The goal of professional microdermabrasion is to soften the skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. When selecting a professional microdermabrasion treatment, you'll want to choose one that is abrasive enough to effectively exfoliate the skin but which won't cause trauma. When performed in a spa or clinic, special machines are used that use an abrasive material to buff the skin, then vacuum the dead cells up. You'll want to choose a professional who has been trained on the particular equipment, who has experience, and who can offer positive testimonials from satisfied clients.
Professional microdermabrasion is a treatment that uses revolving crystals to remove dead skin, which results in a smoother, fresher complexion. Treatments can also help reduce excess oil on the skin and clean out clogged pores and blackheads. The professional you select should use a tool that uses clinically safe abrasive particles, such as aluminum oxide or sodium bicarbonate, that work by buffing and polishing the skin. Some more expensive tools use a wand with a diamond tip instead of a stream of abrasives.
Most professional microdermabrasion machines have four primary functions. The machine should gently pull and raise the skin to be treated. This creates mild swelling, which helps to bring up any impurities. The abrasive materials then shoots across the skin, removing the impurities and dead skin cells, and the vacuum action of the machine then removes the debris from skin for disposal. For the best results, you should undergo at least three sessions of professional microdermabrasion.
When choosing a spa or clinic for professional microdermabrasion, you'll want to make sure that the staff member performing the procedure has been properly trained and has experience with the particular machine. Microdermabrasion that is performed incorrectly can cause permanent damage to the skin, so you'll want to be confident that the technician knows what he or she is doing. It's a good idea to talk to the technician who will be doing the procedure about his or her training and experience to get a sense of how familiar he or she is with the process. If you aren't comfortable with the technician, don't go through with the procedure.
A good way to get a sense of a technician's or facility's quality is to talk to people who have been treated there. Many reviews are available online, although it's not always easy to tell if a review was written by an actual client. If you know someone who has undergone professional microdermabrasion, he or she may be happy to share information about the experience. You can also check with your local Better Business Bureau or other local business rating organization to see if there have been any complaints about a particular facility.
Scrubs and exfoliating creams are alternatives to professional microdermabrasion treatment. The best exfoliation products will often contain the same crystals that are found in professional treatment, but must be used manually instead of with the tool. You can simply rub the products on your face in a circular motion so the crystals remove the dead skin. Some manual exfoliation products also contain moisturizing ingredients that can help repair the skin after the exfoliation process.