What is Microdermabrasion?
Microdermabrasion is a commonly requested treatment, and often gives the recipient instant gratification by giving the skin a squeaky clean and smooth feeling. It often uses crystals, which are blown onto the skin’s surface under pressure and suctioned away simultaneously. This physical effect can be useful on a very thickened, oily skin but only if it is being counterbalanced with good topical nutrition. In other words, it should only be used on specific skin conditions and as a vehicle to enable better absorption of other products being used at home or in clinic that involve ‘feeding’ the skin.
What are the possible negative side effects of Microdermabrasion?
Arguably there’s a place for skin treatments with microdermabrasion, but it has historically been misused, abused and overused. Its main action is to physically exfoliate the skin and attempt to stimulate collagen. Microdermabrasion alone is completely inadequate at improving any skin condition or aging concerns. The only way to truly change your skin long term is by good topical nutrition, which would take the form of your daily medical-grade skincare, and progressing to nutritional peels or nutrition infusion type treatments.
Microdermabrasion is an aggressive exfoliation treatment, with a purely physical effect that can aggravate conditions such as acne, rosacea and a dehydrated aging skin. Our concern is that the temporary improvement in skin is outweighed by the negative long term impact. Removing the very top layer of skin without supplementing it with Vitamin A and antioxidants will further remove the natural layer of lipids, ceramides, and fats which are essential for skin cell health. For these reasons, we have opted to stay away from microdermabrasion at The Face Place.
What are the alternatives to Microdermabrasion?
We have chosen the ‘nutritional’ or ‘metabolic’ peel approach as this allows for healthy cell changes, with much more effective results. We can also use AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids) and BHAs (Beta hydroxy acids) for a chemical exfoliation effect, where they have the added advantage of being hydrating, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and have the ability to improve pigmentation. Like microdermabrasion, these exfoliating agents are primarily being used as a vehicle to allow better absorption of game-changing ingredients such as peptides, Vitamin A and Vitamin C, however these ingredients will also help to reverse accumulated UV damage in the skin, which leads to improved skin thickness and texture, improved hydration, decreased pigmentation and normalisation of impaired sensitive skin.
Another popular treatment at The Face Place, which aids in gentle exfoliation is Microdermaplaning. Microdermaplaning is a safe and painless way of exfoliating the skin’s dead cells in addition to removing the fine ‘peach fuzz’ hair we have on our faces. This controlled form of exfoliation leaves the skin wih a soft, smooth, and silky texture.
Our client during a Microdermaplaning treatment.
Microdermabrasion only offers exfoliation, with a temporary superficial effect, so clearly, we would choose treatments with multiple benefits to the health of your skin instead.
From your Skin Team Leader,
Lauren
