Microdermabrasion vs. Hydradermabrasion for Sensitive Skin

I f microdermabrasion is already a well-established skincare treatment that is used both by celebrities and regular people and applied both at the esthetician’s office and at home with excellent results, hydradermabrasion is newer and still to be explored. Yet, the reason I want to speak about it today and compare it with microdermabrasion is that it can be a good alternative for individuals who have sensitive skin and don’t respond as well to skin exfoliation as expected. This new procedure is considered gentler and more suitable for acne-prone skin, but the question that remains to be answered is if it is as efficient as the traditional treatment. I will try to give you the answer in the following paragraphs.

Woman Undergoing Microdermabrasion at Clinic

Microdermabrasion

This is a type of treatment offered by most dermatologists today, and this is because it is easy to perform, the side effects are minor, and the results can be seen immediately. Thus, there is no wonder that so many people – men and women – use it to get brighter face skin and fewer wrinkles. Let’s take a look at its particularities, so you can understand how it works.

Procedure

The preparation for the procedure is minimal. You just need to avoid any facial treatments and make sure not to take aspirin before the treatment, as this can cause more redness and even bruising. You can instead spend some time in a sauna to help open your pores. The treatment itself consists in using a microdermabrasion machine to scratch the most superficial skin layer either with a diamond tip or by applying microcrystals that are rubbed on the skin to release the sebum and dirt clogging the pores. The machine also has suction tubes with heads of different sizes that will help remove blackheads and whiteheads and prevent the emergence of new ones.

Benefits

• Since it unclogs the pores and removes dead skin cells, it can prevent acne in the future and help you obtain a more luminous skin that also feels lighter.
• The skin becomes smoother to touch and more uniform, so the make-up looks better on it.
• You can use the diamond tip on aging skin to reduce the visibility of fine lines around your eyes. This study, for instance, has proven that it takes only 3 months of twice a month treatments to see considerable improvements.
• It is efficient against superficial scars like the ones left by acne. In combination with proper treatment, it can also reduce pigmentation and make the epidermis have a more even tone.

Side Effects

• It produces redness, although it disappears fast (no more than a few hours).
• Individuals with sensitive skin may experience prolonged redness, bruises, or cold sores.
• It creates an increased sensitivity to sunburns, which means that you need to protect yourself for a few days after the treatment.

Aftercare

You can keep applying the same skincare treatment you would on a regular day: a cleansing solution and moisturizer. Also, if you go out on the street and it is a sunny day, don’t forget about sunscreen, as you will be having a new skin layer exposed that is more prone to sunburns. Last but not least, don’t forget to drink a lot of water. I prefer alkaline water as it hydrates better and faster and maintains my skin glowing for longer.

Costs

A microdermabrasion treatment can cost from $75 to $200 depending on the type of procedure, number of sessions, and the equipment used. It is less expensive than other procedures, like microneedling, for example. However, considering that a machine for home use can cost you from $30 to $250, it may be more advantageous to buy one if you consider that you can master the skills to use it.

Hydradermabrasion

This treatment is considered to be rather new on the skincare market, but it is already becoming increasingly more popular every day. It can actually be seen as an upgrade from microdermabrasion, as it also uses a similar exfoliation procedure but also helps infuse cosmetic serums into the skin to help it hydrate.

Woman Preparing for Hyaluronic Acid Shot

Procedure

The preparation goes the same way as with microdermabrasion: no laser or chemical peeling before the procedure, no aspirin, and no aggressive sun exposure. The procedure itself consists of three steps: the first implies using a diamond tip to peel the outermost skin layer, the second is represented by suction, which cleanses the pores, and the third implies infusing the skin with serums that include antioxidants, hyaluronic acid, and peptides, which help hydrate the skin and prevent swelling and redness.

Benefits

• It stimulates the production of collagen, so it is more efficient in treating wrinkles and fine lines.
• The serums prevent inflammation, so it is more suitable for individuals with sensitive skin.
• It uses suction to clean the pores, so it can help fight whiteheads. Plus, it is less irritating, which is important for an efficient anti-acne treatment.
• This study has shown that using a machine to infuse the serums is more efficient than spreading them manually.

Side Effects

• It can produce redness, but it disappears faster in this case.
• If not used properly, the machine can produce bruises, especially if you have a sensitive skin type.
• It creates sun sensitivity that can last for a few days.

Aftercare

You need to take care of your skin as you would after a microdermabrasion treatment. Drink a lot of fluids, stay out of the sun, and use high-quality moisturizers that can provide your complexion with the nutrients it needs. In general, the skin recovers faster after hydradermabrasion due to the healing effect of the serums that penetrate it.

Costs

You will end up paying considerably more for a hydradermabrasion treatment, as the price can range from $150 to $300 for one session only. In the same direction, the machine can cost you as much as $500, so you should be prepared to invest more money if you go for this option. In the long run, the machine is considered the most profitable investment.

The Bottom Line: Microdermabrasion vs. Hydradermabrasion

The best way to tell if you should choose one type of treatment or another is to think about the purpose you are planning to use it for. Take a look at the following questions you should ask yourself before deciding:

Do you have sensitive skin?

Both treatments are gentle on your skin and do not have serious side effects that would imply taking time to recover. Redness is the most common issue, but as I have already explained, it is only temporary. For sensitive skin, the serum treatment can be more beneficial as the substance pushed into the pores help calm them and reduces the chances of irritation. It also hydrates better and can prevent the sensation of flaky skin that appears after exfoliation.

Is your budget tight?

If you don’t have a lot of money to spend on this purchase then a moderately-priced microdermabrasion device is the most suitable for you. Silk’n Revit offers a nice pen I like to use when I am traveling, which has good suction and a diamond tip, perfect to solve my blackhead problems whenever I need it.

Do you have acne?

Both options can help you deal with acne just as well, as they both offer peel and vacuum pore cleaning. However, if you suffer from a more severe type of acne, it is best to go for a hydra facial, as it can help calm your already irritated skin.

Are you trying to solve wrinkle problems?

Anti-aging treatments often imply using serums that can help boost collagen and help the skin stay hydrated, so it is easy to see why hydradermabrasion is more suitable in this case. However, most dermatologists agree that, if you combine the collagen production stimulated by the scrubbing and suction steps in microdermabrasion with a good moisturizer, you can attain a very similar effect.