Exfoliation treatments are essential for maintaining a good skin tone and skin texture. At The Dermatology, Laser & Vein Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, we know that regular microdermabrasion treatments can enhance your skin so you can feel more confident about your appearance.
Microdermabrasion works by using fine crystals to slough away dead skin cells to polish and refresh your skin. This exfoliation treatment is gentle enough to be used by most people, yet powerful enough to reduce scarring and visible signs of aging. Whether you want to maintain your ideal skin or you want to tackle chronic skin concerns, this treatment can be a good option for you.
How Often Can You Get Microdermabrasion?
Usually, microdermabrasion treatments can be scheduled once every four to six weeks. This is an ideal frequency to exfoliate dead skin cells that may accumulate on the skin surface. Because the natural skin cell turnover cycle can take about 28 days to complete, using this treatment once a month can be an effective way to regulate your cellular turnover to achieve better-looking skin.
Does Your Skin Type Matter?
Sometimes, your skin type might matter when it comes to scheduling exfoliation treatments. People who have sensitive skin typically have thinner skin that has a weakened moisture barrier and is more easily irritated by certain products and skincare techniques. With an exfoliation treatment such as this one, people who have sensitive skin may need to schedule appointments every six to eight weeks instead.
How Should You Prepare for Treatment?
To prepare for any exfoliation treatment, you may need to moderate your normal skincare habits so you do not oversensitize the skin and compromise your optimal results. For example, you may need to temporarily stop the use of products such as retinol, chemical exfoliants, and manual scrubs that exfoliate the skin.
Will You Have Aftercare Guidelines?
After your appointment, you may notice that your skin feels sensitive. For optimal skin health, it’s best to use gentle moisturizers for the first few days after your treatment. These moisturizers can include CeraVe, Aquaphor, or even aloe vera to soothe the skin. You may even consider using products that contain hyaluronic acid, collagen, and vitamins such as niacinamide to encourage moisture retention and even tone.
During the first 24 to 48 hours, you should avoid wearing makeup, using hot water, or coming into direct contact with sunlight or steam. You may also need to avoid chlorine, such as in swimming pools or hot tubs, for several days to avoid skin irritation. Be sure to wear adequate sun protection when you plan to be outside.
How Long Will Results Last?
The results of this treatment will generally last for several weeks and will gradually improve as you have additional treatments. Your initial results will usually be smoother, more evenly-toned skin. Over time, many of your skin concerns will begin to diminish and you may notice that your results last longer. We can give you a better idea of how long your results will last based on the specific skin concerns you are treating.
How Many Treatments Will You Need?
Microdermabrasion is a treatment that you can use indefinitely. For many people, using this treatment once a month is the best way to maintain ideal skin health and appearance. Of course, there may be some who use several consecutive treatments to address specific concerns, such as scarring, and then only use this treatment infrequently to maintain results.
Can You Enhance Your Results?
You may be able to enhance your results by adopting good practices that focus on promoting the health of your skin. When your skin is healthy and well-conditioned, it will typically have more beneficial behaviors, such as regular oil production and cellular turnover. In particular, the three main methods you can use to enhance your results include:
Sunscreen
Exfoliating your skin reveals skin cells that have never been exposed to the sun and are more vulnerable to hyperpigmentation. By regularly wearing sunscreen during the day, you can prevent dark spots from forming and help your results last longer.
Additionally, if you are treating age-related concerns, it may be relevant to know that sunlight exposure is responsible for the vast majority of skin aging. This means that by avoiding direct contact with sunlight, you may be able to slow the aging process down.
Skincare
Using good skincare products regularly is also a way you can enhance your results. This exfoliation treatment can be used to address specific aesthetic concerns, but your day-to-day skincare routine is also important for maintaining your results. If you aren’t sure which skincare products are ideal for your skin type and skin concerns, we can make recommendations about the ingredients you should include in your skincare routine.
Lifestyle
Lifestyle factors can be essential for maintaining ideal results from this treatment. Your skin is highly responsive to environmental stressors and pollutants, so if you can reduce some stress in your life, your skin may benefit.
More than anything, however, your diet and hydration habits are the most pivotal points of your skin health. If you are dehydrated, your skin is more likely to be dry and lack volume. Similarly, eating a diet that is high in sugar and salt can have a detrimental effect on the overall health and appearance of your skin.
What Are the Benefits of This Treatment?
One of the biggest benefits of microdermabrasion is that this exfoliation technique can be used to address a wide variety of aesthetic concerns. Most people who use this treatment have mild to moderate concerns that can improve with consistent exfoliation. Professional exfoliation treatments can help reduce the appearance of issues such as:
Scarring
Mild scarring caused by injuries to the skin or previous acne can be greatly improved with regular exfoliation treatments. Some types of scars appear more obvious when there is an accumulation of dead skin cells on the skin surface, so by removing these skin cells, scars may appear less obvious. Over time, because this treatment can produce a mild amount of collagen in the skin, the appearance of scars may also be gently smoothed away.
Pigmentation
Pigmentation is another major concern that this treatment can address. Pigmentation concerns can also happen as a result of skin injury or can happen because of hormonal changes. By removing affected skin cells from the skin surface, blemishes and hyperpigmentation can fade away.
Sun Damage
Photodamage, particularly on the cheeks and nose, can be significantly improved with this exfoliation treatment. Some sun damage may cause the skin to appear weathered or rough, so professional exfoliation can go a long way to smoothing the texture of the skin and helping skin adopt a healthier glow.
Fine Lines
Visible signs of aging such as fine lines can also be addressed with this treatment. It’s possible to soften the appearance of fine lines around the nose and mouth with regular exfoliation, particularly if there are dead skin cells that are making lines and wrinkles appear more pronounced.
Is This Treatment Safe?
This is a very safe treatment – even people who have sensitive skin can use the treatment with little risk. Most skin experts consider this a good treatment for those with allergies, or those who have skin that has a higher risk of developing scars. Because the treatment will only use very fine crystals to blast away dead skin cells, it could be a good low-risk option for most people.
Is There a Best Age for This Treatment?
You can use this treatment at any age to improve the tone and texture of your skin. People in their 20s use this treatment just as often as people in their 50s. Ultimately, whether or not this treatment is right for you will depend on your specific aesthetic concerns.
Are You a Good Candidate?
Because this treatment is low risk and can be customized to your needs, most people are ideal candidates. Most notably, women who are currently pregnant and breastfeeding are also candidates for this exfoliation treatment. This facial is one of very few treatments that women who are pregnant can safely use.
Achieve Better-Looking Skin
If you want to achieve better-looking skin, then any professional exfoliation treatment, such as microdermabrasion, may be an ideal option. You can use this treatment as frequently as once a month to maintain a good skin appearance. Please contact The Dermatology, Laser & Vein Center in Cincinnati, Ohio to schedule your first appointment today.
