Many things start from the heart and, in anatomy, the heart of the matter could be the endothelium or layer of cells lining the heart, other organs and body cavities. Working outwards, we come to the dermis; a thick layer of living tissue containing things like our blood capillaries, nerve endings, sweat glands, etc. All of this is located just below our epidermis which is the thin tissue – that forms the outer layers of our bodies – and can also be called the epithelium or, to put it another way, our skin.
All of this would, no doubt be common knowledge to a dermatologist (a medical practitioner who specializes in the care and treatment of human skin). Dermabrasion is just what its name implies; it is when a qualified dermatologist literally removes layers of a person’s skin using rather fierce abrasive tools – diamond wheel, wire brush, sandpaper, etc.
Isn’t Dermabrasion Painful?
Yes it is and that is why it is usually classified as an invasive procedure to be performed under a local anesthetic. Bleeding is commonplace; the treated area can take up to 30 days to heal over and scarring often results. Considering that its use is somewhat cosmetic – removal of old scars, etc – rather than life saving necessity, dermabrasion has severely declined in popularity.
Fortunately for those people who do wish to improve the appearance of their skin by removing old scars, age spots, birth marks, cleaning up acne damage, new techniques using lasers can produce similar results with a less painful treatment. Nevertheless, this sort of treatment is still surgery and should only be performed by a qualified practitioner.
Is There Anything Less Drastic?
Yes there is – but it literally does not cut so deep. The outer layers of our skin are constantly dying and being replaced and this can leave our skin with a poor appearance that can be easily and painlessly corrected by Microdermabrasion Treatment.
This is a non-invasive cosmetic procedure whereby crystals are pumped under pressure and directed onto the skin to gently remove the outermost layer of dead cells from the epidermis; the skin is gently lifted by suction during this exfoliation process. Microdermabrasion Treatment may be provided in spas and beauty salons by a qualified esthetician (licensed skin care professional); the equipment is even available for home use.
