Microdermabrasion - Let me be your guide Sabina Carvalho

Cosmetic microdermabrasion is popular because it's:

• The least invasive dermatological procedure
• More affordable than surgical skin care treatments
• Painless
• Available as home micro dermabrasion systems and kits
• Has no side effects
• Effective on all skin types and colors (including sensitive skin and black skin)
• Does not need anesthesia when performed at a beauty salon or physician's office (unlike micro laser peel and dermabrasion)
• Gives the skin a healthy-looking glow

There are hundreds of micro dermabrasion products on the market. Some work, some don't. Some cause adverse reactions, others are perfectly safe on sensitive skin. There are also the professional microdermabrasion procedures... People often wonder and ask Why pay more for microderm in a clinic or spa if home products work just as well?

So this and similar questions is what we will answer at this website. We compare microdermabrasion treatment options and products found in today’s marketplace to our very own home microdermabrasion solution: BIOSKINEXFOL. We include updates on the latest research about the effects of polishing the skin by different methods, advice and reviews on skin treatment products and contraindications and possible adverse side effects of microdermabrasion as well as facts about skin disorders and what are its causes. In bioexfol.com, you will find helpful tips for a life time of healthy skin along with user recommendations and helpful comments.

The first microdermabrasion treatments were originally performed by plastic surgeons who used hand-held machines (similar to sandblasters) to spray and circulate high-pressure crystal flow onto the skin to buff away the surface layer (stratum corneum) of the skin using tiny jagged granules but these days, microdermabrasion can be performed at home to exfoliate and polish your skin more effectively that with your typical cleanser or washcloth routine.

What is microdermabrasion?

It is an exfoliation treatment that uses crystals of many types to gently - but deeper than  than regular exfoliation - help the skin eliminate dead cells and promote cell regeneration and collagen creation. As a result, it helps to improve or eliminate appearance of dark spots, the pores look smaller and the skin looks healthier. It also helps to prevent pimples caused by pore obstruction. A series of treatment can help improve skin texture, scars, and melasma.

Microdermabrasion can be done at home or in a spa or doctor's office using a professional machine. 

Home microdermabrasion versus professional treatments? 

Home microdermabrasion system manufacturers claim that a few of the home treatments equal one professional treatment. In reality, the results, even with a series of home treatments are not as good as the professional treatments because the professional treatments use a combination of speed and high quality crystals. 

The home treatments are better than the regular exfoliation treatments but do not offer the speed of professional microdermabrasion. This results in lesser skin improvement, but there is improvement especially in the texture of the skin.

How does home microdermabrasion work?

You can purchase a microdermabrasion system that includes a cream and a small machine or just a cream with abrasives that you will apply with your hands.  

The abrasive ingredient in a cream is important. Corundum (aluminum oxide) crystals are the best because they are second only to diamonds in terms of hardness (which ensures an effective peeling effect). Some kits use crushed pearls (which makes them expensive), bicarbonate sodium crystals (which can be too soft, but more suitable for sensitive skin), and even pumice crystals (one of the most abrasive types of crystals).

How to use it?

There are several ways to use a microdermabrasion cream: you massage it into the skin using your bare hands, sponge or a special vibrating electric powered micro dermabrasion tool.

Different kits in the market differ from each other in the number of products or the convenience of the electric tools, or lack thereof, but what makes a real difference is the quality of the cream.

Each cream has instructions by skin type. Usually you use it after cleaning your skin once or twice a week. It takes only a few minutes and after the treatment you may need to apply a gentle moisturizer, preferably without fragrance. You can also apply a natural face oil. 

Contraindication of home microdermabrasion

If you have sensitive skin, apply the cream gently. If you have a choice, buy a product for sensitive skin - they have fewer crystals. If you have active acne, consult with the doctor or an esthetician. 

If you use other exfoliation systems or creams with retinol, glycolic acid or similar ingredients, do not use microdermabrasion as often, as you are already exfoliating your skin. Be careful not to overdo it. In general, depending on your skin type, three times a week is the maximum you can safely exfoliate your skin. 

Is home microdermabrasion worth the money?
Yes, it gives good results to most people. It is especially recommended for those people who are not likely to have a professional treatment.

Does microdermabrasion irritate the skin?
Acne-prone skin and sensitive skin often go hand in hand. Irritation is the most common concern among acne sufferers because it almost always leads to breakouts. So, the 1 million dollar question is: how well does micro dermabrasion work on sensitive skin?

Medical microabrasion procedures are designed to remove dead skin cells without touching any live tissue. They can only irritate the skin if it's poorly performed or if poor quality crystals and skincare products are used (which is rare, but it does happen). With personal micro dermabrasion, however, things aren't as simple.

Like all home exfoliation treatments, self microdermabrasion creams can irritate the skin to some extent. It's not the exfoliation itself that causes irritation which don't suit a freshly peeled skin (unless you abrade the skin too much) but the chemicals and irritants in the product which trigger adverse reactions.

To counteract those undesired side effects some creams use natural extracts, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory ingredients (green tea, grape seed and wine, wheat germ, jojoba, bamboo, cucumber and almond extracts) designed to help sensitive and normal skin types cope with the peeling. Products with many natural ingredients are less allergenic and less likely to cause irritations but they are not all alike... so we review here what to look for in a microdermabrasion cream

Microdermabrasion works especially well as a way to clear clogged pores.

BIOSKINEXFOL is a home microdermabrasion cream suited for acne prone skin. It uses a complex biological compound that both activates the renewal of skin cells and heals all lesions or irritations quickly, while also signaling your body that it is being taken care of properly and needs not react with an immoderate inflammatory reaction to the abrading agression being performed by rubbing the micro-crystals against your skin.

Most micro dermabrasion cream formulas can be used on dry or damp skin and must be massaged with slow, upward motions for a few minutes. One mistake is to overdo it with the abrasion. The crystals are very fine and you may not feel them at the time but they are working. Too much pressure or prolonged abrasion can damage the skin, cause irritations or even injuries. Find out how to apply a microdermabrasion cream?

Some people with sensitive skin react quite well to microdermabrasion but others simply don't. Most micro-crystal creams on the market are formulated for normal skin types which tolerate chemicals and comedogenic ingredients fairly well. An overly sensitive skin doesn't, which is why some people end up wishing they'd never touched one of these personal microdermabrasion systems.

Since irritation can lead to acne breakouts it's important that you know how to choose the right microdermabrasion product.

Sensitive skin may not tolerate office-performed skin resurfacing either. It's not the exfoliation or vacuum that's the problem but the fact that the newly revealed skin layer is too sensitive and thin to be fully exposed to environmental factors. On the other hand, some of the before and after products (cleanser, moisturizer, etc) may be the ones to cause adverse reactions.

The fact is that microdermabrasion will simply not work for some, although very few people. Since it's the most gentle of all skin resurfacing procedures, someone who doesn't tolerate microderm abrasion will probably not tolerate any other skin rejuvenation technique either. If you have skin that sensitive, microdermabrasion is a blessing because if you have it first, before other more invasive rejuvenation procedures, and see that it doesn't suit you, any damage done to the skin is minimal. The same cannot be said about chemical peels which are invasive and can cause permanent damage.