It's almost impossible to find someone that doesn't have a least one scar. A scar is the result of a traumatic experience that produced inflammation and cell damage. The severity and extent of the scar is a direct result of the amount of trauma a person has experienced.

Some people readily accept these marks as part of life. However, other people look for ways to eliminate or minimize them. Luckily, there are several different treatment options available.

Skin creams are a very common way of treating scars, especially acne scars. Laser therapy and other resurfacing techniques (chemical peels and dermabrasion) are also fairly widespread. However, we will focus our attention on skin microdermabrasion as a common form of scar removal.

Microdermabrasion: The Afternoon Scar Treatment

Microdermabrasion was created in 1985 as a response to the risks of dermabrasion. Its popularity grew immensely in the late 1990s with the invention of more sophisticated machines. If your set on using more aggressive treatments such as dermabrasion or chemical peels, then it's because you don't know the benefits of microdermabrasion.

*Less Downtime

Since microdermabrasion treats the epidermis, healing is very quick. As a matter of fact, most people don't need any rest after treatment and can go back to work immediately. This is also why it is known as a "lunchtime" treatment.

*Less Pain

Another difference between dermabrasion and microdermabrasion is that microdermabrasion doesn't require anesthesia. A great benefit for people with sensitive skin is that they can use gentler crystals, instead of the usual crystals.

*No Scarring Problems

Some resurfacing techniques will actually cause more scars instead of eliminating them, however, microdermabrasion is so gentle that it will only work on removing scar tissue. Which means that you won't have to worry about wound care either.

Materials used in Microdermabrasion

Bothe aluminum oxide and sodium bicarbonate are most often used in traditional microdermabrasion. Aluminum oxide crystals, for example, are great for scar treatments while sodium bicarbonate crystals are softer and are most often used to treat hyperpigmentation and milder skin problems.

Both of these ingredients are antiseptic and non-toxic. Aluminum oxide is inexpensive while sodium bicarbonate is quickly becoming more popular due to its neutral pH and gentle nature.

Which is best? Crystal or Diamond Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion can be performed with loose, abrading micro-crystals or with the use of diamond tipped wands that have various degree of coarseness. Both forms of abrasion work in much the same way and offer similar results with similar prices. Many people have stated that the only reason to pick one over the other is to avoid ingesting or inhaling loose crystals.