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What Is a Microdermabrasion Facial?

microdermabrasion facial

What is microdermabrasion facial, and why is everyone talking about it? Does it really live up to the hype? In a world where new skincare solutions are constantly being developed, it is important to understand your options. At the Dermatology Center of Acadiana in Lafayette, LA, we have found microdermabrasion facial to be one of the most powerful ways to achieve healthy, radiant skin. Our many satisfied customers are evidence of its effectiveness, and it could be the right thing for you, too.

What Is Microdermabrasion?

This treatment is a technologically advanced way to address common skin concerns including acne, large pores, scars, fine lines, and wrinkles. It produces visible results, the most significant of which are brighter skin and a more even texture. This treatment was developed in Italy in the 1980s. Since then, it has become one of the most popular spa services available.

How It Works

The process behind this treatment involves using a hand-held device to remove a thin layer of skin. The device uses either a spray of crystals or a diamond tip for buffing. You can think of the mild abrasion it provides like a form of professional exfoliation. Mostly, the layer of skin it removes consists of dead cells, damaged tissue, excess oil, dirt, and other forms of residue. The device administers mild resurfacing while simultaneously sucking away debris.

The Benefits

Following this treatment, you can expect clearer pores, polished skin, a rejuvenated appearance, and a healthy glow. These improvements to your skin come about because the mild abrasion works to thicken your collagen, stimulate your circulation, and get rid of accumulated residue.

Who Is a Good Candidate for This Treatment?

People With Oily Skin

This treatment is an excellent way to unclog your pores. It removes the dead skin cells and build-up that can cause oil to become trapped in your pores. By doing so, it can help with blackheads, whiteheads, and acne breakouts. Most people notice that after this treatment, their pores look noticeably smaller.

People With Aging Skin

As we get older, our skin produces less and less of the natural substances that protected our skin from getting wrinkles when we are young; namely, collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid. The result is that fine lines and wrinkles begin to form in the places where our faces crease during expressions. Think of folding a piece of paper over and over, creating indentations. By removing a thin layer of skin, this treatment encourages cell turnover and promotes our natural production of collagen. As a result, the new skin we make appears less aged and more radiant.

People With Scarring

Most facial scarring is evidence of a hard-fought battle with acne. When our skin is compromised by an injury or a bad breakout, it often heals itself with discoloration.

This treatment helps improve this type of scarring. It removes the layer of damaged tissue. When this layer grows back, your body has a chance to improve the patch-up job it did when you initially got your scar. The result is that you can enjoy skin with a more even tone and texture.

People With Other Conditions

Other conditions that respond well to this treatment include:

  • Hyperpigmentation
  • Sun spots
  • Redness and other signs of irritation

All the Important Details

What Happens During This Treatment?

When you come in for your appointment, your esthetician will clean your face and prepare you for the treatment. After the cleansing, he or she will perform the mild abrasion with a special, FDA-approved wand. Sunscreen and a moisturizing cream are provided during the final step.

How Long Does It Take?

This treatment is very fast and straightforward. It is usually done in about 30 minutes.

How Does It Feel?

This treatment was designed to be mild, yet effective. You might notice a light scrubbing sensation. Some people say that the application of the wand feels similar to the deep cleansing your receive during a normal facial.

Is This Treatment Safe?

This treatment carries a low risk for adverse reactions and does not require any downtime. After your appointment, you can go back to work, run errands, and do all of the things you normally set out to accomplish in your day. After about 24 hours, your skin will be fully recovered. People whose complexions are sensitive love this service because it is a good alternative to chemical peels and other, more intense treatments.

Can You Do This at Home?

We don’t recommend that you try to perform this treatment yourself. While at-home kits are available, they are extremely harsh and can cause irritation. Also, not cleaning the machine properly can result in the growth of bacteria, which can damage your skin and present a serious health risk.

How Often Should You Get This Treatment?

The number of treatments you should have depends on what results you are looking to achieve. If you are just getting ready for a special occasion, one session is enough to give you skin that is bright and glowing. This treatment is a good addition to your primping routine along with getting a perfect outfit and having your nails done.

