What are microdermabrasion treatments? Microdermabrasion treatments use a minimally abrasive instrument to gently sand your skin, removing the thicker, uneven outer layer.This type of skin rejuvenation is used to treat light scarring, discoloration, sun damage, and stretch marks. Microdermabrasion can: Improve age spots and black heads. Improve hyperpigmentation (patches of darkened skin). Exfoliate your skin, resulting in a refreshed appearance. Lessen the appearance of stretch marks. Reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Reduce or eliminate enlarged pores. Treat the scars left by acne Microdermabrasion helps to thicken your collagen, which results in a younger looking complexion. Collagen is a protein in your skin that’s abundant when you’re a child and makes skin appear taut and smooth. Collagen production declines as we age, resulting in looser, uneven skin. Microdermabrasion recovery. There is no down time or recovery period following microdermabrasion. After your treatments, your healthcare provider may recommend a special moisturizer or facial product to enhance and prolong your result. Microdermabrasion results . Your polished new look should be long-lasting, depending on the severity of your skin damage and the number of treatments that you receive.Many people have two microdermabrasion treatments per month at first and then one per month as part of a maintenance plan. Microdermabrasion procedure steps . Imagine a very fine sand blaster and you’ll get a picture of how microdermabrasion works. It uses microparticles, or a diamond-tipped wand, to remove the top layer (epidermis) of your skin and stimulate new skin growth. Two kinds of microdermabrasion procedures . There are two kinds of microdermabrasion treatments. One approach involves a hand-held device that streams tiny crystals across your skin.An attached vacuum simultaneously suctions those exfoliating crystals back into the machine, along with the dead or loosened skin.The newer approach uses a diamond-tip wand that is gently moved across your skin to exfoliate.Each treatment will last about a half hour. You may feel a mild scratching as the procedure removes the superficial skin cells.Additionally, you’ll notice a vibrating sensation akin to a massage. There is also a suction mechanism to lift off the dead skin.Microdermabrasion risks and safetyAny discomfort experienced as part of microdermabrasion is usually short-lived. This can include redness and swelling, which should subside within a few hours. Later, you can expect the skin to be flaky and dry for several days. Additional microdermabrasion risks include:Bruising, which can occur from the suction and may last several days.Your skin will be more sensitive to sun exposure. Be sure to use sunscreen, especially immediately following a microdermabrasion session.