Microdermabrasion
Your skin is composed of
several layers. The lowest layer, the subcutaneous layer, contains the
blood vessels that enter into the skin and nourish it. Above that is
the dermis. This is where the oil and sweat glands lie. The dermis is
the active regenerative portion of the skin and it is also where
scarring occurs. The dermis contains both the elastic and structural
collagen fibers which are responsible for skin's youthful appearance.
Ultra-violet rays from the sun can damage and erode these fibers
leading to photo aging. The most superior layer of the skin is the
stratum corneum. The stratum corneum consists of layers of cells which
are actually dead. This thick layer provides a moisture barrier which
prevents us from losing too much water through our skin and also
provides a barrier against chemicals and toxins in the environment
which otherwise could penetrate the skin and get into the bloodstream.
When we are youngsters, our stratum corneum is fairly thin and very soft and regular in appearance, thus our skin appears youthful and soft. One of the other effects of photo aging is the development of peaks and valleys in the stratum corneum, areas of relative thickening which reflect light differently and give a crinkled and aged appearance to the skin. This appearance is not an inevitable result of chronological time but a direct effect of sunlight exposure. It is a form of photo aging. The parts of your body that are never exposed to sun retain their youthful smooth appearance well into the sixties or seventies. With micro-dermabrasion, the skin of your face, arms and chest can be returned to its youthful appearance and maintained there. Micro-dermabrasion is a process in which a thin stream of carborundum crystals, a tiny crystal second in hardness only to diamonds, is pulled across the skin using an adjustable vacuum flow device. This allows for extremely controlled abrasion of the skin, Because only the superficial stratum corneum layer, which is already dead, is directly touched by rejuvenation micro-dermabrasion, there is no risk of permanent scarring, thinning of the dermis or long-term side effects. It is an extremely safe form of rejuvenation.
Microdermabrasion works on two levels. First, it works by smoothing out the stratum corneum. People will notice an immediate change in skin texture after the first couple of treatments. The second effect of microdermabrasion is more enduring. As the stratum corneum is peeled, small amounts of specific growth hormones are released at the layer of the dermis. This leads to the regeneration of collagen which had previously been damaged by sunlight. The rejuvenation of collagen improves the elastic properties of the skin, reducing and looseness. It gives a similar result to an medium acid peel, but is much safer and less painful. Microdermabrasion can also be used to treat the side effects of the more aggressive laser skin resurfacing treatment which have recently become popular. A major problem with these has been hyperpigmentation in dark-skinned women. Microdermabrasion avoids this potential complication and can also rectify it when it has occurred. Microdermabrasion can be used to treat acne which is essentially a condition of plugging of pores in of the stratum corneum. Microdermabrasion can be used in the treatment of hyperpigmentation such aschloasma, the "mask of pregnancy". Microdermabrasion also be used to reduce the appearance of pock marks, keloids, stretch marks and other types of raised or depressed scars.
A great many new anti-aging agents have recently become available on the market. These include substances which stimulate the growth of new skin cells, anti-oxidant substances such as vitamin C (which may also act as a growth signal) and vitamin A analogs such as Retin-A. All of these fairly expensive cosmeceuticals must first penetrate the stratum corneum to be effective. Simultaneous treatment with microdermabrasion can greatly accelerate and enhance the effect of these agents. It is recommended that at a minimum, a microdermabrasion series be accompanied with a daily use of glycol acid product. Glycolic acid the unique property of loosening the glue that holds the stratum corneum cells together, thus allowing for deeper penetration of cosmeceuticals. We offer an array of these products, many of which are not sold outside of the doctor's office. All products we sell come with a money back guarantee.