Thursday, March 8, 2012

Microdermabrasion with PMD

PMD Personal Microderm



         I have my share of small blemishes that exfoliation, gentle salicylic treatments, and patience haven't managed to erase yet. My interest was therefore piqued when PMD Personal Microderm offered to send me their at home microdermabrasion system for review. Microdermabrasian is mechanical exfoliation of the outermost layer of skin cells, usually by a trained professional. In this review I'll share my thoughts and experience with at home microdermabrasion.

        The microdermabrasion system comes with interchangeable heads and replacement heads (seen below with a dime for size comparison). The blue are for more sensitive skin, while the green is for more thorough abrasion. I've started out on the blues; they seem to be rough enough for me. The large heads are for use on body while the small heads are for use on the face. All heads will have to be replaced over time.


         The PMD Personal Microderm can be used once a week. Theoretically, it's simple to use. You hold your skin taut, and run the machine perpendicular to your face. You should run it only once over an area of skin and not over blemishes and the trick is to keep moving so you don't scrape off too much skin in one spot.. What makes the system a little tricky is that there is a vacuum like suction which probably serves to provide closer contact with the skin. Honestly, the vacuum effect is a bit frightening at first; it makes it hard to move along the skin quickly. I think managing the correct balance between too little or too much abrasion will take some practice.



         I also think how effective the system will be depends on your skin. I have thinner more delicate skin, so I worry about taking off too much with the PMD. It does leave pink marks behind which do disappear relatively quickly. However, if you are not careful, I've heard those marks can look more like wounds. For those with more robust facial skin, this system will probably be easier to use and work better. At this point, it's still a work in progress for me and my face. However, I am happy to use the PMD on my arm. I have a few old burn scars (from cooking) that I would love to remove. The body buffer is the perfect size to use on them and I feel safe using it on those areas.



          In summary, I've learned that microdermabrasion is essentially using a miniature sander to resurface your face. If used correctly, PMD may be cost effective relative to an in-office microdermabrasion. It may be a good option for those seeking more aggressive skin turnover than typical facial exfoliators provide. Right now, I'm still getting the hang of things. I've had the PMD Personal Microderm system for three weeks now and I haven't seen clear results yet (I'm reviewing because I was asked to in this time frame). I don't think it's a magic bullet for skin discoloration, however I'm hoping that I will see more results if I stick with it for a longer term.

          Thanks for reading my review! Have you ever had experiences with at-home or in-office microdermabrasion? Did they work for you?

Love, Dovey.

15 comments:

  1. This is neat! I've never tried microdermabrasion before but I know it's really good for getting rid of dead skin that's sitting on the surface. :)

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    1. Thanks; I'd never tried microdermabrasion either! I was excited to give it a go :)

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  2. I have pretty tough skin but even I'd be afraid to run this thing too hard. I've never had a microdermabrasion before though, would you suggest getting one before trying this at home?

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    1. Hm, it's a touch call! I've never tried an in office one before so I'm not sure which would be better. For budgetary reasons I'm sticking with the machine for now :)

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  3. Oh my goodness gracious when I first saw the device in all its glory I thought it looked a bit like an instrument of torture! The concept behind it is very unique between the buffer and the vacuum. I'd love an update when you feel as though you've seen results: to me it seems like you'd see them quickly because the machine appears to be so intense.

    ♥ Jessica

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    1. Hi Jessica, haha! I do admit I was quite scared to use it at first, but it's better now. I think it should work quickly, but I haven't quite gotten the hang of it yet. I will update once I see more... :)

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  4. i am used to pretty tough(?) exfoliation products but haven't actually used a device like this. ;)
    my esthetician gives me diamond peel microdermabrasion in my facial and i do believe that makes a huge difference.;)

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    1. Oh, the diamond peel facial sounds amazing! I'd love to try that some day :)

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  5. Eeeep! I'd feel a bit wary of using it on my face, too. The Clarisonic was scary enough.

    I'm someone who always need to exfoliate but I feel like microdermabrasion shouldn't be overdone. Also, I don't want to bother with all these contraptions for those few times... so for me, I'd head to a spa and get them done instead.

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    1. Hi Liz, LOL! I haven't gotten the Clarisonic, so I'm still scared. I think I might get the Mia 2 eventually... I definitely need to exfoliate often too!

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  6. I'm DYING to try this at home microdermabrasian kit!
    I try to go for mircodermabrasian at least once ever two monthes, because I find it helps with my large pores.
    Looking forward to your review after you've used it a couple times!

    SUBBING =)

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    1. Hi Lindsey - Thanks for letting me know about your experience with microdermabrasion! I had no idea how often one is even supposed to get it done :) I'll definitely update this post when I start to see results.

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  7. I've never tried microdermabrasion, but it sounds like something I would LOVE!

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    1. Hi Kelly, lol! I hope you can try one day :)

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  8. I am used to pretty tough(?) exfoliation products but haven't actually used a device like this. ;)
    my esthetician gives me diamond peel microdermabrasion in my facial and i do believe that makes a huge difference.;)
    Ruby

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