What is Microdermabrasion and do I need a treatment?

Are you looking for an affordable and effective solution to achieve fantastic and incredible looking skin with immediate results? Do you want to refresh tired and dull looking or congested skin? Perhaps you have some pigmentation or acne challenges, or superficial scarring or some sun damage? Then microdermabrasion treatments might be exactly what you’re looking for!

At Dermacademy our microdermabrasion system exfoliates the skin much like a pumice stone or loofah sponge. We combine it with a soothing mask and moisturizing creams and ultimately, you look and feel better!

How does it work?

Your skin is made up of two main layers, the epidermis and the dermis.
The epidermis is the layer closest to the outside world. It’s a set of dead skin cells on top of another layer of cells that are in the process of maturing.

The topmost layer is called the stratum corneum.
The stratum corneum mostly acts as a barrier between the outside world and the lower skin layers. It keeps all but the smallest molecules from getting through.

When you put lotions or creams on your skin, some of the moisture passes through the stratum corneum, but not all of it. This layer is home to many minor skin imperfections like fine wrinkle lines and blemishes.

Microdermabrasion can be used as a facial treatment or elsewhere on the body to achieve scar removal and skin resurfacing, as well as to simply clarify the epidermis to give you a healthy glowing skin.

Microdermabrasion takes place at the level of the stratum corneum. Since it only really targets the epidermis (and not the dermis), it is more accurate to call it micro-epi-dermabrasion. Affecting deeper layers of skin would be painful and harmful, and it would risk permanently embedding the tiny grains into the skin.

The principle of microdermabrasion is that if you remove or break up the stratum corneum, the body interprets that as a mild injury and rushes to replace the lost skin cells with new and healthy ones.

With the stratum corneum ruptured or gone, the skin’s surface is improved. The healing process brings newer skin cells that look and feel smoother. Some of the skin’s visible imperfections, like sun damage, blemishes and fine lines, are removed. Without the stratum corneum acting as a barrier, medicinal creams and lotions are more effective because more of their active ingredients and moisture can find their way down to the lower layers of skin.
Microdermabrasion works on all skin types and colors. It causes subtle changes, but not changes in skin color or scarring. It is not effective for deeper problems like scars, stretch marks, wrinkles, or deep acne scars.

We use a specialized tool for the procedure. The tool a diamond tipped head that abrades the top layer (stratum corneum) while collecting the leftover dead skin cells with a vacuum type process, leaving the skin looking softer and brighter.

After microdermabrasion, your skin will be pink and feel dry and tight (like sunburn or windburn) for about 24 hours. Quality moisturizers should be used to feed and nurture the skin. Some types of makeup should not be applied for at least 24 hours after the procedure. It is extremely important to apply sunscreen and avoid sun exposure where possible, particularly for the first few days after a microdermabrasion treatment.

Microdermabrasion works especially well to clean out clogged pores. Microdermabrasion should not be used for clients who suffer with the following:

• Active rosacea
• Fragile capillaries
• Vascular lesions
• Widespread acne
• Herpetic lesions (herpes)
• Warts
• Open sores
• Skin lesions
• Anyone who takes anti-coagulants
• Eczema
• Dermatitis
• Psoriasis
• Lupus
• Erythematosus
• Diabetes mellitus