ANTI AGING TREATMENTS & SKIN REJUVINATION

Light chemical peels and microdermabrasion are most commonly used for :

refreshing skin texture and improving “glow” helping to treat certain types of acne, clean out pores helping with melasma when done in a series of 4-5 after some lasers to speed shedding of brown pigment before weddings, reunions, etc to improve skin.

They are both methods of superficial exfoliation that remove dead or damaged skin cells, refine the texture and color of your skin, help minimize fine lines, and clean out pores to improve acne.  They can also help with melasma and some small scars.

They do not help with deeper wrinkles, lines of expression (like frown lines), or serious sun damage.

Micro dermabrasion is often used in conjunction with laser photo rejuvenation treatments to help even out color and remove brown spots. It is more effective than home scrubs.

Microdermabrasion is a method by which very fine crystals are vacuumed across the skin under pressure with a tiny vacuum-cleaner-like tip. The newer systems don’t use crystals but instead tiny diamond chips embedded in the tip to provide the abrasion. It’s nice to use the newer crystal-free systems but not essential.

Also, the newer systems offer the ability to infuse therapeutic agents at the same time that the microdermabrasion is being performed. For example, an aesthetician can infuse a solution of salicylic acid, which helps to clean out the pores while the microdermabrasion is working.  Or, hyaluronic acid, could be infused to add extra moisture.

Microdermabrasion can cause irritation or inflammation if the microdermabrasion is too aggressive for your skin type.

Depending on how much acne or pigment you have and how sensitive your skin is, approximately five microdermabrasions are done one to four weeks apart, followed by a maintenance treatment about every four to eight weeks.
You may have seen the terms Parisian peel, diamond peel, or lunch-time peel.

Most of these all refer to the same process – Microdermabrasion.

Light chemical peels exfoliate the superficial layers of your skin to help remove dead and damaged surface skin cells, refine the texture and color of your skin, and help improve acne.

There are many different names for these peels but most contain hydroxy acids, either alpha hydroxy, beta hydroxy or combinations of both. Many of these peels contain glycolic acid (alpha) or salicylic acid (beta).

Like microdermabrasion, they are usually gentle enough that you can go right back to your daily activities.

This really depends on your skin.  If you are very oily and acne-prone, you may want to get a series or two every year with maintenance treatments every 4 weeks.  For others, a series (usually 3-5 treatments) followed by a maintenance treatment every couple of months might be plenty.

For microdermabrasion, there is a mild pulling sensation (that tiny vacuum cleaner) during the treatment and a gentle, sandpapery feel. Most patients notice just mild discomfort.

For light chemical peels, there is mild stinging for a few minutes. The treatments usually take 30 to 60 minutes, depending on what else is being done.

Generally, the skin may look slightly pink for one to two days after the treatment, although not everyone experiences this. Check with your aesthetician, but makeup can be used starting right after the treatment as long as it is applied over a moisturizer and removed very gently.

You will need to increase your use of moisturizers during the treatment period as your skin will be slightly drier temporarily. Be sure to use sunscreen every morning.