Does New Skin Mean A New You?

There once was a time, not so very long ago, when the skin you had was the skin you had to be content with. As the aging process kicked in, fine lines and wrinkles made their mark. “Building character”, as our grandmothers called it. Well, thankfully those days are long gone and today it is everyone’s right, whether they are male or female, to have the skin they would really like.

It is achievable thanks to the many clinics and beauty salons around the country that specialise in procedures such as microdermabrasion, which gently exfoliates the outer layer of the skin.

An Amazing Treatment

This treatment is used to improve the appearance of the skin and also to treat certain skin conditions such as acne, age spots and blackheads. It is completely painless and can be done in a lunch hour, so absolutely no time off work is needed.

The beauty of this treatment is that results can be seen immediately, but to understand this, it is important to understand just what the skin is and how it works.

The Science Bit

The skin is the largest organ of the body and is comprised of two layers, the epidermis which is the outer layer and the dermis. The top layer consists of dead cells which cover younger, maturing cells. It’s this top layer, called the stratum corneum, which sloughs off to expose the better layer underneath and gives a better complexion.

The stratum corneum acts as a barrier to the outside world, preventing anything detrimental getting through to the lower layers. It allows some tiny molecules through, so when you apply face creams, only a little penetrates the lower layers. It is this layer where all the annoying little imperfections hide out, such as blemishes and fine wrinkles.

Microdermabrasion treatment takes place solely on the stratum corneum, targeting the epidermis only. If it were to penetrate into the dermis, it would be very painful and could introduce bacteria into the body.

So, how does microdermabrasion work? Can you do it yourself or do you need a doctor to carry out the procedure? If you use face creams or cleansers with tiny ‘beads’ or granules in them, you are effectively exfoliating your skin; that is sloughing off the old skin cells.

In the salon or clinic environment, the procedure is a little more scientific, using a specialised vacuum tool which is gently run over the face, neck and shoulders. Minute crystals of aluminium oxide cascade over the skin, gently removing the dead out layer which the tool then collects up.

Now that the new layer of skin is exposed, it looks much pinker and younger and is slightly swollen from the treatment. Some moisture has been removed during the procedure, so it is important to apply some moisturiser to reinstate the balance.

Any application of medicinal lotions and creams will be more effective now that the stratum corneum has been removed as they can penetrate down into the lower layers of the skin.

Whether the treatment is conducted medically or in a salon, there is always an initial consultation when you will be told how many treatments you will need to gain maximum benefit. It all depends on your skin condition, so follow the advice carefully.