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Dermabrasion

Dermabrasion is a procedure in which a wire brush or diamond wheel with coarse edges is used to remove the outermost layers of skin. The brush spins swiftly as it eliminates and evens out these top layers. The process leaves the skin wounded and bleeding. As the injured skin heals, it is rejuvenated and replaces the old, damaged skin that was eradicated during dermabrasion.

Certain variables impact the depth of the resurfacing such as the roughness and speed of the brush, how long and hard the instrument is pressed, and the condition and characteristics of the patient's skin. Everyone's skin is unique, so some people may have different reactions to treatment than others.

People regularly receive dermabrasion of the face, but it can be used to restore other areas as well. The procedure is mostly requested to fade acne scarring and slight lines in the vicinity of the mouth. More rarely, someone suffering from the inflammatory skin disorder rosacea may utilize the procedure to downsize an enlarged nose (rhinophyma) caused by the condition.

Treatment process

The target areas are disinfected and marked. Then, the patient undergoes local anesthesia (e.g., lidocaine, epinephrine) to nullify the pain, and ice packs are placed on those areas of skin for up to a half hour. In some cases, a cryogenic spray is used to freeze the skin for deep dermabrasion if the combination of anesthetic and ice do not harden it enough. For excessively deep or full-facial procedures, a more powerful local anesthetic, pain killer, sedative, or general anesthesia may be necessary to ensure a painless operation.

A tiny section of the overall skin sample is treated at a time. If the skin is not rigid enough, the cryogenic application is sprayed for a few seconds. Next, the brush is spun against the skin to exterminate the outer layers. The skinned area is blotted with gauze if blood is present, and finally, it is covered with a fresh dressing or antibiotic ointment.

Dermabrasion is generally performed at the doctor's office or under outpatient terms.

Recovery period

The duration of healing following dermabrasion correlates with the size and depth of the treated region. For instance, someone who has a full-facial dermabrasion for severe acne scarring will need more time to recover than a patient who had a tiny birthmark removed from their cheek; deeper procedures obviously have a longer recovery time.

Normally, new skin will appear between five and eight days after surgery. This skin will have a reddish or pinkish hue that takes between a month-and-a-half to three months to return to normal pigmentation. Until such time, makeup can be applied to attain acceptable skin tone.

Most dermabrasion patients experience negligible pain or none at all and are able to return to their daily routines shortly after the operation. Some people may require pain medication or a corticosteroid topical cream to diminish swelling.