Both chemical peels and microdermabrasion can be used to reduce signs of aging such as wrinkles and sun damage including age spots. These facial rejuvenation treatments can help treat acne and minimize appearance of spots left behind by acne as well. Both options require a health care professional to administer treatment.
Process
With microdermabrasion a hand-held diamond-tipped wand is used to remove a portion of the skin's top layer called the epidermis and stimulate growth of new skin. A vacuum tube is used to remove crystals and skin cells. With a chemical peel, a chemical solution such as glycolic acid or salicylic acid is applied to an area to remove outer layers of skin and stimulate the new skin growth, according to the Mayo Clinic. Chemical peels can be mild, meaning they only take a portion of the epidermis; medium, which removes the epidermis and a small portion of the skin's middle layer; or deep, which reaches deeper into the skin's middle layer, according to ChemicalPeel.org.
Treatments
Four to six microdermabrasion treatments that are spaced two to three weeks apart are necessary to achieve full results, according to the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. Chemical peel results are achieved with four to six peels spaced one to two weeks apart, according to the Mayo Clinic. No anesthesia is needed for microdermabrasion, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. People getting chemical peels may be given an oral sedative and/or local anesthesia, depending on whether they are getting a mild, medium or deep peel, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Side Effects
Chemical peel side effects can include temporary redness similar to sunburn that can last days to a few weeks, blisters, scaling and crusting, infection, scarring, and changes in skin coloring, according to the Mayo Clinic. Microdermabrasion has few side effects and side effects are rare. The biggest risk-infection-revolves around not having the applicator and vacuum properly sanitized. Other possible side effects include eye irritation or skin perforation with the crystals due to improper application of the wand, according to DocShop.com.
Acne
Both chemical peels and microdermabrasion can be helpful in treating acne. Chemical peels help remove dead skin cells, whiteheads and blackheads and unclog pores, according to the Mayo Clinic. Microdermabrasion exfoliates and also unclogs pores, according to the Mayo Clinic. Both procedures often are used with other acne treatments such as retinoids and oral antibiotics to increase their effectiveness, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Patient Satisfaction
A study done by SkinCare Physicians of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, concluded that patients prefer mild glycolic acid peels to microdermabrasion for facial rejuvenation. However, the differences in patient satisfaction were subtle, noted the study, published in the July 2002 American Society for Dermatologic Surgery publication "Dermatologic Surgery". The study also stated that neither treatment resulted in serious side effects and that even mild effects were seldom reported .
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