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Here is a compilation of some questions, and facts I found interesting while conducting my research on using microdermabrasion for wrinkle removal. I feel that most of the doubts, apprehensions and questions you have about using microdermabrasion should be answered here.

1. It is safe for young people to undergo a microdermabrasion. However doctors generally advise it only for patients above 14 years. This is to ensure that all major hormonal changes take place in the patient’s body, and that the results of microdermabrasion are as good as they should be.

2. Basically, AHAs are light chemical peels that help in removing the uppermost skin layer, like microdermabrasion does. Both light chemical peels and microdermabrasion are non-invasive wrinkle removal procedures that can be done at home using the right consumer kit. Neither wrinkle removal option has any risks or side effects. They also help reduce superficial scars and wrinkles.

3. It is possible to use at-home microdermabrasion creams on your neck for wrinkle removal, if the cream a formulated facial microderm product. If you use a body microdermabrasion kit on your neck, it may be too harsh for your neck, and may also give some irritation. You could however use office microdermabrasion on the neck.

4. It is not advised to undergo microdermabrasion to remove wrinkles when pregnant. It’s better to wait for your delivery, and to complete your nursing before you consider microdermabrasion.

The reason is your skin is more sensitive during pregnancy and nursing and the hormone changes in your body may reduce the effectiveness of the procedure. So undergoing microdermabrasion now may lead to severe irritation and scarring.

Tips for choosing the best microdermabrasion kit

Being the type of person I am, who is not actually that comfortable having chemical peels and microdermabrasion treatment to get rid of my wrinkles, I started looking out for a good at-home microdermabrasion kit I could use. Surfing the net, I found some interesting news and tips that I thought I should share with you about finding the right at-home microdermabrasion kit.

First and foremost, you have to remember that all microdermabrasion kit manufacturers claim that their kit is the best. While some say that their product is the best, there are others that state that their kit is the best to use for treating specific conditions like fine lines, wrinkles, acne scars, age spots or clogged pores. Don’t believe everything the manufacturer says; do your own research to find out which at-home kit is best for you.

I found out that basically, home microderm kits are divided into 4 categories.

1. The complexion microdermabrasion kits are the least effective of the lot as they are more like a good facial and not like a microdermabrasion. Its price ranges between $20 to $75 and includes brands like Epidermx, Olay Regenerist Peel and Dr. Brandt.

2. The pores microdermabrasion kits are better than the previous ones as they peel better. This way your pores benefit from it. These kits are best for treating whiteheads, enlarged pores, blackheads and clogged pores. It costs between $45 and $85 with brands like Estee Lauder, Microdelivery Peel and Lancôme Resurface.

Preparing for a microdermabrasion

If you can afford it, and want to see faster wrinkle removal results through microdermabrasion, its better to undergo a clinical microdermabrasion. As usual, with so many doctors and clinics offers microdermabrasion service, it is always suggested to verify the clinic’ credentials and reliability before entrusting your facial skin with them!

Once you choose a reliable doctor, be ready for the 3-6 sessions you will require to get the desired look and feel after microdermabrasion. During your first visit, the doctor will first make a skin evaluation to decide how many sessions of microdermabrasion you actually require.

Voice your fears

Do speak up about anything bothering you about your skin or microdermabrasion to eliminate all the fears you have about microdermabrasion. Once you are comfortable and confident with the procedure, your doctor will start by cleaning your skin using a cleansing gel.

The next step entails the application of a toner-like product. (Mind you, you will be told to wear goggles during the microdermabrasion just as a precautionary measure for your eyes).

Once you are ready, the doctor moves a pen-like small wand in small swipes on your face, so that it removes dead skin with its crystals. Simultaneously, all the dead skin is vacuumed as you move along.

Not painful

Though you may feel all these crystals working and the vacuuming on your face, there is not much of a discomfort. Depending on your skin type, a microdermabrasion session may last anywhere between 15 minutes to an hour.

While reading up on microdermabrasion, I was quite intrigued to learn that unlike chemical peels, microdermabrasion can be done in two types. I mean, unlike chemical peels that have to be done under a doctor’s supervision, microdermabrasion can be done at home using an at-home microdermabrasion kit or in your doctor’s office.

Both have their individual benefits and disadvantages which I just had to list out below.

Need more at-home sessions

The biggest difference between the two is its efficiency. Over the counter at-home microdermabrasion kits do help in improving your skin texture; however results are seen over some time. This is because you have to undergo more sessions at home than you would have at a clinic.

