If you’re looking for a simple, non-invasive facial technique that can regulate the health of your skin and improve minor superficial flaws, then a microdermabrasion facial may be an ideal treatment for you. This treatment doesn’t use any chemicals and can be used to reverse the appearance of a variety of superficial skin concerns. At Dr. Park Avenue in Franklin Lakes, NJ, we will be happy to help you build a treatment plan around this facial so you can address all of your unique skin concerns.
How Long Should You Wait Between Microdermabrasion Facials?
A microdermabrasion facial is a gentle aesthetic treatment that can be worked into your regular skincare routine easily. It’s common for most people to schedule this facial about once a month to manage most superficial concerns, like blemishes, dark spots, and even atrophic and shallow scarring. For people who have sensitive skin or for people who have a slower cellular turnover, it might be a good idea to schedule appointments every six to eight weeks.
What Is Cellular Turnover?
As you may already know, our skin is in a constant state of shedding dead skin cells and turning new skin cells to the surface of the skin. Most people have a cellular turnover rate of 28 to 40 days depending on age, hormones, and even the health of your skin. Your cellular turnover rate tends to change as you age, so people who are in their 40s and 50s may have a slower cellular shedding than younger people.
However, your cellular turnover is also very sensitive to your skin health. People who have acne may have hormonal interference that prevents them from shedding dead skin cells adequately, which is what can contribute to clogged pores and bacteria trapped on the skin. Understanding your cellular turnover will help you understand how you should treat your skin.
Is This Treatment Similar to Other Exfoliating Treatments?
At its core, microdermabrasion is an advanced exfoliation technique that helps you shed unwanted dead skin cells from the surface of your skin. Exfoliation treatments, whether you are using at-home glycolic acid pads or professional treatment, are crucial to the overall health of your skin. Without proper exfoliation, your skin will appear dull, dry, or even unhealthy.
However, this treatment is different from chemical-based exfoliation, such as a chemical peel. This treatment works by blasting air and microcrystals against the surface of your skin to slough off dead skin cells; at the same time, the treatment device sucks away debris from the skin so you can enjoy a smooth, clean complexion immediately after your treatment is over.
What Can This Treatment Help With?
Microdermabrasion can be used to address a variety of superficial skin concerns. A superficial skin concern is typically one that occurs mostly on the upper layers of the skin, which includes some types of scarring, sun damage, age spots, blemishes, and even fine lines on certain areas of the face. When this treatment removes dead skin cells from the surface of the skin, your overall skin tone and texture will improve.
Is This Treatment Good for Your Skin?
Many people wonder if this treatment – or any exfoliation treatment – is actually beneficial for the skin. The truth is that exfoliation treatments can help regulate basic functions in the skin, such as oil production and cellular turnover. Moreover, these treatments can improve the tone and texture of the skin, as well as help the skin feel softer and absorb skincare products more easily.
The best part about professional exfoliation treatments is that it removes the need for daily exfoliants in your life. With professional treatments, all of your exfoliation needs will be taken care of, so you will actually be able to cut some products out of your daily regimen and you won’t need to worry about over-exfoliating.
How Long Will This Treatment Take?
You can think of this facial as a “lunchtime” appointment, meaning it can be completed in about 30 minutes. For this treatment, all you need to do is attend your routine appointments and allow the unique treatment device to gently, but thoroughly, exfoliate your skin.
Some patients like to arrive without any make-up, but if you do have make-up on, your skin will be cleansed before your treatment. Unlike some other facials, such as chemical peels, you won’t need to make many preparations for your treatment.
What Should You Do After Your Treatment?
After your treatment, the new layer of skin on your face will be exposed to the environment, so it’s important to take care of your skin after your appointment. This means you should wear a gentle moisturizer, apply SPF, and avoid direct sunlight or heat. We sometimes advise not wearing any make-up for at least 12 to 24 hours.
How Long Will Results Last?
The results of this facial treatment will be immediate and will last for several days or weeks depending on the condition of your skin. It’s important to remember that your results are temporary. If you want your results to last longer, then taking adequate care of your skin is the key, particularly if you are using this treatment to reduce the appearance of sun damage or acne scars.
Wear SPF
Wearing SPF during the day is likely the single most important thing you can do for your skin. Skin experts estimate that about 80 to 90% of all skin aging is caused by sun damage or unprotected exposure to UVA and UVB rays in sunlight. Dark spots, age spots, fine lines, wrinkles, skin laxity, freckles, and other blemishes are all caused by sunlight.
By using SPF during the day, you can protect your skin from UV rays that will create free radicals in your skin cells. When you prevent free radicals from taking hold, you also prevent premature skin aging and pigmentation concerns. While most people, including those with deeper complexions, can benefit from SPF 30, those who have fair skin may do better with SPF 40 or higher, especially during the hot months of the year.
Control Breakouts
If you are treating concerns like post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation or shallow acne scars, then the best thing you can do to maintain your results is to avoid any acne breakouts. When you can control your acne, you will be less likely to form atrophic or texturized acne scarring.
The good news is that the regulation of your cellular turnover with this treatment may go a long way to helping you control your acne breakouts. Not only will your oil regulation and the shedding of your dead skin cells be regulated, but acne-fighting skincare products will also have better penetration.
Can People With Good Skin Have Longer Results?
Naturally, your age isn’t the only factor in how long your results will last. If your skin is already in good condition because you’ve had previous aesthetic treatments or because your skin concerns aren’t severe, you may be able to enjoy longer-lasting results. This is particularly true for patients who have mild concerns, such as minor dryness.
Plus, the better you take care of your skin after your aesthetic treatments, the longer you can expect your results to last. With fewer superficial concerns, you may only need to have this treatment once every other month. We can give you a better idea of your treatment frequency based on your skin condition and your aesthetic concerns.
Who Are Good Candidates?
Most people are ideal candidates for this treatment. Because this facial does not use chemicals or energy, it’s generally a good option for people of all skin types and skin tones. Candidates for this treatment can also be people of any age; both mature and young patients can benefit from this exfoliation treatment.
Of course, the best way to determine whether or not you are a good candidate for this treatment will be by attending a consultation with one of our skincare experts. During your consultation, we will be able to assess the condition of your skin and discuss your aesthetic goals.
Rejuvenate Your Skin Health With Microdermabrasion
Exfoliating is one of the keys to good skincare, but at-home exfoliation can leave a lot to be desired. If you want to shed dead skin cells to reveal brighter, healthier, more youthful-looking skin, then a treatment like microdermabrasion can be beneficial. This treatment can address a wide variety of superficial concerns and is appropriate for almost all patients. Please contact Dr. Park Avenue in Franklin Lakes, NJ to schedule your consultation today.
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