basically working on this outer layer, and can never get to the fresh skin underneath, no matter how much you exfoliate.

What do you think? Does Microdermabrasion work or not?