Is Microdermabrasion Safe? What You Need to Know
By Gr0 Core Team
You might have heard about the benefits of microdermabrasion at your dermatologist’s office or while talking to a friend who recently got the treatment to fight a skin condition. It is an excellent way to rejuvenate your skin, and has a whole host of benefits and uses.
Of course, your skin’s safety should - and must - come first. You might be wondering, is microdermabrasion safe? What are the risks associated with the procedure? Luckily, we have the answers to all of your safety questions and beyond.
What is Microdermabrasion?
Microdermabrasion is a popular cosmetic procedure. It has a variety of different uses, which can partially account for its popularity. It’s noninvasive, which means that no instruments are inserted into the body.
It’s important to note that while you might experience slight discomfort during the procedure, it shouldn’t be painful. Getting microdermabrasion for most people isn’t going to be a one-time event; you’ll likely need between 5-16 sessions, depending on what you’re treating and the extent of your skin condition.
You can get microdermabrasion treatments weekly, every couple of weeks, or monthly, depending on the cause for the treatment and your skin type. While the treatment is often used to help the skin on the neck and face, you can get microdermabrasion for a variety of different parts of your body.
Finally, it’s important to note that the results aren’t permanent - if you’re happy with the results that you’re seeing, upkeep can help ensure that your results last longer.
How Does Microdermabrasion Work?
Microdermabrasion is a treatment that utilizes a minimally abrasive instrument to effectively sand your skin. It removes the thicker, uneven outer layer of your skin, and can help to cultivate collagen production and promote blood circulation. The procedure essentially buffs your skin using diamond grains. The intention is to exfoliate and suction away your skin’s impurities. This prevents clogged pores, skin inflammation, reduces the appearance of blackheads, and can prevent acne breakouts.
You might be wondering why collagen is important to your skin. Collagen is a major structural protein in your skin, and it’s partly responsible for why skin looks youthful. When you’re younger, collagen in the skin is abundant. As you get older, however, collagen production declines. This can ultimately result in looser, uneven skin.
Luckily, microdermabrasion can help support your skin as it works to begin producing more collagen again. Collagen is responsible for making your skin appear smooth, so the fact that this procedure can support collagen production is important.
Something that makes microdermabrasion unique is how multifaceted it is. While it is exfoliating, it’s also working to promote collagen growth, promoting blood circulation, and supporting accelerated skin tissue development. It’s all-around a great product that can help you combat a variety of skin issues.
What is Microdermabrasion Used to Treat?
Microdermabrasion is becoming such a popular treatment partially because there are so many ways that you can use it to enhance your skin. Microdermabrasion treats a variety of skin conditions, so when you’re completing a treatment, it’s a holistic procedure that can positively impact several different facets of your skin.
The main, overarching goal of microdermabrasion treatments is to make your complexion brighter, smoother, and more even in color. It can also be used to reduce impurities.
Some of the reasons people opt to seek out a microdermabrasion procedure include:
- To help rectify uneven skin tone
- To help support more even skin texture
- To brighten up a dull complexion
- To reduce the appearance of age spots
- To help address dark spots that may appear after acne clears up
- To reduce the appearance of melasma, a condition in which dark spots or patches form on your skin
- To help reduce the appearance of scars
Of course, you - and your skin - are beautiful how you are. That being said, people often feel more confident in their skin after completing several microdermabrasion treatments and are taking meaningful steps to help reduce the appearance of these issues.
Your skin is the largest organ your body has, and it’s essential that you treat it right. Part of that means taking care of its outermost layer and helping support it as it works to produce collagen and develop new tissue.
You should love the skin you’re in, and microdermabrasion can help you reach that.
What are the Side Effects of Microdermabrasion?
Like any skincare procedure, there are some potential side effects. Since it’s an effective way to deeply exfoliate your skin, which leaves your skin softer and smoother, many people find that the benefits of this procedure greatly outweigh the possible side effects.