You may have to carry out a maximum of 11 at-home microdermabrasion treatments to get the results you’d get within two clinic sessions.

Cheaper option

However cost is the basic reason people are more than ready to wait for results through in-home microdermabrasion. Home kits cost about $40 and so 11 treatments may cost you $440 for beautiful skin.

However in case of clinic sessions which cost about $200 to $300 per session, and where you require 3-6 sessions for optimum results, you have to pay a minimum of $600 to $1800 for beautiful skin.

So for those on a budget, it is quite obvious that at-home microdermabrasion is a much better and cheaper option for you. However if you are looking for the best results, office microdermabrasion is always the better option.

Side effects

Ok. Now I have explained and everything I could on chemical peels, I thought it best to move on to give an introduction on the next effective wrinkle removal option, microdermabrasion.

Microdermabrasion is a skin care procedure that helps in reduce aging signs by gently abrading the skin surface so that the outer skin layer is removed. Besides helping with the removal of lines and wrinkles on your skin, microdermabrasion helps in reducing your skin pore size, minimizing any superficial pigmentation problems you have and also help with photo aging.

How it works

Now you may wonder how microdermabrasion works. Well, it is actually micro crystals that are used to exfoliate and remove your epidermis. A wand or hand piece is used by the technician to move these crystals across your skin surface.

Basically, it is because microdermabrasion does not need any downtime, pain medication or anesthesia that it is a very popular wrinkle removal option. There are no risks or elaborate commitments to make. In fact, so convenient is the procedure that it is possible for you to undergo microdermabrasion during your lunch break!!

Besides all the benefits mentioned above, I forgot to mention that microdermabrasion helps in improving the skin's ability in absorbing skin care products like wrinkle treatments.

Undergo microdermabrasion harboring realistic expectations

I have to tell you that microdermabrasion is not that effective a technique to use for removing deep wrinkles and scars. It is best only for removing and reducing fine lines and early signs of wrinkles.

After explaining all about the types and meaning of a chemical peel, I found it mandatory on my part to explain both the risks and benefits associated with using chemical peels for wrinkle removal. This was especially after I read and found out that chemical peels can sometimes be very risky for wrinkle removal.

Basically, chemical peels don’t give rise to serious complications. However it does have its share of risks which include the possibility of infection, scarring, a change in skin tone and outbreak of cold sores.

Some people may suffer from burns from the skin after a chemical peel as the peel is so strong that it removes the top layer of skin and removes dead skin cells. Then there are some people who are allergic and develop reactions to the products used for chemical peeling.

Follow your doctor’s instructions for minimal risks

This is because sometimes the peels are made of only acids, without other ingredients normally found in creams and serums for soothing skin layers. It is the high concentration of the acids that leads to redness and discoloration for a long time, like a few weeks after the peel is complete.

I found out that unlike other complications and risks, it is possible to reduce the risks associated with chemical peels if you follow your doctor’s instructions. Moreover, you have to give your complete medical history to your doctor, before undergoing a chemical peel to ensure minimal risks and complications.

Benefits of chemical peels

When you think of benefits, chemical peels provide various benefits to the skin. It helps give you a younger look by reducing wrinkles. It also helps in curing uneven pigmentation on your face and provides relief fro blotchy patches and sun damage.

In my excitement of sharing everything I’d learnt about chemical peels, I think I’d mentioned practically everything about chemical peels, but its actual procedure! So next in line, I thought it right on my part to describe how a chemical peel is actually done.

I have to mention, I learnt that while most of the skin peel procedures follow the protocols mentioned below, there may be some changes here and there depending on the type of peel being done.

1. First of all, the chemical peel is carried out at a doctor’s office, a hospital or a surgery center by either a certified and trained cosmetic dermatologist or a plastic surgeon.

2. Though anesthesia is not used in chemical peels, sometimes a sedative is given to help with relaxation. This is usually given before a deep chemical peel or if the patient requests it.

3. Next, the doctor cleans the patient’s skin and may apply some topical anesthetic to the area to be treated. Then, the requisite chemical peel solution is applied on the skin. It is based on the individual patient’s needs and goals that the chemical peel solution is formulated.

4. Be ready for some tingling or stinging sensation while applying the chemical peel. No need of worrying about this as this is normal during a chemical peel.

5. Once the skin peel is on the skin for the required amount of time, it is washed off using water. Then a soothing ointment like a thick coating of petroleum jelly is applied on the treated skin.

