Dermabrasion
What
is microdermabrasion?
Microdermabrasion
is a nonsurgical cosmetic procedure
that polishes away the upper layers
of skin to smooth the area’s
texture and promote rejuvenating growth.
The procedure employs a tool that
rapidly sprays tiny aluminum oxide
crystals at the skin’s surface,
removing one fine layer at a time.
A vacuum device is simultaneously
employed to take away the separated
skin and blasting particles. The procedure
is effective for smoothing out mild
skin blemishes, such as fine wrinkles,
age spots, and light acne scars. It
also provokes the body to produce
new skin cells and increased collagen,
which improves skin elasticity and
makes it look fresher. It usually
takes a series of somewhere between
five and twelve microdermabrasion
treatments, each spaced a few weeks
apart, to achieve the desired effects.
The new, smoother skin can be maintained
through periodic treatments every
few months or so. Despite the apparent
overall length of the treatment process,
each treatment is fairly quick, painless,
and undemanding with regards to recovery.
This simplicity has quickly made microdermabrasion
one of the most popular cosmetic treatments
in the United States.
What
is dermabrasion?
Dermabrasion is another
common skin-resurfacing technique
that uses a fine, motorized brush
to peel away the upper layers of skin.
The tool is handheld, with a small
rotor at one end. The sides of the
rotor have fine diamond particles
that can soften the edges of scars
or other skin irregularities to blend
them with the surrounding skin. Dermabrasion
requires a little more time than microdermabrasion
to perform: it typically demands the
use of a local anesthetic. For more
anxious patients, a sedative may be
used as well or general anesthetic
used instead. Dermabrasion also may
require several treatments to produce
satisfactory results. However, it
is usually capable of treating slightly
deeper and more prominent skin irregularities
than microdermabrasion, such as the
scars from accidents or previous surgery.
What
is dermaplaning?
Dermaplaning is a
third resurfacing procedure that uses
an instrument called a dermatome to
skim off thin layers of skin. The
dermatome is about the size of an
electric razor. It uses oscillating
blades that move back and forth across
the skin. The surgeon will attempt
to trim enough surface skin to bring
it down to the level of the deepest
skin depressions. Dermaplaning works
better than other resurfacing techniques
for deep marks, such as those left
by serious acne. Like dermabrasion,
dermaplaning employs either a local
or general anesthetic, local anesthetic
sometimes in conjunction with a sedative.
Who
is a candidate for dermabrasion?
Good candidates for
the skin-refinishing procedures outlined
above can be of any age or skin type.
However, young patients tend to heal
more quickly, and light skin is less
likely to become blotchy. Those who
frequently experience allergic skin
reactions, fever blisters, or cold
sores may see a rise in them after
dermabrasion or a similar treatment.
Certain skin conditions
(such as active acne or scars from
burns), previous radiation treatments,
and/or chemical procedures are likely
to preclude a prospective patient
from having a skin-refinishing procedure
performed. The risk of infection can
be very great in these cases.
If you are interested
in microdermabrasion, dermabrasion,
or dermaplaning you may want to contact
a dermatologist for more information.
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