Microdermabrasions: They’re not for everyone

Microdermabrasion is a non-invasive skin treatment used to rejuvenate skin and is safe for most people. Microdermabrasions, performed in medical clinics and spas in the United States since 1993, have become a favored facial treatment because of the noticeable results immediately following the procedure. This popular skin treatment works by the mechanical exfoliation of the outermost layer of skin, the epidermis, giving skin a more polished, youthful appearance. As the largest organ in the body, your skin’s health is vital. Skin is actually a barrier to protect the many layers and organs beneath and performs such duties as the exchange of nutrients, protection from infection, helps regulate the body’s temperature and facilitates the release of waste.

Also called the “lunchtime peel”, microdermabrasion works much like a sand blaster where the outermost layer of dead skin cells (stratum corneum-top layer of the epidermis) is removed using micro crystals, revealing a more youthful appearance. The nurse or technician detrmines the appropriate protocal for the patient, and also determines the settings of the machine. One of the most significant skincare items everyone should use is sunblock to protect skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays, such as Sheer Physical UV Defense 50 SPF by SkinCeuticals. Sunblock should be worn year-round and is especially important for the patient with sensitive skin.

Though microdermabrasion is a painless and non-invasive treatment, there are contraindications for its use. People taking the anti-acne medication, Accutane, must be off the medication for 12 months before having any facial treatments since Accutane causes skin hypersensitivity, reducing the ability to recover and heal. Chemical exfoliants and acids also cause skin hypersensitivity, so use must be discontinued before treatment. Microdermabrasion is not recommended for patients with active rosacea, lupus, herpes, inflamed cystic acne nor for pregnant women.

Caution must be exercised when treating patients with aging skin since it is usually thin as evidenced by its vascularity. Exfoliating a layer of skin from a patient with translucent skin could cause further injury. By removing the outermost layer, minus the normal protective layers beneath, the underlying skin is more susceptible to injury. The tiny crystals plus the vacuum used in the microderm causes erythema, or redness, which is a normal reaction after the procedure. However, the patient with sensitive skin has an exaggerated response, increasing the exposed and broken blood vessels. This response is evidenced by prolonged erythema and increased healing time. Permanent scarring could result from over-exfoliation.

As a nurse in the medical skin care field at Dr. Mark Baxa’s office in Charlotte, I am extremely cautious when determining the preferred treatment for the patient that has sensitive and translucent skin. There are other methods of exfoliation that may be safer for patients with hypersensitive and compromised skin than the microdermabrasion. Check with your skin care specialist for the treatment best suited for you.

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