While microdermabrasion and laser skin resurfacing offer several benefits for damaged skin, a complete dermabrasion treatment is still one of the best ways to treat skin problems and improve the texture of the skin. Dermabrasion is designed to polish and refinish the skin’s layers, effectively removing fine lines, wrinkles, age spots and sun damage from the skin’s surface.   

The procedure can help you achieve a fresh and youthful look after just one treatment, and can also firm up the skin over time. If you’ve noticed your skin is looking duller than usual, or just needs an intensive facial treatment, you may be a good candidate for dermabrasion. 

Consider these pros and cons of the treatment before booking your procedure:  

Ideal Candidates for Dermabrasion  

You may be a good candidate for dermabrasion if you have:

• Acne scars and acne breakouts that are no longer active
• Scars from surgery or injuries that are fully healed
• Fine facial lines and wrinkles
• Have light-colored skin
• Skin that is free of major breakouts and flare-ups
• Freckles and small patches of pigmentation  

Key Benefits of Dermabrasion  

Dermabrasion can effectively remove the signs of aging or skin damage after just one treatment. 

Other benefits of dermabrasion include:  

• Removal of acne scars and inactive blemishes
• Reduction of fine lines and wrinkles
• Improved skin texture and tone
• A fresh, youthful and attractive appearance
• Stronger skin composition and more definition of contours  

The procedure removes the top layer of skin completely to reveal the fresh, pink layer underneath, but it will take some time for the skin to heal before you start seeing the dramatic change.  

Drawbacks of Dermabrasion  

Dermabrasion is a fairly intensive treatment that makes use of an electrically operated brush to scrape away the skin. It’s a powerful skin refinishing treatment that can have adverse effects on some skin types – those with black skin, Asian skin or a darker complexion may experience skin ‘blotching’ or white patches (Source:  PlasticSurgery.org).   

Common side effects of dermabrasion include:

• Light scarring that can take days or weeks to heal
• Skin inflammation
• Breakouts from underlying acne problems
• Redness and irritation
• Swelling of skin tissues
• Scabs and crusts over treated areas
• Bright pink patches of skin  

Most people recover completely within two weeks of the procedure, but skin will be fairly tender and pink for a few days after treatment.  The American Society of Plastic Surgeons recommends dermabrasion patients to avoid chlorinated water for at least four weeks after treatment, and refrain from alcohol for about 3-4 weeks in order to prevent skin flushing.  

The dermabrasion procedure is an intensive but effective solution for repairing damaged skin, but does have a few drawbacks.  If you’re looking for a non-surgical makeover, dermabrasion may help you achieve a fresh, healthy look with minimal scarring and pain.   

Learn more about dermabrasion techniques in our information guide, or consult with a dermabrasion professional in your area to learn more about the procedure.