Microdermabrasion

Some skin complaints are hard to put into words. Your face looks tired and a shade darker than it used to, and make-up sits unevenly, though nothing is exactly wrong. Often it is a build-up of dead cells on the surface, with a little tanning and a few old marks.

Microdermabrasion removes part of that dead outer layer (the stratum corneum) by mechanical exfoliation. A handheld device either sprays fine crystals onto the skin or uses a roughened diamond tip, and gentle suction lifts the loosened cells away as it moves. There is no acid and no needle. Because it only works on the very top of the skin, it is one of the mildest resurfacing treatments there is.

The effect is modest. After a session your skin usually looks brighter and feels smoother, and a course can soften mild tanning, rough texture and very light marks. It does little for pitted acne scars, deep wrinkles or melasma, and the effect fades within weeks without maintenance and daily sunscreen. For those problems a peel, microneedling or laser usually does more.

At Prakash Hospital, cosmetic treatment starts with a dermatologist's assessment in our skin and hair department. We check your skin type and what lies behind the dullness or marks, then tell you honestly whether microdermabrasion is worth it for you, or whether a chemical peel or another option would suit your skin better.

Microdermabrasion suits surface concerns in people who want a visible freshening with no time off. It is often a starter treatment, or one part of a wider plan.

Most people go straight back to work.