How Often Can You Safely Undergo Microdermabrasion Treatments?

• Microdermabrasion is a quick, non-invasive treatment that helps to reveal bright, healthy-looking skin.
• To maintain the results from microdermabrasion, monthly repeat treatments are recommended.
• It’s possible to perform your own treatments at home, although there are more risks involved.

Microdermabrasion is an exfoliating treatment that often requires repeat sessions before a significant improvement in skin tone and texture is achieved. Monthly treatments are recommended, and it may take up to six sessions before your skin complaints are addressed. At-home microdermabrasion devices are a cost-effective alternative but often come with higher risks.

What is Microdermabrasion?

Microdermabrasion is a minimally-invasive treatment that rejuvenates your skin’s texture and tone. Using exfoliating micro-crystals, it buffs away dead cells from the surface of your skin. This process encourages the growth of new, healthy skin cells.

During the treatment, your dermatologist will use a device that gently sprays a stream of micro-crystals onto your skin. A vacuum then lightly pulls away the micro-crystals and dead skin away from your face. You shouldn’t experience any pain or discomfort during the treatment.

Benefits of microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion is commonly used to treat skin complaints such as dullness, hyperpigmentation and scarring. By clearing away the stubborn dead skin cells that your standard cleansers and exfoliants can’t remove at home, microdermabrasion helps to reveal brighter, smoother looking skin.

Microdermabrasion stimulates the skin’s natural process of cell growth and renewal. This process also helps to fade away hyperpigmentation and mild scarring over time, resulting in a softer, more even texture and tone.

Microdermabrasion treatments often take between 30-45 minutes. They carry little to no risks compared to other treatments, such as chemical peels and laser therapy. The recovery time is also typically faster than these alternatives.

How Often to Get a Microdermabrasion Facial

While microdermabrasion can be an effective one-time treatment for those with moderately clear skin, most people benefit from regular treatments. The amount of recommended microdermabrasion sessions depends on the severity of your skin complaints. Those with mild signs of dullness or irregular texture may see positive results after the first session. Yet, those with more severe scarring and hyperpigmentation may need to have repeat visits before achieving their desired results.

As microdermabrasion involves the abrasion and exfoliation of the skin, you should wait for at least one to two weeks before booking a repeat visit. This will allow your skin to heal properly and adequately prepare it for another session.

How long do the effects of microdermabrasion last?

The results from microdermabrasion treatments typically last around four weeks, before your skin begins to build up dead cells once again. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends repeat treatments to maintain a radiant healthy glow, ideally once per month.

How Often to Do Microdermabrasion at Home

At-home microdermabrasion devices have become a popular alternative to in-office treatments. These handheld devices feature a coarse diamond tip that is gently passed across your face to buff away dead skin cells.

While at-home treatments are cost-effective, they tend to come with more risks. Pressing too hard on your skin or performing the treatments on yourself too often can result in damaged, sore and irritated skin. Depending on your skin’s tolerance, you can perform at-home microdermabrasion treatments fortnightly or monthly, or once your skin has healed fully.

Another drawback to at-home treatments is that they tend to be milder and less effective than those performed in-office by professional dermatologists. Trained professionals have experience in knowing exactly how much pressure to apply, and how to adjust the treatment to suit your individual skin type

Side Effects of Frequent Microdermabrasion

Side effects may occur if you expose your skin to too many microdermabrasion treatments. These can include:

• Erythema (redness of the skin)
• Itching
• Dry, cracked or scaly skin
• Minor bruising
• Bleeding

Those with sensitive and dry skin are likely to be more susceptible to these effects. This because their skin’s natural protective barrier is weaker than other skin types. Monitor your skin after treatments and lookout for signs of potential irritation, such as redness, itching or dry, flaking skin. Allow your skin to heal entirely before seeking any additional treatments.

Takeaway

Microdermabrasion is a safe and effective cosmetic treatment. It can help you to achieve brighter, healthier-looking skin via exfoliation. Regular treatments are often required to get optimal results. Biweekly or monthly treatments are typically advised for treating moderate skin complaints.

To maintain these results, it’s best to visit your dermatologist once per month for repeat microdermabrasion sessions.

When using at-home devices, always follow the instructions provided and press gently on your skin to perform the exfoliation. Allow your skin to fully heal before exposing it to another round of microdermabrasion.