There is a marked difference between dermabrasion and microdermabrasion. The former is more invasive and painful than the latter. But the gentleness of microdermabrasion does not mean it requires no care for the skin afterward. This article discusses your skin after microdermabrasion.
Table of Contents
Caring for Skin After Microdermabrasion
After the treatment, it is crucial to clean or wash your face with a wet towel and apply a rehydrating type of toner afterward. It helps to remove residual dead cells that the treatment may have left behind. Never use any cleanser or toner with harsh ingredients. Always go for gentle, non-comedogenic, and hypoallergenic skincare products for the best results.
Next, apply some moisturizer to your face after drying it completely. The moisturizer must be rich to eliminate dryness and peeling. The moisturizer will build the moisture content of your skin and help repair the broken skin barriers while locking the moisture in the skin. Regularly use the moisturizer for about a week as your skin heals.
Another way to keep hydrated is to drink water and eat water-rich vegetables and fruits. Apart from the work of the moisturizer, the water content of your body will aid in eliminating dryness and helping your skin to recover faster.
Keep out from under the sun for seven days, at least, as your skin becomes better from the treatment. Sometimes, you may have to go out so, use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of not less than 30, even if the day is cloudy.
Also, wear clothing that protects your skin from sun rays any time you head out. At this point, your skin is photosensitive and is prone to hyperpigmentation if it is overexposed to sunlight.
Furthermore, keep your hands away from your face. If your face starts peeling, you may be tempted to pick at your skin, but this is the time to avoid it because it may lead to pigmentation and scarring. Instead, use more moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated. Within days, the dryness and peeling will resolve.
What Not To Do After a Microdermabrasion
It is important to avoid exercise or strenuous activities after microdermabrasion. Such activities will cause you to sweat, and sweat will irritate your highly-sensitive skin. This is the ideal move, but if you must work out, use a headband that is highly absorbent. It will absorb sweat from your forehead before it reaches your face.
Do not use irritating skincare products or exfoliants for about a week after the treatment. While microdermabrasion does not need downtime for recovery, it still requires that you pay attention to your skin to see the best results. Keep your hands away from your face and wait a few days before using products that contain benzoyl peroxide, glycolic acid, and retinol, along with topical treatments for acne.
Furthermore, keep away from blood thinners during the phase when your skin is recovering. They will slow the process of healing and prolong the time it takes to see results. The same applies to taking alcohol. Wait a few days before indulging in alcoholic beverages or taking pain relievers such as ibuprofen. In all, get clearance from your doctor before taking any of these to be sure it is safe.
Additionally, reduce the amount of caffeine you consume. Coffee is not the only beverage that contains caffeine; some types of tea also contain caffeine. Caffeine is a stimulant that can dehydrate your skin, which will encourage peeling and slow the healing process. If you must take coffee or tea, drink the same quantity of water as the coffee or tea you consume. This does not include the normal quantity of water you should take per day.
How Long for Skin to Heal After Microdermabrasion?
It takes only a couple of days for your skin to heal after a microdermabrasion procedure. It is not as invasive as dermabrasion, so you do not need downtime. You can go about your normal activities from the doctor’s office if you have adequate protection from the sun.
You will notice some dryness and tightness in your skin for a day, as well as skin pinkness. But the color fades and the tightness reduces after the first day. You may want to give yourself one or two days away from strenuous activities and going out under the sun after the treatment. That way, your skin recovers smoothly.
Skin Burning After Microdermabrasion – Remedy
If your skin is burning after microdermabrasion, it may be part of the healing process. Typically, your skin feels tight and dry, looking pink and tender after the treatment. For some skin types, there will be a burning sensation due to sensitivity. But it fades over a few hours to a couple of days.
The same applies to tightness, dryness, tenderness, and pink skin color. Applying a good moisturizer every day for at least one week will help heal the skin faster. Also, use sunscreen when you go out, even if it is cloudy outside. Within a couple of days, you will notice that your skin does not feel so tight or dry, and the color is getting better.
However, if you keep feeling the burning sensation on your skin days after the treatment, it is crucial that you go back to the doctor for a checkup. This is especially true if the feeling is accompanied by your skin turning red and itching. You may be negatively reacting to the crystals or there is injection.
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Dry Flaky Skin After Microdermabrasion – Treatment
It is normal to see your skin looking flaky and dry after microdermabrasion. The treatment sheds the skin of dead cells and reveals newer and better skin. Part of the process is that it will feel dry and tight, and may peel before it gets better. However, cleaning your face every day and using a good moisturizer reduces dryness and eliminates peeling. Even if your face peels, it will be minimal, but you must not touch your skin to prevent aggravating it or risking scars.
