What you can expect?
Ready for the big reveal? First, a moisturising lotion will be applied to your face to soften up the upper layers of skin. Then comes out the microdermabrasion unit itself which is run in smooth, firm strokes over your face to slough off dead skin and impurities. Though it may feel rough against your skin, it’s not painful – just a bit like having a mini vacuum cleaner running all over your face, if you will. Your skin might be a little bit flushed or feel tingly afterwards, but with a protective coat of SPF lotion, you’ll be ready to get back out and show off your new complexion straight away. And trust us, with results this good, you’ll want to get back out there ASAP.
Know before you go
- Avoid using any harsh exfoliating products for a week either side of having your face re-surfaced to its beautiful best.
- Practice makes perfect; better results will come with each session. Most clinics recommend a course of six treatments every one or two weeks, especially if you have dark patches or acne scars to clear. After that, monthly visits should be enough to keep your skin flawless.
- If you suffer from rosacea, extensive telangiectasias, warts, rashes, inflamed acne, sunburn, windburn or skin infections, consider this a no-no as it could be made worse by the treatment.
- Sensitive skin types may also want to give microdermabrasion a miss, although it’s worth talking to a therapist to see how the treatment could work for you.
The sciencey stuff
Using tiny exfoliating crystals that are sprayed onto skin, microdermabrasion removes the top layer of dead skin cells. Scared? Don’t be – the crystals are far too small enough to do any damage. In fact, they work to rejuvenate the epidermal layers which leads to collagen production – aka plumper, more perfect skin. Result!
