Vacuuming your skin: Microdermabrasion

This technique is a surface form of dermabrasion. I call it “der-
mabrasion lite.” Rather than a high-speed brush, microdermabra-
sion uses aluminum oxide crystals passing through a vacuum tube
to remove surface skin. The crystals are literally blasted onto the
skin and then vacuumed away accompanied by surface skin cells.
Microdermabrasion can be performed by anybody — your Aunt
Gertrude, a physician, a nurse, or an aesthetician.
At most, microdermabrasion is effective in reducing fine lines,
“crow’s feet,” and age spots, but this treatment isn’t effective for
diminishing acne scars. That’s because only the very surface cells
of the skin are removed and a mild exfoliation takes place.
Microdermabrasion runs from $150 to $300 per treatment.
Dermabrasion may result in pigmentary streaking in people with
dark skin types. If you have dark skin, make sure your doctor has
extensive experience (and success) at treating others with your
skin type.