Is Dermabrasion Right For Your Skin?

Dermal abrasion, or surgical planning of the skin, is done in selected patients with facial disfigurements from scars resulting from acne, trauma, tattoo, nevi, freckles, and chickenpox or smallpox.

The procedure involves the removal of the epidermis and some superficial dermis while reserving enough of the dermis to allow re- epithelialization of the dermabraded areas. Results are best in the face, because it is rich in intra-dermal epithelial elements.

Surgical planning or dermabrasion is performed either manually with coarse abrasive paper, or mechanically with an abrader or a rapidly rotating wire brush.

The primary reason for undergoing dermabrasion is to improve the appearance.

Before the process will begin, the surgeon explains to the patient what he can expect from dermabrasion. The patient should also be informed about the nature of the postoperative dressing, the discomforts he may experience, and how long it will take before his tissues will look normal again.

Normally, the extent of the surface to be planed will determine whether the procedure takes place in the surgeon’s office, the clinic, or the hospital. In most cases, a general anesthetic is used and the patient is hospitalized.

The skin is thoroughly cleansed for several days before the surgery. Shaving is not necessary in the female, but with the males, it is important to shave their face on the morning of the surgery.

In addition to general anesthesia, the use of a topical spray anesthetic for stabilizing and stiffening the skin may be desirable. The depth of planning can be readily gauged and the anesthetized area is momentarily bloodless. The superficial layers of skin are removed by an abrasive machine, usually known as the Dermabrader, or the sandpapering.

During and after planning, copious saline irrigations remove debris and allow for inspection.

Is It Right For Everybody’s Skin?

Even if dermabrasion is one of the best surgeries needed to clear the skin from scars from acne and other skin problems, there are still some factors that need to be considered before jumping into conclusions. These factors are very important to take into considerations because not all skin type is created equal. Hence, the effects may vary.

Here are some of the factors that need to be considered before applying dermabrasion.

1. The skin color

People who have dark skins tend to have permanent discoloration or blotchiness after the surgery. Therefore, it would be better not to opt of dermabrasion if the skin falls under this category.

2. The skin’s condition

There are people who are born with sensitive skins. This means that their skins will immediately experience allergic reactions to some chemicals or treatments that the skin cannot endure. In this manner, people who have sensitive skins should not resort to dermabrasions.

3. People who have acne that are on its active stage are not allowed for dermabrasion.

If the person has acne that is currently on its active stage, it is best not to try dermabrasion. This is because there is the danger of infection due to the freshness of the open skin. Ruptured or open skin will be easily penetrated by bacteria that cause infection. This is also applicable for people who have burnt skin or those that have previously undergo chemical peel.

4. Be wary of people who perform dermabrasion.

Dermabrasion is actually a safe surgical treatment. However, it requires expertise and familiarity on the process in order to perform it properly. Hence, dermabrasion should not be executed by people who still lack some of the required skills in the execution of the process.

5. There are skins that have the tendency to develop keloids or excessive benign growth of skin tissues.

This simply means that for people who usually develop a scar or keloid whenever their skin is damaged, chances are, they would develop the same thing when they undergo dermabrasion.

However, there are some treatments that can remove the scars and keloids, it would still be better to avoid such trouble of getting into another medication. Hence, for people who have skins that fall under this category, it is best not to try dermabrasion.

All of these things are boiled down to the fact that dermabrasion is not appropriate for everybody. Like the other treatments available in the medical field, it should also be analyzed with utmost care before jumping into decisions.

After all, it is the person’s skin that will be put at risk and not just their money, so, careful considerations is extremely important.

Are Chemical Peels For You?

Are you considering a having a chemical peel? Or are you considering any sort of facial treatment yet do not know which one is right for you? Then you have come to the right place! Let this informative guide outline on what chemical peels are and how they work. This information will make it easier for you to make decisions regarding which facial treatments would be the best for you.

Chemical peels use solutions that will smoothen and improve skin texture and appearance. It does so by stripping away the damaged outer layers of the skin. By doing so, chemical peels can lessen, and in some cases, even eliminate blemishes, hyperpigmentation (or discoloration and darkening.) and wrinkles. They are even known to reduce acne scars and the occurrence of acne.

It is very important that, first of all, that you get proper appraisal on your current skin condition. This will help understand better your skin’s needs and the proper treatment of such. Some people think that chemical skin peels are the ‘cure-all’ for their skin problems. This is far from the truth. The proper chemical peel will target your specific problems provide the adequate solution.

