7 Microdermabrasion Aftercare Tips

I f you are thinking about going through a microdermabrasion procedure, it is a good idea to find out as much as you can about it so you know in advance what steps you need to follow, both before and after the treatment to get optimal results. While it is true that this is an easy intervention on your skin that doesn’t imply the long recovery required by a chemical peel, and it is highly improbably that something will go wrong, you still need to consider that you will have your pores open for a while and a fresh skin layer exposed, which can get infected if not properly taken care of. Below, I explain how the procedure works and give you a few tips that will help you avoid having your face infested with acne or looking dry and painful.

Woman During Microdermabrasion Treatment

Why Try Microdermabrasion?

Sometimes, it seems that no matter how many exfoliating treatments you apply, you don’t seem to obtain that glowing skin celebrities possess. While there is a great chance that a part of it is artificially created on the computer, they do manage to look flawless when they attend a live event. The secret is deeper exfoliation, which can only be attained with a microdermabrasion machine designed to go beyond the layer of dust and sebum on the face and remove the most superficial skin layer, which consists mostly of dead skin cells and traces of make-up.

Microdermabrasion can help you treat clogged pores and acne and has a good effect on rejuvenating your skin due to the suction function that stimulates your epidermis to receive more collagen. It will also make your complexion look smoother and glowing. Most studies have shown that the general perception of the clients after using dermabrasion is excellent, many of them arguing that they felt their face lighter and cleaner.

Microdermabrasion Steps

Before explaining how you should take care of your skin, it is important to understand how the treatment works. This will give you an image of what is happening to your skin during and after the procedure. Here are the two types of machines and how they function:

• Microcrystals: the dermatologist will slowly position the wand on your face, which will release the microcrystals. As the wand moves a rubbing effect takes place, which helps scrub the skin. Simultaneously, suction is employed, which helps extract blackheads and whiteheads, stimulates the production of collagen, and sucks the crystals, ensuring that the epidermis is cleansed optimally.
• Diamond tip: the procedure is similar, the only difference being that the machine uses a sharp tip that goes over the skin and peels the outer layer. The suction is present here as well, so the results are the same from this point of view.

What to Expect After a Microdermabrasion Treatment

The side effects that can appear after the treatment are often mild and tend to disappear in a few hours or maybe one day, depending on how sensitive your skin is. Most dermatologists will tell you that you can expect the following:

• Your complexion may look red or pinkish
• Your face may feel tight
• You may experience dry skin that flakes
• Acne outbursts
• Cold sores

How to Care for Your Skin After the Procedure

There are a series of guidelines you need to follow when you are done with microdermabrasion. From very small changes to your routine to a few essential actions you need to take, these tips help ensure that you will not experience severe side effects that may prevent you from enjoying the results.

1. Right after the treatment, carefully clean your face

This is a step that won’t be skipped by your esthetician, but if you are doing the treatment yourself, make sure to use a wet towel to wipe your face and remove any traces of microcrystals or dead skin cells. You can also add a mild cleanser to the towel for more profound cleaning. Do not rub, as this can lead to irritations.

2. Drink a lot of water

As your skin starts regenerating, it is important that you maintain a high level of hydration in your body. This clinical study has shown that if you drink more than 2 liters of water per day, you will see a huge improvement in your skin physiology. For even better hydration, specialists recommend using a water ionizer to produce alkaline water, which is absorbed faster by the skin.

Woman Applying Moisturizing Cream On Face

3. Use a rich moisturizer

If you are a big fan of light face lotions, now it is time to replace your old one with a richer one, even if your skin tends to be oily. This is just a temporary transition, which is very important, nevertheless, as it helps reduce the sensation of tight and flaky skin. Also, do not pick at your skin during this period, as it can only lead to the accumulation of dead cells and pimples.

4. Use sunscreen with high SPF

One thing that is completely forbidden after each facial treatment, no matter if we are talking about microdermabrasion, dermaplaning, or hydradermabrasion, is to get out in the sun without wearing sunscreen. The explanation is simple: the sun rays can penetrate through your fresh skin more rapidly and deeply and produce sunburns. It is also recommended to avoid going to the beach or going outdoors without wearing a hat that can provide the essential shade to your face.

5. Avoid working out in the first 48 hours

There is nothing wrong with doing a few stretching or strength exercises, but you need to take care not to do something too strenuous that could cause you to sweat a lot. If sweat reaches your face, it can produce irritations and a sensation of burn. If you have a gym session scheduled, you can try and use a headband to keep sweat away from the treated skin. Also, make sure to wash your face as soon as the exercise routine is over.

6. Skip the alcohol, salicylic acid, and other substances that have a thinning effect on your blood

You should follow this rule both before and after the procedure, as these substances can cause your skin to bleed and make you more prone to infection. Also, as this study has shown, alcohol ages your skin, so it will basically annul the youthfulness effect you are trying to acquire. Talk to your doctor if you are on blood-thinning pills and see if you can skip your treatment for about a week.

7. Do not exfoliate

Since the microdermabrasion is an exfoliating treatment itself, there is no need to apply gels that contain microparticles on your skin. Wait for a week before going back to your routine. If you feel that your skin is getting rough or flaky, you can apply a very mild exfoliant, but make sure to do it on the wet skin and rinse carefully. Complete this treatment with a moisturizer to make sure your skin stays nourished.

The Takeaway

Most women who have tried microdermabrasion had no side effects and reported dealing only with a soft redness that disappeared in a few hours. Moreover, this review of the literature in the field showed that most studies have concluded that this procedure can have mild to moderate benefits on the skin without causing serious health incidents, so it is considered a safe process. On the other hand, it needs to be considered that all the recommendations were followed in these cases and that you risk making your skin look worse if you decide to expose it to the sun or continue to drink alcohol. In the end, the price to pay is not too high, and some of the tips we have included (hydrating, skipping alcohol) will benefit your entire body and not only your skin.