Does Microdermabrasion Work on All Skin Types?

Your skin protects your body externally, which makes it prone to problems that can damage it, such as acne, blisters, hives, cold sores, eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, vitiligo, and skin cancer.

Skin is also the first part of the body to show signs of aging, the results of problems like sun overexposure, the loss of proteins that help your skin stay pliable, and various environmental and genetic factors.

Regardless of what’s causing changes to your skin, treatments are available to help you look your best, including microdermabrasion. This exfoliation method removes superficial skin and has cosmetic and medical applications.

But does this treatment option work on your skin type? At three New York City locations, Dr. Javier Zelaya and our team here at Skinworks Dermatology can answer that question and help you achieve the look you want with microdermabrasion or other skin treatments.

What’s microdermabrasion?

To perform this noninvasive cosmetic treatment, we exfoliate the top layer of your skin using a wand that sprays fine crystals on blemishes or areas of damaged skin. Using particles of sodium bicarbonate or aluminum oxide, the skin is lightly sanded away and suctioned into the wand.

We then apply a moisturizer and sunscreen to help protect your skin as new skin cells develop, a process of rejuvenation that leaves you with a younger, healthier look.

We use different wands depending on the area we’re treating. Options include a diamond tip handpiece, crystal microdermabrasion, and hydradermabrasion. There’s no downtime after your procedure, but expect some mild tenderness, redness, and swelling for the first few hours.

What conditions does microdermabrasion treat?

Microdermabrasion can address or manage cosmetic and medical skin problems, such as:

• Scars, the result of injury or acne
• Melasma, which causes dark spots and patches on the skin
• Hyperpigmentation, including age spots and other forms of skin discoloration
• Sun damage, skin problems that result from overexposure to the sun’s UV rays
• Acne, including the familiar blackheads and whiteheads 

If you have any of these conditions, microdermabrasion might just be for you.

How does microdermabrasion work on different skin types?

Skin rejuvenation through abrading (removing the upper layers of skin) has been around for thousands of years, using means including sandpaper, rasps, and rotating wheels. 

The predecessor for microdermabrasion was dermabrasion, which dates to the 1950s but couldn’t treat all skin types because it impacted deeper layers of skin, causing discoloration and uneven tone in people with darker skin.

Microdermabrasion is far less intensive and can treat all skin types to create an even, smooth tone. Treatment usually takes 20-40 minutes depending on the target area, and full results can be seen after 5-16 sessions.

Microdermabrasion is a great solution for many medical or cosmetic skin problems. To make an appointment with Dr. Zelaya, call one of the Skinworks Dermatology locations in Maspeth, Chelsea, or Park Slope, or book your visit online.