Nothing is quite as refreshing and relaxing as receiving a professional facial. Facial services can be hugely beneficial for achieving your long-term skin care goals. Whether you are concerned with acne, fine lines, wrinkles, dry or sensitive skin, facial treatments can be a great tool for ongoing care (not to mention they feel amazing!). But sometimes, it feels like a facial doesn’t quite get the job done. If it has been a really long time since your last facial, or you are dealing with more than just the occasional blemish, you might want to try an alternative facial treatment, like microdermabrasion. Let’s take a look at what microdermabrasion is, how it works, and what it can do to help you achieve your skin goals. 

Microdermabrasion, or “microderm” for short, is a physical tool used to sand away the outermost layers of skin.  It works by physically exfoliating the dead skin cells of the face and removing them with light suction. Older generations of microdermabrasion machines sprayed tiny abrasive crystals over the surface of your skin, then sucked them back up at the same time with vacuum suction. Most newer models, like the one we use in our microderm services at the Pearl Day Spa, use a diamond-tipped wand that creates dermabrasion via vacuum pressure pulling the skin against an abrasive tip.

Regardless of what type of microderm equipment your esthetician uses, the effects are the same. The uneven, dead layers of skin are loosened and removed. With less dead skin cells stuck on the face, blemishes are reduced. Blemishes, such as blackheads and pimples, can be the result of clogged pores in the skin, which trap dirt, oil, makeup, and environmental pollutants. Then, dead skin cells trap this in the pores, leading to inflammation as the body tries to remove these substances. While traditional facial services often have some element of exfoliation, like a gommage, it does not have the same impact, and isn’t as effective at then removing all the yuck. 

Not only does microdermabrasion deliver powerful exfoliation, it helps the skin to produce more collagen when applied over time. Collagen is the substance in our bodies that, among other uses, helps to give skin a smooth and youthful appearance. As you age, the collagen in your body breaks down, resulting in looser skin and more uneven skin texture. By encouraging the body to make more collagen, microdermabrasion can bring a smoother appearance to the skin. If you feel as though your skin is uneven, loose, and has visible fine lines and wrinkles, then microdermabrasion could be a powerful tool for you. 

Other benefits to microdermabrasion include things that are often found in standard facial services, like increased circulation to the skin, a reduction in pore size, more even complexion, and reduced visibility of sun damage and surface scars. Because microdermabrasion is a slightly more aggressive treatment than a facial, it is not recommended for everyone, as it can have some side effects. Depending on how your esthetician uses the microdermabrasion equipment, you could experience redness, light bruising, and some swelling, but all of these should clear up within a couple hours to a couple days. Your skin may be drier and flakier than usual after your microdermabrasion treatment, so be sure to use a high-quality sensitive-skin moisturizer and drink extra water. 

If you feel like you could be getting more out of your monthly or seasonal facials, or have ongoing skin concerns like acne, microdermabrasion could be the solution you’ve been looking for. Unlike chemical facial peels, microderm can be safer for your skin and has less contraindications. The results are also more immediate than a chemical peel and more visible than with a regular facial. Microdermabrasion can help with a wide range of skin types and concerns, from clearing acne and reducing clogged pores to anti-aging and reducing fine lines.

The Pearl Day Spa now offers Microdermabrasion! Available as a stand alone service, or paired with a facial. For the month of June, if you pre-purchase 3 microderm appointments, you can save 15%, or 20% off 6 prepaid treatments!