Microdermabrasion involves a device that "sandblasts" the skin with a spray of abrasive microscopic crystals. Scars from acne or chickenpox, wrinkles, and age spots can be reduced or removed with microdermabrasion.

Microdermabrasion treatments use a minimally abrasive instrument to gently sand your skin, removing the thicker, uneven outer layer.

This type of skin rejuvenation is used to treat light scarring, discoloration, sun damage, and stretch marks.

Microdermabrasion can:

• Improve age spots and black heads.
• Improve hyperpigmentation (patches of darkened skin).
• Exfoliate your skin, resulting in a refreshed appearance.
• Lessen the appearance of stretch marks.
• Reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
• Reduce or eliminate enlarged pores.
• Treat acne and the scars left by acne.

Microdermabrasion helps to thicken your collagen, which results in a younger looking complexion. Collagen is a protein in your skin that’s abundant when you’re a child and makes skin appear taut and smooth. Collagen production declines as we age, resulting in looser, uneven skin.

Several treatments (up to 10 or so) may be needed for good results. Each treatment takes 30 minutes to an hour, repeated over weeks. Microdermabrasion has no side effects and no recovery time for most people.

Full dermabrasion uses a rougher but more effective approach. In dermabrasion, a "skin sander" abrades skin more deeply. Seven to 10 days of recovery time are usually needed for skin to heal after dermabrasion.