If you want to see cumulative results, we recommend doing several sessions. Three is a good number to start with. To keep up your results, it is a good idea to have this treatment on an on-going, periodic basis. Many experts recommend ongoing periodic treatments for optimal results.

How Much Time Should You Wait Between Sessions?

We recommend having this treatment once a month or bi-monthly. If you want to space out your appointments with just one week in between, you can, but it is not necessary. Since it takes 28 days for your skin’s cellular life cycle to complete, more frequent sessions aren’t necessarily better.

What Should You Do Before Your Appointment?

A few days before you come in, avoid sun exposure and the use of over-the-counter exfoliators. Tell us if you have any active cold sores or current acne breakouts. Also, inform your esthetician if you have taken isotretinoin for acne.

What Should You Do After Your Appointment?

After your appointment, wear SPF skin cream consistently and stay out of the sun as much as possible for 24 hours. Of course, the most important thing to do after your appointment is to enjoy your newly recharged skin.

Who Can Benefit?

Overall, this treatment is very versatile and can help many people. Men and women can both benefit from it, and it is suitable for all skin types and for people of every age.

How to Make This Treatment Part of a Healthy Skincare Routine

Factors that Compromise Your Skin

Everyday living can be tough on your skin. Things that can expedite the development of wrinkles and cause your skin to look dull include:

  • Genetics
  • Pollution
  • Sun exposure
  • Poor diet
  • Stress
  • Lack of sleep

Fortunately, amazing developments in the world of skincare allow you to take charge of the situation and achieve the radiant skin you want.

A Plan for Your Skincare

Experts recommend that you take certain actions towards keeping your skin in good health. Every day, you should drink plenty of water, wear an SPF protective suncream, and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Once a month or bi-monthly, you should get a professional treatment that targets your specific skincare conditions. Every year, you should make an appointment with your dermatologist to make sure your skin is in the best possible shape.

The Role of Treatment

In this plan, microdermabrasion facial counts as the monthly or bi-monthly professional treatment. While at-home cleansers, exfoliators, and moisturizers are great for removing everyday residue and giving your skin the hydration it needs, they cannot achieve the same results as a professional treatment. Microdermabrasion facial can help give your skin a fresh start.

If having a session every two weeks or once a month is too much for you, we recommend booking an appointment quarterly. This will give you a good foundation of skincare that will help your complexion adjust to the changing seasons.

How Microdermabrasion Facial Can Help Most People

This treatment is a good complement to your at-home skincare products. It removes the dead cells that make it difficult for moisturizers and serums to sink into your skin, prepping you to receive all of the benefits of the products you use. Many A-list celebrities use this treatment to prepare for awards shows and other special events. They also book regular appointments to offset the stress of travel, reverse the adverse effects of stage makeup, and maintain their famous glow.

Like massages and facials, this treatment will enhance your circulation and stimulate your lymphatic system. As a result, your skin will be better nourished and oxygenated. Between the ages of 20 and 40, most people’s pores double in size. There are a very limited number of treatments available that can address this issue. Microdermabrasion facial is one of the most effective. After age 30, we lose collagen at a rate of 1% every year. Fortunately, this treatment stimulates our natural collagen production, lessening the look of fine lines, wrinkles, and other signs of aging.

Almost 8 out of 10 teenagers have acne to some degree. Many of these people continue to have periodic outbreaks in their adult lives. This treatment can improve the skin’s condition and lessen its susceptibility to breakouts. It can also reduce the appearance of acne scars.

Schedule a Consultation

A great way to learn more about this treatment is by scheduling a consultation with us. Our expert esthetician will evaluate the current condition of your skin and explain how microdermabrasion facial can benefit your unique needs. The consultation is an excellent time to ask any additional questions you may have.

Say Goodbye to the Past and Look Towards a Brighter Future

One of the best things about this treatment is that it helps your skin regenerate in beautiful ways. If you know that past damage to your skin has caused scars, dullness, fine lines, wrinkles, and/or spots, this treatment can gently remove your old cells and make way for fresher, healthier ones. It’s time for a radiant outlook on your skincare.

Contact the Dermatology Center of Acadiana in Lafayette, LA for more information on this treatment and others that we can offer. We will be happy to answer all of your questions and share everything you need to know about this exciting skincare option, so you can be happy with the skin you’re in.