There are many kinds of chemical peels, you may choose one according to your needs and circumstance. The available chemical peels are divided into three categories: Phenol, trichloroacetic acid (TCA), and alpha hydroxy acids (AHA). Each of these categories differ in use, potency and inconvenience. Your dermatologist will help you decide which one is right for you.

A dermatologist will help you determine which peel program is right for you. He may suggest a customized solution for you. Before actually agreeing to the procedure, make sure you understand what the dermatologist is about to do. If there is some point you need clarified make sure you have the dermatologist clarify it further.

Alphahydroxy acids (AHAs) are the mildest of the chemical peels. They are typically made of fruit, glycolic, and lactic acids. These peels may not show as dramatic effects as the other peels; they are, however, best for those who do not have time to recover from the other peel procedures. These peels are applied weekly or periodically, depending on your dermatologist’s advice. But they do result in smoother, finer looking skin after a few treatments.

There are also commercially available AHA facial care solutions that can be applied everyday. Some dermatologists will incorporate AHA into the daily skin care regimen of the patient. This may be in soaps, facial cleanser, etc.

Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) is the intermediate peel for those who wish to have the effects almost as dramatic as phenol peels yet cannot dedicate too much time to healing as in the case of those who prefer AHA peels. To achieve the desired effect more than one peel may be necessary. This treatment is ideal for medium depth peeling. It is also the ideal peel for fine lines, and blemishes that are not that severe.

Phenol is the most potent of the chemical peels around and they take some time to heal. They are recommended in cases that feature coarse wrinkles and severe blemishes such as blotching, coarse skin, etc. Phenol is also a strong whitening agent and this may be a factor in considering whether to choose this sort of treatment.

It must be remembered that this is primarily a facial treatment. Application to other parts of the body may result in scarring.

Among the things to look out for are: the possibility of demarcation lines – lines that show which part of the face received treatment and which did not, redness, irritation, and other side effects. The redness and irritation is normal since that is the usual state of newly peeled skin. Your dermatologist will advise you on the care and upkeep of tender skin.

For those who have undergone this treatment, it is generally recommended that they stay out of the sun for several months as to protect the newly formed skin. The procedure will cause stinging, redness and irritation. But that is to be expected from such procedures.

All in all, chemical peels are safe, although they may cause some inconvenience. The risks for scarring are low. However, the procedure must be performed by a certified professional if to ensure safety.

Skin Care – Inside Out

We discussed this earlier and you may have heard of skin care treatments such as chemical peels, face lifts, dermabrasion, laser light, and all those wonders of skin science that constantly make looking younger, fairer, more confident a reality for many people.

What if you were told that there was a way to make your skin healthier, younger looking aside from these methods? A method that does not include scalpels, suctions, topical solutions and others? Wouldn’t it be great? Alas, you might say, it hasn’t happened yet, maybe some day in the far-off future. But what if you were told that it was possible even today. Would you flip?

The wonder being talked about here is the wonder that has always been there – your body. Your body has the ability to regulate itself, supply nutrients to various organs such as the skin and generally give it a healthy glow.

The body also has the capability of improving how the skin looks. It can make the skin more supple, radiant, healthy, and youthful looking. Taking care of the body from the inside out has been grossly underrated. Caring for the skin in this way will result in a more natural glow. This method of skin care in conjunction with other skin treatments will result in the optimal skin care.

If this is the case, then why doesn’t it do that exact same thing to everyone, you may ask. Various factors will impair the body’s ability to do – bad diet, smoking, stress, lack of sleep and other factors make the skin that old, scaly, thing many people see in front of the mirror.

But wait, there’s hope! With proper nutrition, proper care and maintenance, you can help your body improve your skin’s health and appearance.

Think of it like this. Let’s say you have a green plant, and you don’t water it for sometime, and neglect to give it fertilizer, and plant it on poor soil, won’t the leaves wither and dry up? The same can be said about one’s health in general and the skin in particular.

The exciting thing here is that it is becoming increasingly evident that it is not only what you apply on your skin that improves it, but what you put into your body as well. Studies are showing that vitamins, minerals, water, exercise and rest all play an important part in improving skin.

Experts say that the skin is the benchmark for the body’s health. Healthy skin also an indicator of good health, so taking good care of your body not only gives you great skin but give you good health in general.

To improve skin health, it would do well to take note of the following factors.

