Microderm

This post was inspired by Average Metro Joe’s post “What is Microdermabrasion?”.

It was good information but I thought I’d offer a couple things that the Patients/Clients don’t always know or get informed of. I was originally going to just comment on his post, as I was typing I decided I didn’t want to leave him an entry as a response. Here are my “comments”:

I am no longer practicing, but I was previously a licensed Aesthetician. I just wanted to add that the traditional microderm machines that run the crystals -aluminum oxide or sodium bicarbonate crystals- should NOT be ingested or allowed to get in your eyes (if they don’t cover your eyes with something protective like damp cotton pads or tanning bed goggles – ask!) and it should not hurt whatsoever. If the suction is to strong you should ask them to turn it down. You should feel it pulling on the skin a little but it shouldn’t hurt. Not only could it damage the surface of the skin but it could damage the inner layers and cause spider veins especially in delicate areas like the crease of the nose.
I also wouldn’t recommend it for older persons with large areas of looser skin (like under the chin) It could just add to the sag. However if under your chin is the only problem area then just ask them not to take it past the jaw line. Microderm was originally intended more for people with oily and problem skin because it was a way to exfoliate and remove the sluff immediately as to control spreading of any type of bacteria or infection from the oils and such that were being pulled from the pores.
For this same reason they are supposed to use a new or sterilized wand head for every client/patient. These tips come in many different sizes with different size holes but most are plastic, occasionally glass but all pretty much inexpensive. Don’t be afraid to ask them if it’s new or just if you could see them put a new one on. You wouldn’t want a used fork or glass at a restaurant would you?

Now the diamond tip machines I’ve never actually had my hands on because they were still in trial use and only being used in certain offices. I’ve heard they are trying to phase out the traditional microderm machines with the crystals. The biggest benefit of the diamond head machine is that there are no crystals to worry about – usually if a microderm malfunctions its a clog in the suction line so it ends up just dumping crystals on the clients face and that can be a safety hazard (by the way if this happens to you more than once at the same spa or Dr.’s office, you might want to mention it to someone up the chain of command or switch because that means someone isn’t cleaning the machine properly or as often as they should). I’ll have to do a little more research on the diamond head machine, as far as I understand it replaces the crystal flow with a disposable or reusable diamond tip that varies in size and coarseness for different skin types and depths of resurfacing. Maybe I’ll do some research and let you know.