Microdermabrasion is a light sanding/exfoliation of the skin that is accomplished by spraying it with tiny crystals or rubbing it with a diamond-tipped burr. This removes the upper layer of dead skin cells, causing the skin to look and feel smoother afterwards. The treatment is usually painless and without any downtime.
Most microdermabrasion machines use either aluminum oxide or sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) crystals. I only recommend microdermabrasion machines that use sodium bicarbonate crystals in order to avoid unnecessary exposure to the aluminum. At YPS, we have a crystal-less microdermabrasion machine that uses a diamond-tipped burr for similar results.
Keep in mind that microdermabrasion is a very mild treatment. In general, it isn’t as effective at removing fine lines and tightening the skin as fractional lasers, deeper chemical peels, or microneedling. It’s basically a nice exfoliation.
Dermabrasion is very different than microdermabrasion. In dermabrasion, a burr is used to more aggressively remove the upper layers of skin, usually to the point where the skin is actively bleeding. It can be very effective for smoothing acne scarring and wrinkles of the upper lip, but comes with downtime and some discomfort.
