Microdermabrasion and Acne Scars
Microdermabrasion is an in-office treatment that uses diamond exfoliating to remove the superficial layers of the skin, in order to improve the texture and tone of the skin. Microdermabrasion takes fifteen to thirty minutes, and requires no downtime after the treatment. Most patients benefit from a series of treatments, though even just one treatment can help to remove dead skin cells that contribute to the dull appearance of your skin.
While microdermabrasion is not the most aggressive or effective treatment for acne scars (Fractional CO2 Resurfacing and Fraxel Laser Resurfacing produce much more dramatic results), microdermabrasion can help to improve shallow acne scars and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (the brown spots left behind after acne bumps clear.) By exfoliating the most superficial layers of the skin, collagen production is stimulated and the superficial skin cells are sloughed off. Besides manually removing the upper layer of acne scars and hyperpigmentation, microdermabrasion stimulates the skin cells to repair themselves, which leads to some improvement of acne scars.
Dr. Schweiger explains that, “For some types of acne scarring, we will sometimes recommend a combination of microdermabrasion and other treatments, like chemical peels or the Fraxel laser. Microdermabrasion can also be helpful when treating comedonal acne, or blackheads and whiteheads, as it removes the debris that is clogging up the follicles and leading to their unwanted bumps on the skin.
It is important to see a skilled professional for microdermbrasion treatment, as poor treatment technique can result in worsening scars. Medical aestheticians at the Clear Clinic are trained in performing microdermbrasion for superficial acne scars.
