Is microdermabrasion a safe treatment for acne scars and fine lines?
I am 23 years old, and I have some acne scars and small lines under my eyes. I want to know if microdermabrasion is a safe treatment for these issues. How many sessions are usually needed to see results? Thank you for your time.
Asked by: Alexandra from Metairie, LA
Answers (3)
Bridge therapy preferred over microdermabrasion
We all know that microdermabrasion is safe. It's just not very effective.
Acne scars and fine lines are treated most effectively with Bridge Therapy (Total FX which combines ActiveFX plus DeepFX). I have used other lasers such as Pixel and other fractional devices. I was not overly impressed with any of the results seen after a single session. Bridge Therapy is done in a single session. A follow-up can be done. . .but usually isn't even needed!
So. . .if you want to improve fine lines and acne scars, have TotalFX performed. Have some microdermabrasion treatments long after you are healed so your skin feels softer and to maintain your results longer.
Microdermabrasion not necessarily the best treatment for acne scars
Microdermabrasion certainly is a safe treatment if performed by the appropriate person. Unfortunately, it is not a very effective treatment for acne scars and fine lines.
Microdermabrasion is a glorified exfoliation procedure. It has little to no physiologic effects on the skin. It certainly will make the skin feel nice and smooth and allow other medications that are placed on top of the skin to penetrate more evenly and deeply so that those medications can be more effective, but as a single stand alone treatment, I must admit that I am underwhelmed with the performance of microdermabrasion.
One of the new tools that has come out lately is the PIXEL laser, which is a true fractional ablative smoothing laser that works terrifically for superficial lines and wrinkles, especially the crinkly lines underneath the eyes.
The PIXEL laser is also superb for treating acne scars. Once again, this is a true laser that needs to be operated by a physician only, as opposed to a microdermabrasion unit, which you can find in any strip-mall spa.
Both my patients and I have been extremely pleased by the results of the Pixel laser to treat superficial lines and wrinkles and acne scars. The procedure is well tolerated, relatively painless, and fast.
In my opinion, it works like, but out-performs the well known FRAXEL laser. Essentially, the Pixel laser requires a treatment once a month for four months for satisfactory results.
Microdermabrasion is a safe treatment for acne scars. Fine lines under the eyes are harder to treat. If you’re talking about lines on the lower lids themselves, I usually avoid microdermabrasion here, because the skin is thin and can be injured easily. There’s also increased risk of scratching the surface of your eye, which can be very painful for several days.
Microdermabrasion removes dead skin cells, making it easier to moisturize skin, and improves skin texture over time. Right after your first microdermabrasion, skin is very smooth for several days, since the dead skin cells on the surface have been peeled away. Over time, microdermabrasion can stimulate collagen growth deep to the dermis and improve fine lines and scars. This can take up to 3 months. The use of chemical peels can make this result more dramatic. Often, I’ll do a microdermabrasion with chemical peel once weekly for 3 weeks, then once every 2 weeks for 6 weeks to “jump start” our results, so long as there’s no medical reason not to; one example is use of Accutane for acne in the last 12 months.
Microdermabrasion is generally safe, but is it the best treatment? For fine lines under the eyes involving the lid, probably not. If the lines do not involve the lid, there can be some improvement. Depending on the lines, your Doctor may recommend laser skin resurfacing, a “lid lift”, or other procedure. For acne scars, there is some improvement over months, but I personally use laser skin resurfacing to treat depressed acne scars. I hope this is helpful. Discuss your options with your doctor!
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