Microdermabrasion is the name for a treatment that you’ll quite often see advertised by upmarket skin clinics as well as spas and beauty salons. It sounds very high-tech and perhaps a little bit scary if you don’t know what it involves.
Microdermabrasion is more ‘hardcore’ than a straightforward, relaxing facial massage, but it’s really nothing to worry about. Microdermabrasion is a non-surgical, non-invasive beauty treatment that’s designed to help remove blemishes, even out skin tone and hopefully leave your skin looking younger.
How Long Does a Microdermabrasion Treatment Take?
Depending on where you have the treatment, a session of microdermabrasion will take anything from 20 minutes to an hour. Sometimes beauty salons offer targeted microdermabrasion sessions on smaller areas but most of the time the whole face is treated.
Because the treatment is non-invasive, there’s no need to take time off (unless you want to) for recovery.
What Happens in a Microdermabrasion Treatment?
During a session, a therapist uses a powerful device to spray tiny aluminium dioxide crystals across the surface of your face, giving you a very thorough exfoliation. The aluminium dioxide crystals are incredibly fine, and the powder is sprayed on with enough force to remove the top layer of dead skin cells that sit on the epidermis, and can make it look dull. After the treatment you’ll be given a soothing moisturising mask and other healing products to use there and then, and also to take away so that the results are enhanced and prolonged.
Microdermabrasion can occasionally feel a little uncomfortable, especially on sensitive areas like around mouth and nose, but it isn’t painful. Afterwards, a therapist quite literally vacuums away the crystals, leaving skin clearer.
For the best results, most salons recommend that you book a series of treatments rather than just one, and that you use anti-aeging skin care products offered as after-care by the salon.
What are The Benefits of Microdermabrasion?
Sloughing off the top layer of dead skin cells freshens it up and leaves you with a leaves skin with a more glowing look. Microdermabrasion can help to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, diminish enlarged pores, and improve the appearance of areas of rough skin.
Regular treatments can also help skin care products penetrate into deeper layers of the skin.
Microdermabrasion and Me
Helen Porter, a professional tattoo artist from Pink Ink in London and Kent is a microdermabrasion regular. She knows her beauty treatments, as she’s a trainer for medical and semi-permanent make-up who works with leading plastic surgeons across London and the South East. Helen says:
“I started having treatments to smooth out open pores caused by having acne when I was younger.
“I have a microdermabrasion treatment whenever I feel my skin looks a bit sluggish. My skin is sensitive so I do always feel a little flushed after a treatment and my skin looks a little rosy. I would normally have a course of treatments over a period of four weeks rather than just a one-off, and each session takes about an hour.
“When the crystals are actually being used on my skin it does feel a little scratchy but it isn’t at all painful, and after that I have a facial massage and mask, which is really relaxing and soothing.
“I always get lots of comments after a treatment, with people telling me how amazing my skin looks. The results tend to last a few weeks, although if you don’t use the aftercare products at home you can find that your skin slowly goes back to normal. Personally, I have to confess that I tend to be lazy with homecare so I do it on and off, but I always see the difference if I continue homecare and salon treatments.”
