More people are turning to natural rejuvenation treatments that promise significant results without extensive downtime in the quest for a fresh, youthful glow. Microneedling and microdermabrasion are at the forefront of these trends, each offering a unique approach to skin revitalization. If you find yourself torn between the two, you’re not alone. Many patients have difficulty choosing between microneedling and microdermabrasion to refresh their appearance, so we’re here to help with your decision.
What is Microdermabrasion?
Microdermabrasion is a non-invasive exfoliating treatment that helps resurface the top layer of the skin surface with a gentler buffing tip to rid the skin of minor to moderate impurities like dead surface skin cells and concerns. The buffing wand used during a microdermabrasion treatment acts like sandpapering a wall before painting it – your skin is cleaned and cleared, with the exfoliating tip spraying small sodium bicarbonate crystals on the skin surface to scrape off dead skin cells.
After your treatment, you will enjoy an improvement in your skin’s tone and texture, and a reduction in acne scars, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation.
What is Microneedling?
Microneedling is a minimally invasive treatment that uses tiny needles to puncture the skin’s surface, triggering its natural healing response and stimulating collagen production by micro-injuries. This treatment can improve the skin’s tone and texture and reduce the signs of aging, acne scars, enlarged pores, and even stretch marks.
Microneedling uses a handheld device with hundreds of tiny needles inside, creating controlled micro-injuries on the skin’s surface. This treatment boasts impressive results and minimal downtime.
Similarities between Microdermabrasion and Microneedling
Microneedling and microdermabrasion share some similarities, predominantly because both treatments can be performed on the face and body, are minimally invasive, and require little to no downtime. However, there are differences in how the treatments are administered and the results you can achieve.
Key Differences between Microneedling and Microdermabrasion
While microneedling and microdermabrasion can improve your skin’s tone and texture while treating skin concerns, you should consider some key differences when choosing which procedure is best for you.
Recovery & Downtime
Microdermabrasion is a gentle option with virtually no downtime. After treatment, you might experience mild redness and swelling, but these effects typically subside within a few hours. To prevent irritation, it’s important to avoid scratching the treated areas.
Microneedling, on the other hand, is more intensive and may result in noticeable side effects such as redness, swelling, and bruising. These symptoms can last up to two weeks. Avoid tanning and apply gentle pressure to the treated areas to support the healing process. It’s also crucial to protect your skin from direct sunlight and follow your provider’s aftercare instructions closely.
Results
Patience is key when waiting for the results from both microneedling and microdermabrasion. With microdermabrasion, improvements are typically visible after a single session. However, achieving the full benefits may require 5 to 16 treatments, depending on your skin’s condition and goals. This procedure is excellent for those with minor to moderate skin concerns looking for a refreshed appearance.
Microneedling takes a bit longer to reveal its effects. Initial results can be seen within a few weeks, but the full impact, particularly the stimulation of new collagen growth, may take several months to develop fully. Because of its deeper skin penetration, microneedling generally requires fewer sessions than microdermabrasion and offers longer-lasting rejuvenation. Maintenance sessions are recommended for both treatments to sustain the skin’s youthful appearance.
Procedure Areas & Concerns
Microdermabrasion is an excellent choice for revitalizing a dull complexion, lightening sun spots, and smoothing fine lines. It’s primarily used on the face but can also be effective on other areas like the hands and neck where signs of aging or sun damage are noticeable.
Microneedling, on the other hand, offers deeper skin rejuvenation. It’s particularly effective for more significant skin issues beyond cosmetic concerns. This includes reducing the appearance of stretch marks, minimizing scars, and treating skin conditions such as alopecia (hair loss), hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), rosacea, and fine lines and wrinkles.
While commonly applied to the face, microneedling can also be performed on almost any area of the body requiring skin repair or collagen stimulation.
Both treatments are versatile and can be adapted to various body areas, providing targeted solutions to enhance skin health and appearance. By choosing the appropriate treatment based on your specific skin concerns and desired results, you can achieve noticeable improvements in skin texture and tone.
Severity That Can Be Treated
Microdermabrasion is ideal for tackling surface-level skin issues. It gently exfoliates the top layer of the skin, promoting collagen production and making it an excellent choice for those with minor skin concerns like dry or sensitive skin. It’s particularly beneficial for rejuvenating a dull complexion, reducing fine lines, and lightening sunspots without the need for intensive treatment.
Microneedling, being a more intensive procedure, penetrates deeper into the skin to address more serious concerns. It’s highly effective for improving skin texture and reducing the appearance of scars, large pores, and deep fine lines and wrinkles. This makes it suitable for treating conditions like oily or acne-prone skin, as well as more resilient or darker skin tones that can handle aggressive treatments better.
Is Microneedling More Effective Than Microdermabrasion?
Microneedling is generally more effective than microdermabrasion for addressing deeper skin issues such as severe acne scars, deep fine lines and wrinkles, and significant loss of skin elasticity. This is because microneedling creates tiny punctures in the skin, which initiate a healing response that boosts collagen and elastin production, leading to more substantial improvements in skin texture and firmness.
Should I Do Microdermabrasion Before Microneedling?
Yes, pairing microdermabrasion with microneedling can be very effective. Microdermabrasion prepares the skin by exfoliating and removing dead skin cells, which smooths the surface and enhances the microneedling’s ability to penetrate more deeply. This combination promotes more uniform collagen synthesis and comprehensive skin rejuvenation. However, it’s important to allow adequate time between treatments—usually a few days to a week—to let the skin recover from microdermabrasion and reduce the risk of irritation before starting microneedling.
Which One Should You Choose?
While both treatments address similar cosmetic issues, they also boast varying depths of treatment, abilities, and recovery times. You will be able to figure out the type of treatment you want to receive and how long you want the results to last during your consultation at the SpaMedica clinic.
Since microneedling is a more aggressive procedure, it is often recommended for patients with severe skin concerns and deep skin conditions who have oily skin, a darker skin tone, or discolouration and texture issues.
Alternatively, microdermabrasion is a light procedure that improves minor skin concerns while boasting impressive results. It is a great treatment option if you want to refresh your skin without changing your appearance. However, the best way to determine the treatment path for your unique skin concerns and goals is to book a consultation with the SpaMedica team.
Book a Consultation Today
SpaMedica offers both microneedling and microdermabrasion treatments for both the lightest skin concerns and the deeper issues. Book a consultation with our talented medical team of nurses and doctors at the state-of-the-art SpaMedica clinic today to put your best face forward!