6. With the chemical peel over and done with, the doctor will instruct you on the proper after care and perhaps give you a mild pain reliever. This is to treat any discomfort you experience after the procedure, especially in case of a deep chemical peel.

Removing Wrinkles with Chemical Facial Peels

Now that you know all the ins and outs of using botox for wrinkle reduction, I thought it best to give you some insight about using chemical peels. Generally, chemical peels are used by those who find it too expensive or drastic to undergo a facelift.

Chemical peels are also called chemexfoliatoin or derma peeling where the superficial layers of your skin that was damaged by sun exposure and other factors is peeled away. Chemical peels not only improve your skin by removing wrinkles and damaged skin layers, but also brings about pigmentation changes in the skin, removes acne scars and prevents cancerous lesions.

Agents used in chemical peels

The most common agents used in chemical peeling are salicylic acid, lactic acid, glycolic acid, trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and carbolic acid (phenol). These chemicals are painted on the face by a dermatologist or trained cosmetologist, and washed off after a designated span of time.

The span of time the chemical is left on the face, and the choice of chemical to be used for a chemical peel depends on the skin condition and the results you are looking for. The stronger the chemical is, and the longer it is left on the face, the deeper they work.

This is why there are three types of peels; light, medium and deep peels. In case of light peels, glycolic or salicylic acid is used. TCA is used for medium peels and phenol or carbolic acid, for deep peels.

Cost of chemical peels

With a brief introduction of chemical peels taken care of, I thought it right to discuss the different types of chemical peels available in more detail. As you know, there are three types of chemical peels:

Light peels:
Here alpha hydroxyacids like salicylic acid and glycolic acid, which are found in fruits and other foods, are used for treating dry skin, acne and liver and sun spots. It also helps lessen the appearance of fine facial wrinkles, reduces pore size and improves the texture of old and sun-damaged skin.
You need six to eight treatments over a span of 2-3 weeks for best results. This is best for those who want a chemical peel but don't want to spend so much time recovering from it like in medium and deep peels as there is practically no recovery time here. In fact, at the most you may experience some mild irritation and redness after the peel, and can thus return to your activities immediately after the peel.

Medium peels:
Trichloroacetic acid is used in medium peels for treating deeper skin layers and for removing deeper wrinkles and precancerous lesions. It is done once every two to three years.
You can see the new skin layer appearing after 3-7 days of the treatment. In fact, the skin gets completely healed after two weeks of the treatment. You may experience redness resembling severe sunburn with a medium peel that lasts a week or so.

Deep peels:
Deep peels are not carried out frequently. These peels treat much deeper skin layers, like for treating skin damage. It is carried out using phenol, which may cause heart rhythm problems when absorbed by the skin.

Now that you have a rough idea of the invasive and non-invasive treatment options available for wrinkle removal, I thought it best to give a detailed description for each removal option.

So first in my list comes using botox injections for removing your wrinkles. botox itself is an implication of the true nature of Botulinum toxin type A. It works at removing your wrinkles by paralyzing underlying facial muscles and preventing them from wrinkling once it is injected. It can be used to remove all types of wrinkles like neck bands, forehead creases, frown lines and crow's feet.

You don't need much of botox to remove your wrinkles; a little is more than enough to remove your wrinkles. However as this is a temporary procedure, it has to be repeated every 3-6 months. Once the effects of botox start wearing off, muscular activity gradually reappears to lead to wrinkles.

The actual process

If you are thinking of getting a botox injection, your doctor will first determine where the injection has to be administered and then use a very tiny needle for the injection. Once injected, botox attaches itself to nerve endings.

Usually, the neurotransmitter acetylcholine found in these nerve endings gets released to cause muscle contractions during unimpeded muscle function. However once botox is injected, acetylcholine's release is blocked, wherein the muscle relaxes.

You don't need any anesthesia to take botox injections as the most you will feel is a pin prick sensation. At the most, your doctor may numb the area using a cold pack or an anesthetic cream before injection.

Are you the right candidate for botox injections?

If you are thinking of getting a botox injection, it is better to do so only after verifying if you are a right candidate for the injection. Of course, botox is a safe and widely used injection, but like any medications, there is always a chance of it not agreeing with your body, or it not being meant for you.

Basically, if you are in good health, and don't use any drugs of any form, you are eligible for botox injections. It gives best results to those between the ages of 18 and 65. So far, there is no proof that botox can harm an unborn child.

