Microdermabrasion

Today, there are so many different forms of different microdermabrasion.  There are products we can buy, vibrating hand-held devices, and all different looking machines that are used in salons, spas and doctor's offices.
I wanted to help educate people about microdermabrasion and what to try and what not to try.
When getting microdermabrasion in salons, spas, and doctor's offices; you need to know that depending on the persons pressure(light or heavy) that will determine how deep or light of an exfoliation you will get from the machine.  Also depending on the settings that the machine is at also will determine how deep or light of an exfoliation you will get.  The number of passes over the same area will also determine how deep or light of an exfoliation you are getting from the treatment.  As long as the person is holding your skin taut, it is fine to go over an area twice, as long as it is comfortable for you.  Microdermabrasion feels like a "cat lick".  It feels rough, but shouldn't be painful!  When the treatment is over, you should not have any red lines or "tracks" on your skin.  You should just have a nice, even, glowing complexion!
Some places offer microdermabrasion with other services like chemical peels and/or oxygen.  These are wonderful services to add to your microderm service.  If you make your appointment, make sure the microderm comes FIRST then the chemical peel!!!!  Think of it like buffing off the dead, dull skin first so the chemical peel can go even deeper because all the dead skin cells are out of the way.  Then by finishing the service with oxygen, that would be very beneficial and healing to the skin!
If you have any open sores, cold sores(new or old), white heads or recent pimples....DO NOT GET MICRODERM done.  This will only spread the bacteria or virus around your face so that more breakouts occur!  If you have whiteheads, simply get a light/superficial chemical peel instead.  Once the whiteheads have healed, then go back for the microdermabrasion service.  Do not let someone try and convenience you that the microderm will be okay if you have whiteheads!  They probably just wanna make money and you will have a broken out mess all over you face!
As far as buying products that say they are "microdermabrasion" I would just save your money.  It is fine to have a nice scrub to use once a week, but products that claim to do the same thing as the actual microdermabrasion treatment.  If you have acne, however, know that scrubs are not good to use on your skin.  Acne needs chemical exfoliants not scrubs, so don't waste your money on scrubs or hand-held devices.