Microdermabrasion At Home: Benefits for Perfect Skin

The Dr.TWL’s SilkPeel Microdermabrasion Kit is engineered with CUIONS™️ Technology. It includes a copper-infused microcrystalline tip which delivers skin healing cosmeceutical benefits.

What is Microdermabrasion?

Microdermabrasion is a simple, quick, non-invasive and painless skin resurfacing procedure with minimal to no recovery time required, as well as having little risk. Makeup and non-irritating creams can also be applied right after microdermabrasion. Microdermabrasion helps to gently exfoliate surface layers of skin using abrasion by a fine diamond abrasive tip or crystals and a vacuum suction, removing dead skin cells. Since microdermabrasion provides only a very superficial level of skin removal, it works best on improving conditions that are on the surface of the skin. This includes early photoaging, dull skin, fine lines, acne, age spots, melasma and superficial scarring. 

It was first introduced in 1985 by Marini and Lo Brutto as a less aggressive, safer alternative to more invasive resurfacing methods such as chemical peels, dermabrasion and fractional CO2 laser, as this procedure requires no needles or anaesthesia. These highly invasive methods are indicated for individuals who have moderate to severe photoaging as well as deeper dermal sort of acne scars. The vacuum pressure and speed can be adjusted according to the sensitivity and tolerance of the skin. It is usually performed by various types of practitioners in a healthcare setting or in an outpatient setting and these may include astheticians, medical assistants, nurses.

How does Microdermabrasion work?

It has traditionally been part of a dermatologist’s practice and essentially it combines two important features of skin resurfacing. Microdermabrasion works by removing the stratum corneum, the outermost layer of the epidermis via abrasion to the skin, followed by removal of exfoliated skin cells and skin debris by a vacuum suction. When the topmost layer of the skin is removed, it stimulates the wound healing process in your skin.

The process of the new skin that’s growing back is an important part of the treatment outcome as well. Ideally, we want the skin that’s growing back to be healthier looking. This is so that overall, there’s an increase in the appearance of skin radiance, reduced fine lines, wrinkles, and hopefully more even sort of pigmentation.

Is Microdermabrasion good for your skin?

“The answer is yes, in the context of improving the science of photo ageing, and as an adjunct in the treatment of moderate to severe acne scars, it is a relatively low cost, safe and efficient way to stimulate new skin cells to grow.” According to Singapore dermatologist Dr. Teo Wan Lin. 

We shed dead skin cells naturally as new skin cells slowly travel up from the deepest skin layers to the surface. On average, this process takes about 27 days. As we age, this cell turnover process slows down. When we exfoliate the face, we remove the top layer of skin including the build-up of dead skin cells. Regular exfoliation with microdermabrasion can reveal smoother, younger and brighter skin with an even tone. Microdermabrasion can also improve skin circulation and stimulate the production of collagen, aiding elasticity and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Microdermabrasion is beneficial for individuals with sun damage, dull or sallow skin, active acne, age spots, hyperpigmentation, melasma, pick marks, and very superficial or raised acne scars. It is a good treatment option for patients with superficial skin problems and busy lifestyles who are looking for benefits with virtually no side effects or downtime. 

In addition to the cosmetic benefits of microdermabrasion, studies have also shown improved skin permeability, hence your skin is more able to absorb your chosen skincare products. This is important especially for those who are treating skin conditions such as acne as their skincare products become effectively more useful. 

How does microdermabrasion at home compare with an in-office treatment?

Dr.TWL Biomaterials actually launched a device for microdermabrasion at home in late 2019 for our patients. This is especially useful for our overseas patients who are unable to follow up with us in the practice, where we do these medical microdermabrasion procedures for them. The key concept here is that the tip used in home kits is much less abrasive. When it is performed in the clinic, it’s often a diamond tip, and clearly that is very expensive. Furthermore, it has to be performed by another person, you cannot do it on yourself. Additionally, if you have  contraindications and nobody picks it up, it can be quite dangerous, as you may aggravate your skin condition. 

Home kits will use something like aluminium oxide, in our case, we use copper oxide, which are actually crystals that are released when microdermabrasion is performed. There is a handpiece, which has this assisted vacuum suction, and essentially that helps to remove the topmost layer of your skin cells. Hence, a whole kit is pretty much similar to the clinic procedure in the sense that we want to stimulate skin cell renewal, but at the same time, we also want to increase absorption of cosmeceutical serums. 

Therefore, microdermabrasion remains a very effective tool to increase delivery of dermal cosmetics. As we grow older, our skin often becomes less able to absorb active ingredients. However, with microdermabrasion especially when it’s very accessible, like in the form of a toolkit for microdermabrasion at home, it’s the perfect device to introduce into your skincare regimen, for active ingredients to penetrate the skin barrier more effectively. “Microdermabrasion, in my opinion, remains one of the safest, most efficacious forms of home facials that you can administer on your own,“ according to dermatologist Dr. Teo. 

What are the possible side effects of using such microdermabrasion kits at home?

Potential side effects of microdermabrasion are minimal and this is a very safe procedure. With proper training, the machine itself is fairly straightforward to use. Common mild, temporary side effects include slight skin tightness, redness, bruising and sensitivity. 

SilkPeel Home Medi-Facial Kit with Cuions™ Technology Copper-Infused Microcrystalline tip

TheSilkpeel Home Medifacial Kit allows for a safe and effective way to include this much-needed skin treatment to your skincare routine for those who have no time for a medical facial. 

The key feature of our SilkPeel is the CUIONS™ microcrystalline head, which is engineered to have a less abrasive structure than the traditional diamond heads, while retaining the microdermabrasion feature to gently exfoliate dead skin cells. This is a home-equivalent to in-clinic diamond microdermabrasion — the home facial kit version designed to be much less irritating to the skin. Therefore, it is suitable for sensitive skin, and can be done safely at home without medical supervision. This device for vacuum microdermabrasion at home has pore-refining effects, getting you one step closer to glass skin. 

According to accredited Singapore dermatologist, Dr. Teo Wan Lin, “Glass skin, a poreless, translucent, dewy appearance of the skin, popularised by K-beauty is not a myth. Cosmeceuticals such as polyglutamic acid, which is a large molecule, sits on the surface of the skin while functioning as a humectant 5x more effective than hyaluronic acid. The SilkPeel system utilises polyglutamic acid based solutions with potent antioxidants delivered via vacuum microdermabrasion that helps to achieve a translucent appearance of the skin, reducing the appearance of pores, increasing cosmeceutical absorption.” 

References:

Zhou Y, Banga AK. Enhanced delivery of cosmeceuticals by microdermabrasion. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2011 Sep;10(3):179-84.

Shah M, S. Crane J. Microdermabrasion. StatPearls Publishing; 2021.