Dermabrasion is a cosmetic treatment of damaged or defective epidermis of the skin. The face is the most common area of dermabrasion.
Dermabrasion is used to:
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Treat sun-damaged skin
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Remove or lessen scars and dark spots on the skin
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Clear acne scars and fine lines and wrinkles around
the mouth.
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Treat superficial skin growths (rhinophyma), especially
an enlarged nose (rhinophyma)
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To clear superficial scars caused by surgery or
trauma
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Rarely to treat small cysts, epidermal nevi, some
basal cell skin cancer or Bowen’s disease
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Clear tattoos (rarely)
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Skin color changes (solar lentigines or melasma)
THE PROCEDURE
The procedure is very painful, though it is an outpatient one. It usually requires local anesthesia and ice packs or freezing (cryogenic) spray. Deeper abrasions or larger areas involve stronger anesthesia, painkillers, sedation or general anesthesia or twilight anesthesia.
The process implements a coarse wire brush or a diamond wheel that wounds, damages and bleeds the skin as it removes its outer layers. While the injury heals, new skin grows in place of the skin that was damaged during dermabrasion. A gauze dressing and an ointment checks excessive bleeding and infection.
POST SURGICAL CARE AND RECOVERY
The volume and depth of area treated determines the recovery time. Most cases do not require pain relievers. Some, however, even need corticosteroids to check swelling. Skin re-growth and restoration generally takes around 6 to 12 weeks. Make up masks conceal the raw, re-growing skin that is pinkish in color. One must follow a proper skin care routine while the skin is healing. This includes:
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Skin cleansing many times a day to
check infection
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Removal of the crusting skin
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Removing old applications and applying fresh
ointment or dressing to keep the skin hydrated and
improve recovery
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Avoiding sun exposure for sometime
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Regular use of sunscreen after peeling stops
and new skin grows back
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Optional use of an antiviral, infection checking
drug called acyclovir, especially in case of a medical
history of herpes simplex virus
