If you’re over the age of 25, then you may already be seeing the little v-shaped lines around your eyes known as “crow’s feet”. I prefer to call them “laugh lines” as I laugh quite a bit and it seems like a much nicer term for an inevitable sign of aging.
Microdermabrasions are a great way to keep your skin looking healthy and young. Offered by many medical spas, they are a non-surgical and non-invasive method of reducing fine lines, wrinkles, acne scars, brown spots, sun damaged skin, and stimulates collagen production. They are especially good for treating crow’s feet. Err…laugh lines.
What to Expect
Precisely controlled crystals are directed on the skin. Suction is applied at the same time to pull the dead skin cells and any bits of crystals aware from your skin.
The procedure causes minimal to no pain and can be referred to as the “Lunchtime Facial” because your skin’s recovery time is faster than most other skin treatments.
Since the skin around your eyes is the thinnest and most sensitive area of your face, you may feel a slight tingle from the microdermabrasion there.
It’s a rare occurrence that debris from the crystals gets in your eyes. However, if they do, don’t panic. At most it will be uncomfortable and irritate your eyes, but since the crystals are non-toxic there’s little danger.
You can flush your eyes to relieve the irritation and clean off any particles.
This is also the reason that you should remove contact lenses prior to having a microdermabrasion. Lenses are sticky and having any kind of particles held directly on your eye by a contact is a much more uncomfortable situation.
After Care
This form of skin care has been at use in spas across the country and the world for quite some time. It has shown that it provides a smoother, cleaner look to the skin, and can even help to erase many common blemishes.
Since it’s a deeper exfoliation than you can get from an over-the-counter product, some patients report discomfort, redness, and sensitivity. The first two symptoms tend to fade quite quickly, but the latter can last for a few days. There are ways to combat these sensations and make the experience even more enjoyable.
The soreness is often described as something akin to sunburn. The simple act of rinsing it with cold water or applying a cold pack can alleviate much of the discomfort.
When washing, be sure to use a sensitive skin cleanser, to reduce any irritation that could be caused by dyes or perfumes. Similarly, hypo-allergenic facial moisturizers can keep the skin healthy without further aggravating the surface.
For the first two or days after receiving a microdermabrasion treatment, it is important to keep harsh chemicals and exfoliants away from the area treated. This includes anything containing salicylic acid and alpha hydroxyl acid – common in acne remedies.
The need for the specialized facial care regime should be short lived. Most patients report that all symptoms have disappeared in two or three day’s time, at which point the normal daily routine can be reestablished.
Guest post author Mark Masters blogs for Tech Ridge Vision, an Austin Optometrist who offers comprehensive eye exams and an extensive selection of eyewear.
I have recently become interested in microdermabrasion for myself but am not sure what to expect. I really liked your article because I was not sure how much it would hurt and it was nice learning that it should not cause me much pain. I will be sure to remove my contact lens before I receive the treatment so I do not place myself in an uncomfortable situation. Thanks for the great insight and tips.