Microdermabrasion

• Microdermabrasion, which is derived from a harsher process called dermabrasion, can be used on nearly all skin types. The process is basically a refined way of sandpapering the skin to smooth the top surface. While dermabrasion requires a long recovery time, microdermabrasion is gentler, and is used to smooth away sun damage, scars and lines with a series of treatments.
  
  

Crystal Machines

• The first microdermabrasion machines worked by circulating a cream infused with exfoliating crystals, or aluminum oxide, onto skin. The crystals clean the skin's top layer, removing dead skin cells. A resurfacing wand massages the top surface and cleans pores. The resurfacing wand has strength levels that can be adjusted by the user. With crystal machines, a handheld device pushes a high-speed flow of aluminum oxide crystals to the skin. While this occurs, a vacuum sucks away dead skin cells, used crystals and dirt.
  
  

Crystal Facts

• Aluminum oxide crystals are the second hardest mineral after diamonds. Because the crystals have an irregular shape, they are an effective abrader. As an inert material, the crystals cause no allergic reactions and are noncarcinogenic.
  
  

Diamond Tips

• More and more, spas and doctor's offices are using diamond-tipped microdermabrasion machines. Diamond is harder than the crystals and areas closer to the eyes and mouth can be more expertly resurfaced with the diamond machines, because there is no risk of crystals being ingested or getting into the eyes and causing damage. Other than these aspects, diamond machines work the same way that crystal machines do.
  
  Diamond-tipped machines are accompanied by wands of differing sizes and coarseness, which can be used for various skin types of resurfacing depths. The wand's tip consists of natural diamond chips that resurface and remove dead cells. The cells are then vacuumed back into a waste filter. The diamond tips are easier to control and cause less skin irritation.
  
  

Diamond vs. Crystal

• There is some controversy about using aluminum oxide. Most doctors, however, agree that using the crystals for skin resurfacing is safe. The older crystal machines, however, are slowly being phased out and replaced with diamond-tipped microdermabrasion. While diamonds leave no chance of crystal damage or ingestion, the machines are not without risk, such as damaging the skin or scarring. Bacteria from the skin being exfoliated remains on the wand's tip and could be spread to other areas. This type of machine is also less effective on irregular surfaces, since there are no crystals for an exact fit. The price for both machines is about the same, ranging from $75 to $200 per treatment.