My Experience with Microdermabrasion for Acne Scarring

My Experience with Microdermabrasion for Acne Scarring Microdermabrasion is
a popular skin treatment performed in thousands of skin care spas and
dermatologist offices worldwide. What can microdermabrasion do for you?
Well, I've had three sets of microdermabrasion treatments, and here's my
experience with this non-invasive skin care treatment.

Here's what attracted me to microdermabrasion. First, the treatment is just
agressive enough on fairly stubborn skin conditions like acne scarring and
fine lines, without being an invasive procedure that will actually alter the
symmetry of your face in some way.

I really wanted to stay away from any type of "extreme"
treatments that could have potentially damaging effects, and microderm, as
it is affectionately referred to by it's practitioners and devotees, was
just agressive enough for what I wanted to achieve.

I had acne scarring for years that I thought would never go away unless I
had laser therapy or some sort of deep, ablative treatment like regular
dermabrasion (a deeper form of microdermabrasion which can result in
bleeding). Then I started reading about how some people with superficial
acne scarring, meaning acne scarring that was not too deep, but just deep
enough to be noticeable to the naked eye, had a pretty good improvement in
their scars after receiving several microdermabrasion treatments.

So, I decided to make and appointment at a local salon and spa near where I
live. I booked an entire six treatment package, for a little under $600.
It was a little pricey as far as I was concerned, but if it would produce
significant results I was willing to shell out some extra cash for
"flawless" skin. My first set of six microdermabrasion appointments
actually yielded pretty impressive results.

The roughness that appeared namely on my chin virtually disappeared after
six treatments, and also I noticed that the (then) fine lines around my eyes
also appeared to be diminished. The lines around my eyes did return though,
so I believe their disappearance may have been due to some irritational
swelling of the tissue around my eyes.

However, the acne scars were noticeably reduced for about
5-6 months after this initial round of treatments. I did notice they
somehow seemed to "reappear" though, and ended up going back for a second
and third round of the treatments, with pretty good improvement each time.

Here's what I've found with microdermabrasion though, as a sort of
"drawback". The results are fairly signiifcant, but you do have to return
after a few months, as the results somehow tend to fade over this time
period, and they need a "retouching", so to speak.

It is usually recommended that you get a round of six treatments every year
most of the time, but I've found that I have to return for more treatments
well before the six months is up, to maintain the results gained.

What should you expect after a microdermabrasion treatment?
Well, first of all, the day of your appointment to recieve a microderm
treatment, you should probably make sure your social calendar is fairly
sparse. The reason for this is that I've found my skin is very red and
irritated looking the day of a microderm treatment, and it is not easily
covered with makeup.

Also, your skin will flake off and be susceptible to sunlight, so make sure
you use a powerful SPF lotion for the days following your treatments, since
the UV rays can more easily penetrate the fragile skin and do damage as
they're so adept at doing.

You will need to constantly keep your newly abraded skin moisturized, so
keep a very emollient cream around, and apply it about three times for the
first day or two after your treatment, to help with flakiness and excess
dryness.
Keep in mind that the first few days after a treatment, or maybe just the
first day, depending on your skin, your skin will most likely look worse
than it did before.

The abrasion of the machine causes your skin to look extremely iriritated,
and actually can make acne scarring look worse, since it is freshly exposed.
This will go away, but as a warning so you are not caught totally off guard,
expect it to look worse, not better at first.

I would say in general that microdermabrasion is a great treatment for those
worried about aging or scarred skin, however it can get very expensive if
you choose to continue with treatments. You can schedule a consultation
with an esthetician to see what skin treatment is perfect for your specific
skin care concerns, but microderm may very well fit into this regimen for
you.

If you're looking for a less expensive way to achieve similar results, but
with a lot more treatments, there are currently also home microdermabrasion
kits that can help diminish scars as well.

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Danna Schneider is the founder of two skin care and beauty online magazines
with the latest news, tips, "Skin Science", and products in skin care
http://www.acnemagazine.com and http://www.mybeautyspace.com .