As the average person ages, the surface of one’s skin gradually acts as a subtle record of that person’s experiences throughout one’s lifetime. Every noonday spent on the beach or outdoor without enough sunscreen, every year of being engulfed in the fumes of city automobiles and hovering smog, eventually shows up as wrinkles, dark spots and weathered patches on one’s face. Most decide to live with the accumulated signs of skin damage, but there are those willing to undergo the pain and inconvenience of a dermabrasion procedure, which typically involves the stripping away of entire layers of skin in order to stimulate healthy skin growth. And then, there is a third group of individuals, who are satisfied with a compromise of sorts, and desire a change in their skin condition but won’t endure the rigors of a dermabrasion. For these people, a middle ground exists, in the form of the gentler, safer, but ultimately less effective method known as microdermabrasion.

Microdermabrasion as a cosmetic enhancement technique boasts several advantages over its more aggressive cousin. Unlike dermabrasion, which often requires the application of anesthesia and sedatives, microdermabrasion causes relatively minor discomfort that falls within the acceptable pain threshold of most people. The procedure does not discriminate between skin colors and types, and will produce standard results regardless of the patient. Another important consideration for the financially prudent is that it tends to cost much less than the average cosmetic procedure, making it light on the wallet as well as on the face.

The conventional microdermabrasion is performed by using an instrument resembling a small sandblaster to spray fine crystal particles across one’s face which, combined with a suction effect, strips away the outermost dead layers of facial skin. An alternative system that uses a diamond-tipped abrasion wand is also popular, working by scraping away the topmost skin layers that make contact with the wand tip. Suction is also utilized to permanently detach the dead skin. For mild acne and scarring, several sessions spaced over a short period of time may be necessary to achieve tangible results.

After a requisite series of microdermabrasion treatments, a person’s face is expected to look noticeably refreshed, with a smoother overall complexion and reduction of visible blemishes. It has been observed to be effective on enlarged pores, blackheads, stretch marks, age spots, minor scars and slight skin discoloration. One must be forewarned, however, that the effectiveness of the microdermabrasion procedure is also dependent on factors such as the patient’s health and whether the person has prior history of skin disease. One must also consider that, since the treatment by its nature does not penetrate into the deeper layers of skin, major imperfections, such as deep pit scars and severe acne, may not respond well to the procedure. In particular, majorly acne-prone skin may react poorly to microdermabrasion, as the crystal particles may irritate and clog the skin pores and sebaceous glands.

Though microdermabrasion is generally safe, there are individuals who should not undergo this procedure. Persons who have taken isotretinoin medication, which is used for the treatment of acne, within the last twelve months, should not avail of microdermabrasion. Sufferers of keratosis, active rosacea or active herpes lesions should similarly refrain from this or any other similar cosmetic skin technique. Lastly, microdermabrasion is not recommended for pregnant and nursing women.

It must be emphasized that microdermabrasion is not meant to produce radical or substantial improvements in a person’s face, but is more of a smoothing technique to assist the body’s natural process of shedding old skin for new. As long as one’s expectations are tempered, microdermabrasion should provide satisfactory results.