Mechanical Microdermabrasion or D.I.Y. Microdermabrasion Kit?

There are several companies out today that are advertising and selling do-it-yourself microdermabrasion kits. I can’t begin to tell you how this gets under my skin (pun intended.) While a gentle exfoliation at home is a very good thing, trying to accomplish a skin resurfacing technique at home can be fairly hazardous and irritating to the skin.

One of the main reasons not to DIY is the tendency to be far too abrasive and aggressive. Some of you (you know who you are) may try to achieve that deep exfoliation that you get with a microderm machine. Although at home kits are much milder than a machine, they can often cause skin irritation. If used too harshly, aluminum oxide crystals can be left on the skin, and in some cases have actually been found embedded into the skin. These potentially harmful crystals, if left in the skin, can also lead to breakouts and irritation, and even worse, mild scarring.

Another reason not to use an at home system is the tendency to cause breakouts and/or inflammation. These are mostly due to harmful chemicals that are found in the cream that the crystals are in but are also sometimes caused by operator error, mostly because the purchaser of these creams isn’t aware of whether microderm or skin abrasion is right for them. Estheticians and dermatologists are trained, licensed and certified to give these treatments for a reason. We are aware of the indications and contraindications for certain treatments and will know when a particular person falls into either category.

Don’t get me wrong. I am all in favor of regular exfoliation at home. Almost everyone can benefit from a little scrub…just try something gentle and mild! You can even make your own scrubs out of ingredients that most of us have lying around our kitchen. If you are interested in more information about making your own skin care products, check out Pure Skin: Organic Beauty Basics by Barbara Close, founder of the Naturopathica skin care line. She gives some wonderful recipes that you can try out at home.

If you are considering microderm or would like more information on the microderm offered through New Moon Skin Care, please contact me. The average cost of an at home microdermabrasion kit is $50, not that much less than one 30-minute treatment at New Moon!

Bottom line: DIY might be great for some things like making your own organic skin care products, but leave the microdermabrasion to the professionals!