However if you are pregnant or nursing, it is safer to avoid botox injections. Just wait for a few months, and start your botox injections once your nursing days are over! Moreover if you have any infection, I learnt that it is better to not take botox injections, especially if the injection site is near the infection site.

Inform your doctor of any allergies and medications

It is also not advised to have botox injections if you are allergic to it. This is why it's better to have a test dose before you get your botox injection. This test dose decides if you have any allergic reaction to botox ingredients, and if it is safe for you to take the injection.

If you are on any type of medication, it is better to consult your doctor about taking botox injections as some medications can lead to dire side effects. Some antibiotics like Gentamicin, Clindamycin and Lincomycin and Quinidine given for heart rhythm problems react with botox and increase the risk of side effects.

Okay, after taking a look at non-invasive wrinkle reduction options, you will surely notice that these options take time in removing wrinkles. So if you need to get rid of your wrinkles in a hurry, or if you have deep wrinkles that need more effort or treatment to get rid off, I think you may find your answer here.

Facial or chemical peels is a wrinkle treatment option that naturally involves the application of chemicals to the skin to help smoothen wrinkles and to help in the fading of age spots.

Once a chemical peel is applied to your face, it expedites the shedding of the top layer of the epidermis so that the fresh skin underneath it gets exposed. You will surely be happy with the results this treatment option offers. Moreover, they have to be repeated only once or twice a year to maintain your youthful appearance.

Microdermabrasion is another wrinkle treatment that involves the treating of your face with a device that resembles a mini-sandblaster. This sandblaster has tiny crystals in it that rub against the skin to remove older skin from its surface.

Consequently, the fresh skin found below is exposed. With the help of regular microdermabrasion treatments, it is possible to not only remove wrinkles, but also even out your skin tone to get more radiant skin.

The longest lasting option for wrinkle reduction is plastic surgery like a facelift. This procedure is started by making incisions at strategic points and then the skin is stretched tight. This is followed with the clipping off of excess skin, which is secured in place with the help of sutures.

Wow! After learning so much about the cause and types of wrinkles you and I can suffer from, I naturally started looking for the various treatment options available to reduce and eliminate wrinkles.

I thus found out that there are two types of wrinkle treatment options available, invasive and non-invasive forms. So let’s discuss the non-invasive forms of wrinkle treatment first, which include regular use of topical and anti-aging creams and botox injections.

The easiest method of wrinkle removal is with anti-wrinkle creams as they have ingredients that help to naturally dehydrate and moisturize the skin. Once moisture that is lost due to aging is replenished, the skin tone improves to smoothen minor wrinkles and make deep wrinkles less noticeable.

You have to wear these creams everyday, or at a minimum of three to four times a week to maintain its results. Moreover, when compared to other wrinkle removal options, creams are relatively inexpensive and don’t give any side effects.

The right sunscreen can help prevent wrinkles

While talking about sunscreens being helpful in preventing sunscreen, I have to mention that in my research, I found out that it’s no use just using any sunscreen you find in the market. It is important that you choose and use the right sunscreen so that it offers you maximum protection in preventing wrinkles.

I learnt that you have to choose your sunscreen based on its ingredients and SPF factor, which is the amount of UVB absorption the sunscreens offers. The ingredients found in sunscreens are divided into compounds that either physically block radiation, or help in the absorption of radiation. The compounds that block radiation help in reducing the skin’s exposure to both UVA and UVB radiation.

While zinc oxide is an old formulation used in sunscreens to provide radiation protection, the new formulation of micronized titanium dioxide works better in providing radiation protection. The best choice for a broad spectrum sunscreen is one that has an SPF of a minimum of 15, and contains avobenzene, zinc oxide or

5 different types of wrinkles

To me, a wrinkle seemed to be just a wrinkle. At the most, I had heard about crow’s feet and laugh lines. However I was surprised to learn from my research, that there are different types of wrinkles. By understanding these five types of wrinkles, and what causes them, you find it easier to treat and prevent them.

1. The laugh lines that you and I know are technically called dynamic expression lines. It is our own facial muscle movements that make these lines develop over time. Even crow’s feet belong to this type of wrinkles.

2. Fine lines are fine wrinkles that develop as you age, and because of loss of skin elasticity and collagen. As the fine lines tend to disappear if your skin is pulled tight, it is possible to use a plumping moisturizer like LifeCell to treat these fine lines.

3. If you are one of those who spend lots of time in the sun,

it is very likely that you will develop permanent creases or lines on your face over time. It is obviously the sun that causes these creases.