Microderm Abrasion: Never Mind the Spelling, What is It?

While many people are familiar with the term “dermabrasion”, you may be wondering about the concept of microdermabrasion, or microderm abrasion. Dermabrasion is a harsh, mechanical procedure that physically removes unwanted skin areas. In contrast to that, microderm abrasion is a much less physical approach, offering various benefits in the process.

While similar to dermabrasion in some respects, it is meant to be a “gentle” alternative. Instead of the blemished area being physically removed, only the outer layer of skin is removed, allowing a new layer of skin to grow through to the surface. It is simply an “assistance” to the body’s own process of letting the outer layer of skin “die”, and be sloughed off, along with its imperfections.

Microdermabrasion involves the use of tiny abrasive crystals applied under a small amount of pressure, using a tool commonly referred to as a “wand”. It fragments and dislodges the older skin, allowing it to be removed by a suction unit on the same “wand”.

The greatest advantage of using this procedure is the fact that there is very little after care needed. In sharp contrast to dermabrasion, where your skin is raw and can take up tp two weeks to heal, microderm abrasion can be done in your lunch break, allowing you to be back at work immediately afterwards. It does not require any form of anesthetic during application, and your skin is not hypersensitive for months afterwards.

Since microdermabrasion is not a destructive process (like dermabrasion), the effects, although visible immediately, are not as profound immediately after treatment. Since the removal of skin happens on a much smaller scale, repeated treatments may be required to achieve the desired result.

Keep in mind that, due to the long recovery periods involved in dermabrasion (up to two weeks for initial healing, and up to three months of careful treatment and behavior to prevent pigmentation), it cannot really be considered a “faster” cure than microderm abrasion. Repeated microdermabrasion treatments can, in most cases, yield similar results to one session of dermabrasion, in less than the total of three months (required by the latter). It will be a less painful experience, with much less risk involved (for skin discoloration, or pigmentation).