Chemical Peel Vs. Microdermabrasion: What’s The Difference?

It takes more than a simple wash to make your skin look healthy. There are a variety of treatments on the market today that enhance the condition of your skin while giving it the smooth, clear, and radiant appearance that you’ve always wanted.

Chemical peels and microdermabrasion are two popular therapies that can improve the appearance of your skin. Understanding these treatments along with their similarities and differences will help you achieve better results from your skincare regimen.

What Are Chemical Peel Treatments?

Chemical peel treatments help to smooth out rough and dry skin. It can soften deep wrinkles, reduce fine lines, and improve the appearance of skin damaged by the sun or acne scars.

Undergoing a series of chemical peel treatments can help to balance the pigmentation of the skin.

Before treatment begins, the skin is thoroughly cleansed to remove impurities. The chemical peel is then applied directly to the skin.

The active ingredients in the treatment penetrate the skin and stimulate new cell growth. The peel usually results in a warm sensation that can last between five and 10 minutes.
After the treatment has been completed, the remaining solution is washed from your face and a neutralizing agent may be applied. You are then provided with aftercare instructions to ensure the best results.

What Is Microdermabrasion?

Microdermabrasion is a topical exfoliation treatment that’s used to polish your skin. This treatment works to clear clogged pores, reduce fine wrinkles, even out skintone, and improve mild acne scarring.

People who deal with skin that’s tough, dull, and leathery find this treatment especially beneficial.

Microdermabrasion treatments require the use of a specialized tool. The appearance of this tool may vary slightly depending upon the practice that you visit. In general, the tip is used to dispense small crystals that exfoliate the skin and to vacuum up dead skin along with the used crystals.

The suction created by the vacuum also works to lift impurities from the skin, stimulate collagen production, and increase blood flow to the area.

A single microdermabrasion treatment session generally lasts about 15 to 20 minutes. For best results, most skin care professionals recommend undergoing six to 12 treatments that are spaced three to four weeks apart. After these initial treatments are completed, you may need to come in for occasional treatments to maintain your results.

Understanding The Differences

There are many differences between the two treatments. For example, one uses a solution that penetrates deep into the skin while the other relies on an external tool to achieve the desired results.

The primary difference between chemical peel treatments and microdermabrasion is the depth of the treatment.

Chemical peels go underneath the outer layer of skin while microdermabrasion works topically. Because of this difference, the results of chemical peel treatments are often more noticeable but they do require more recovery time.

Consulting with a qualified skin care professional helps you understand what options are best for you so that you choose the solution that will maximize your results.