Some of the potential side effects of microdermabrasion include:
- Redness
- An increase in sun sensitivity
- Dry skin
- Flaking skin
- Slight abrasions
- Bruising
- Cold sores
Redness: Redness is the most common of the side effects after a microdermabrasion procedure. Most people will find that they’re experiencing some form of redness after a treatment. This is usually comparable to a very mild sunburn - it will typically fade in just a few hours.
That being said, there are some exceptions to that. If your skin is very sensitive or the procedure that you got was more aggressive, there could potentially be a deeper redness. This could take a day or more to fade completely. If you have any questions about this, you can always give your dermatologist a quick call.
An increase in sun sensitivity: Because microdermabrasion is a deep exfoliating treatment, your skin will be more sensitive to the sun after you’ve completed a treatment, so be sure to apply some sunscreen before you step outside following a treatment!
Dry and/or flaking skin: This isn’t especially unusual in the following days after a microdermabrasion treatment. It typically will resolve itself in about a week, so there’s no need to panic. The way that you can work to fix this is by adding a little extra moisturizer into your skincare routine - if you don’t have oily skin, that is.
Slight abrasions: Sometimes, following a procedure, you might see that there are tiny abrasions or pinpricks of blood on the skin. This usually happens if the treatment is aggressive. This typically means that next time, you should be a bit more careful with your treatment. Not all abrasions are avoidable, but a lot of them are.
Bruising: Getting a microdermabrasion treatment is similar to having a vacuum effect on your skin, so there’s a possibility that it might cause slight bruising - especially in areas where your skin is thin, such as around your eyes. It’s not possible to avoid this potential side effect entirely, but it isn’t very common. If your skin is really delicate, thin, or if you’re on a blood thinner, you might be more likely to experience bruising. In this case, be gentle with your skin during the procedure.
Cold sores: Some people get cold sores more often than others, and if you’re someone who finds that you get them a lot, you might want to skip microdermabrasion around your lips to avoid one popping up.
It’s important to note that your treatment should never be painful, and it’s often combined with a facial. That being said, microdermabrasion isn’t for everyone - and if you recently quit using topical retinoids or isotretinoin, you should avoid it for a while and get your dermatologist’s recommendation as to when it would be okay to start.
Is Microdermabrasion Safe?
You might be curious if microdermabrasion is a safe procedure for you to get, and the answer is yes! It’s typically considered safe for most skin types and colors. That being said, if you have any inhibitions about it, you should discuss it with your dermatologist to get their stamp of approval before you decide to move forward with it.
There are some people who should avoid getting a microdermabrasion procedure, and those include:
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If you currently have moderate to severe inflammatory acne. While this procedure can be effective in treating acne scars, if you’re currently in the middle of a flare-up, it can be painful.
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If you have rosacea. Because rosacea is a condition that means your skin is sensitive, getting a microdermabrasion treatment on top of that can make your skin more red or puffy.
- While you’re in the middle of a cold sore breakout. This could potentially make your breakout worse and even spread it to other parts of the face, which would be painful! Wait for the breakout to be over to proceed.
- If you have a rash or wound. When you are experiencing a rash or have a wound on your face, it’s not the right time to get a microdermabrasion treatment done. Simply wait for this to clear up.
Microdermabrasion is a very safe and common procedure, but it’s important to know if you’re a good candidate for it first.
In Conclusion
Microdermabrasion is popular for a reason! Not only is it safe and effective, but it can also be used to treat a variety of skin ailments. If you want to get your confidence in your skin back, look no further than a microdermabrasion treatment.
KENZZI makes it possible to take steps towards beautiful skin from the comfort of your own home with our At-Home Microdermabrasion Handset. Don’t wait another minute to start working towards gorgeous skin that you’ll feel like yourself in.
Sources:
Microdermabrasion: Benefits, uses, procedure, and risks | Medical News Today
Microdermabrasion | plastic surgery.org
Microdermabrasion May Rejuvenate Aging Skin | WebMD
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