Vitamins and Minerals - There is a dearth of good nutrition on the market, and it is getting increasingly hard to get the necessary vitamins and minerals from what the average American eats. Vitamin supplements may help in this regard. Scientists are discovering how increasingly important the vitamins C, E, A, K, and B complex are to skin health. Being able to absorb these vitamins through diet and supplements will improve skin health a great deal.

Water Dehydration results in scaly, coarse, and unhealthy skin. Water also helps flush out toxins in the body. These toxins could cause a variety of skin conditions and could very well spell skin doom for most people.

Exercise - The benefits of exercise have been understated. Exercise can benefit the body and the skin a lot. Since exercise has the effect of improving circulation, this improved circulation benefits the organs of the body. And since the skin is the largest organ, it benefits greatly from exercise. Good circulation helps bring more blood and nutrients to the skin. It also facilitates the removal of waste and toxins, resulting in a better skin health.

Rest Stress and lack of rest have a telling effect on the skin. The body needs rest to repair and rejuvenate skin cells. If the body does not get this rest the skin generally appears pallid and contributes to a haggard look. Also the bags that form beneath the eyes due to water retention, give the person a zombified look. Lack of sleep has also been pinned as one cause of acne.

Face lifts and Other Skin Procedures

For those who desire to improve their appearance, face lifts and other skin treatments has always been the way to go to attain an improved image and renewed self-confidence. Traditionally, this has always been accomplished through procedures such as face lifts and chemical peels. There are other procedures that exist due to the diligence of scientists who have poured time and effort to improve knowledge on the skin and its treatment.

Today’s modern technology makes possible many new breakthroughs in skin care and skin treatment. Skin care nowadays is no longer limited to facials and surgical procedures.

Here are some of the latest and not-so-latest advances in the science of skin.

Obagi Nu-Derm is a new system that rejuvenates skin health from the cells. It helps maintain a healthy glow and the appearance of soft, smooth, radiant, and younger looking skin. The treatment is easy and can be done at home. It transforms dry, damaged, and course skin into fresher looking skin in as little as six weeks – which is about the same time it takes for new skin to emerge.

The genius of Obagi is that it deals more with skin health rather than skin beautification – more like making the road stronger and smoother rather than just plastering the cracks with filler.

This treatment is usually performed in conjunction with the Obagi Blue

Peel treatment. The Obagi Blue Peel is a mild chemical peel that allows for the removal of damaged layers of the skin. After a week or so, this area will be replaced by a new layer of skin which will be smoother and will have smaller pores.

Theraderm® - This treatment uses a lactic acid peel to improve the skin’s appearance. It is used to treat discoloration, and damage due to the sun’s harmful rays. Theraderm is appealing due to the fact that it is recommended for skin of all types and age. In as little as six weeks, this treatment can result in smooth skin with a more uniform tone.

Chemical Peels - Chemical peels use solutions that will smoothen and improve skin texture and appearance. It does so by stripping away the damaged outer layers of the skin. By doing so, chemical peels can lessen, and in some cases, even eliminate blemishes, hyperpigmentation (or discoloration and darkening.) and wrinkles. They are even known to reduce acne scars and the occurrence of acne.

There are many kinds of chemical peels; you may choose one according to your needs and circumstance. The available chemical peels are divided into three categories: Phenol, trichloroacetic acid (TCA), and alphahydroxy acids (AHA). Each of these categories differs in use, potency and inconvenience. Your dermatologist will help you decide which one is right for you.

BOTOX® - Botox is the cosmetic treatment of choice for most of today’s beauty conscious individuals. Due to its incessant popularity, plastic surgery and other ‘bloody’ treatments available are steadily being out hustled by botox.

Restylane - Restylane smoothes wrinkles, and helps shape and sculpt lips and facial features. The treatment involves the use of a clear gel of hyaluronic acid. This substance is hypo allergenic and remains in the skin for months.

Collagen - Collagen injections plump up skin tissue, causing it to look healthier and firmer. This is usually performed in cases where there is sagging and loss of firmness in the skin. Results will last for a few months. This treatment is usually recommended for the lips and other areas of the face that are desired to look fuller, smoother, and firmer.

Light Procedures - The CO2 Laser targets fine lines, scars and wrinkles and makes dramatic correction on these areas that are not possible with chemical peels. With powerful bursts of laser light, the treatment achieves this result with less reddening and irritation than other peels.

Technology is constantly creating methods to produce skin care treatments that are constantly getting safer, more effective and more dramatic. The above-mentioned treatments are the best today’s technology offers and give many people the opportunity to improve their image the safe and effective way today.