Skin Irritation After Microdermabrasion – Remedy
Use a soothing moisturizer that is mild on your skin if it feels irritated and avoid direct sunlight on your skin for at least seven days. Your skin will be irritated after microdermabrasion because the treatment is an exfoliation process that uses small crystal balls or a diamond tip to scrape away dead skin cells. It is much like sanding a work surface with sandpaper. You will even have pinkish or reddish skin after the treatment.
However, the irritation and redness of the skin fade after some hours. At most, it will last for a day. Using the correct type of moisturizer goes a long way to help make your skin better. See a doctor if the irritation and skin color do not resolve within hours or if they get worse.
Can Microdermabrasion Make Skin Worse?
Microdermabrasion does not make the skin worse unless there is a contraindication in your case, which your doctor will inform you of during consultation. It is a safe procedure and just about anyone can get it, even in a spa. If you want to rid your face of dead skin cells, consider using the treatment.
However, the following are skin conditions that prevent you from microdermabrasion because it could damage your skin permanently:
1. Rosacea
The sensitivity of your skin if you have rosacea will only get worse if you undergo microdermabrasion. You do not have to have a breakout before avoiding it; as long as you have rosacea, you risk a flare-up if you use the treatment, even if your skin is presently good.
2. Acne
If you have inflammatory acne, it is best to avoid microdermabrasion. Mild or comedonal acne does not get worse with the treatment because they do not get inflamed. It is only going to hurt and leave the skin raw and more inflamed if you scrape the crystals or diamond tip over already inflamed acne.
The treatment does not reduce the appearance of active acne; topical or oral treatments are your best bet. But when the inflammation reduces and there is much active acne on your face, you may consider the treatment. However, speak with your doctor before using it.
3. Skin Irritation
A rash, ringworm, psoriasis, eczema, and other skin irritations do not fare well with microdermabrasion. Your doctor will advise you against it if they know what they are doing. The treatment will not even clear the irritation, anyway, but will only make it worse. So, it is best to avoid it entirely.
4. Cold Sores
Allow your skin to heal if you have a cold sore before going for microdermabrasion. Apart from the fact that cold sores are painful and you cannot withstand having the microdermabrasion tool run over them, you risk infection if you do it. Besides, microdermabrasion can lead to a cold sore breakout if you are prone to it. So, let your doctor know before the procedure if you have no current breakout.
Can You Break Out After Microdermabrasion?
You can break out after microdermabrasion, but it is not necessarily something to make you feel bad. The treatment causes a renewal of cell growth within your skin while pulling impurities to the surface, which is a good thing. But the process, combined with healing, can lead to breakouts. Fortunately, it is only temporary and the breakouts usually disappear within a short period. Besides, they signify that your skin is cleansing and rejuvenating.
It is crucial that you do not touch your face during this time to avoid making the breakouts worse. Also, keep yourself hydrated by drinking lots of water and eating water-rich fruits and vegetables. In addition, follow the gentle skincare routine you have always used; use only a gentle cleanser, toner, and a rich moisturizer. Keep at it every day until the pimples disappear.
Can I Do Microneedling After Microdermabrasion?
You can undergo microneedling after microdermabrasion. Microdermabrasion is minimally abrasive and does not break the skin. You may feel only minimal sensitivity after the procedure. So, your skin may be able to withstand the microneedling process.
Wait at least two weeks after microdermabrasion before going for microneedling. The same applies if you want to do microdermabrasion after microneedling. However, it is best to consult with your dermatologist to see if your skin can withstand both treatments so close together.
Does Microdermabrasion Help with Oily Skin?
Microdermabrasion helps oily skin. It scrapes dead skin cells and cleanses the pores, leaving them free from congestion and open. That way, you can use different skincare products and they will easily penetrate the skin and work. The more of the products your skin is able to absorb, the more effective they are on your skin.
If your oily skin is also prone to acne, microdermabrasion enables topical acne treatments to work better because there is nothing clogging the pores. It is much the same as the skincare products. However, ensure you get clearance from your doctor before undergoing the treatment.
Recap
Learn what microdermabrasion is and how to look after your skin after microdermabrasion from this article. There are some side effects of the treatment, but they are usually mild and resolve within a few hours or a couple of days. So, they are nothing to be worried about unless they linger or get worse.
Always consult with your doctor about your skin type, current skin irritations, and any other medical history you may have before the procedure. While it is minimally abrasive, the treatment may not be ideal for you. Your doctor may recommend another procedure that is more suited to your skin.
