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Don’t Try This At Home: Beauty Edition!

In the past 12 months, with a large percentage of the population working from home, the U.S. reported a marked increase in the use of social media platforms. To go along with this usage, consumers were inundated with more advertisements than they truly needed. Millions of dollars have been poured into marketing the latest beauty devices developed for home use. While we’re all for innovative technology, we also feel that it is important to discuss the value and potential hazards of ineffective home devices. Here, we discuss some of the supposed DIY treatments that are better left to the professionals.

Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion is a proven method of deep exfoliation. The technique works by abrading the uppermost layer of the skin using small sand or crystal particles. Some devices have a tip that buffs away damaged skin cells. The nonvital cells are vacuumed away from the skin, leaving it smooth and prepped for new skin cell production.

Why Not DIY Microdermabrasion?

Sloughing off dead and damaged skin cells sounds simple enough. Why is a professional needed? One reason to forego the home microdermabrasion device is that efficacy will be limited. Products that are used by a licensed professional are more powerful so consumers can achieve the best results. Another reason not to perform microdermabrasion at home is that technique matters. Without the right application, the skin can become red and inflamed. There is also a risk of worsening acne or pigment problems.

Microneedling

In recent years, microneedling has become a popular professional treatment for the promotion of collagen production. The process is stimulated by the creation of tiny microchannels in the upper layers of the skin. Nearly as quickly as professional devices became the “It Thing,” home devices started popping up on online ads. The home version of microneedling is called dermal rolling. The dermal roller is a needle-clad drum that the user rolls over their skin to create microchannels for the body to heal with collagen.

Why Not DIY Microneedling?

Microneedling is a collagen induction therapy. For it to be effective, the tiny needles need to puncture the skin precisely. The professional microneedling device stamps the skin in a vertical fashion. Rolling the face with a dermal roller, the needles may enter and exit the skin on an angle, resulting in tiny tears. In addition to reaching an adequate depth of tissue, professional microneeding is far more comfortable than the DIY version. Furthermore, providers can add substances like platelet-rich plasma to the microneedling treatment to achieve even better results.

We are proud to serve patients in the Las Vegas and Henderson areas with proven non-surgical anti-aging treatments. To learn more about our services, schedule a consultation and professional skin examination at (702) 684-5502.