BEAUTY: A NEW PROCESS THAT REMOVES DEAD SKIN CELLS AND MAY ALSO REMOVE WRINKLES
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By Kiran Nazish
Tried and Tested
From drugstores to dermatologists’ offices, people are talking about micro-dermabrasion.
This scientific beauty buzzword means “to remove skin by abrasion,” but it’s not as harsh as it sounds. Tiny crystals buff away dead and damaged surface skin cells, revealing smoother, softer, wrinkle-free skin beneath.
The thinking of the stratum corneum (the top layer of skin) actually stimulates new collagen formation, plumping the skin. It’s a safe, superficial treatment.
For the past decade, the procedure was only offered in professional settings by aestheticians and dermatologists. But a spate of new at-home products from Avon, Origins and other cosmetics companies promise to deliver micro-dermabrasion results without the appointment of a hefty price tag.
Professional treatments rely on a high-powered machine with a hand-held metal wand that works like a gentle sandblaster. It sprays a fine mist of aluminum oxide crystals onto the skin to slough off dirt and dead cells, and then vacuums away the debris.
You can now get these treatments from all the good beauty salons and skin treatment centres.
“It feels like a little vacuum going over your face,” says one of the patients Aisha, mid-treatment, her face flecked with tiny granules. “It doesn’t hurt, and your skin feels very soft afterwards.”
Skin may look rosy or swollen for a few hours following the treatment, said aesthetician Shaheen Sattar, who owns a beauty salon WHITE ROSE Hair and Beauty Center.
The procedure takes about 30 minutes, and a series of six treatments is typically recommended.
With superficial treatments, there is no one-time treatment that will take care of everything.
Micro-dermabrasion is similar to a facial peel, except it exfoliates mechanically rather than chemically. Mrs. Shaheen recommends it for patients with irregular pigmentation, sun damage, fine lines or blocked pores. It’s also beneficial for those allergic to chemical peeling agents, she said, and it’s increasingly popular with men.
Where to find them!
Now the question is ‘Where will you find these products easily?’
Although its sounds intricate by its name, and seems like it might not be available that easily, Micro-dermabrasion products can be easily bought from any cosmetic store at any shopping mall. Since most of our shopping malls are improving round the beauty corner, you are likely to find relevant products at all the good malls in town such as, Park Towers, The Point, Dolmen Mall, Millennium Mall, etc.
Micro-dermabrasion products available at drugstores and cosmetic counters range from a simple scrub applied with the fingertips to crystal enriched creams applied with a batter-powered buffer.
L’Oreal’s ReFinish Micro-dermabrasion Kit includes an exfoliating cream with aluminum oxide crystals and a post-treatment moisturizer with screen.
Tried and tested
Kashish Hussein, 39, tested the product using her fingers to scrub it into damp skin. “The first time I used it, it kind of hurt a little, so now I only do it for one minute instead of two, she said.
It’s easy to rinse off, and the lotion feels really good. It just glides on really nicely and absorbs fast. But I don’t see much of a difference between (this product) and my regular cleanser with micro beads.”
Anything that buffs the skin, including a loofah sponge or simple salt granules, could be considered a form of micro-dermabrasion.
It’s like a skin make over; although the term is used very loosely.
After trying several professional skin resurfacing treatments, Deena Saliha, who declined to give her age, tried the battery-powered Facial Rejuvenation System from Derma New. Deena dabbed the micro-dermabrasion lotion, “like a cream with sand in it,” onto her cheeks, chin, nose and forehead, then used the hand-held, vibrating tool to massage it into her skin.
According to her experience, it gives you a little bit of that fine sandpaper feel. Its relaxing, almost like a message feeling. It doesn’t hurt at all.
Three weeks of use left her skin noticeably smoother.
Mrs. Shaheen says that, your skin feels different after the first few treatments. It really feels like its being rejuvenated. You would even get an unsolicited compliment that your skin has a nice glow.
This is a definite winner compared to a glycolic acid peel. That is so painful, and it leaves the dry skin behind. It’s fabulous.
Special Product
Neutrogena’s Advanced Solutions At Home Micro-dermabrasion System also includes a battery-powered applicator and garnered similarly positive reviews from testers who posted their opinions on the drugstore.com web site.
Beware!
Since this product shows really good results to the consumer, chances are that you might get over excited and, might want to use it more often. Although the advice is: Don’t go too fast!
The greatest danger with over-the-counter micro-dermabrasion products is, Over-use. So make sure you avoid getting overwhelmed with the wonders this product can work. Instead use the product adequately.
Causes of over-use.
Someone who isn’t familiar may abuse it, thinking that the more they use it, the better their skin will look. But if someone is doing this too aggressively, it can actually cause pigmentations. After all, over-use of any thing may lead to side effects. It can be too much stimulation for fragile, sun-damaged skin and can cause broken capillaries.
Unclean instruments – fingers included – can also spread acne.
Though results from professional micro-dermabrasion treatments may be more dramatic than those attained with over the counter products, experts agree that removing dead skin cells, however mildly, contributes to a smoother, softer complexion.
There is yet not a lot of adverse effect, especially the way other products may have. If you use it safe, it sure gives your skin a rejuvenating make-over. And it is definitely worth your penny.
Happy micro-dermabrasion-ing!
NOTE: The author Kiran Nazish, is a beauty columnist in various magazines and journals, and a freelance journalist. Recently she attended a demo seminar on micro-dermabrasion. She conducted a survey on the experiences various people encountered during treatments.
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