There are a number of acne treatments on the market, ranging from topical creams and ointments to oral medications, surgery and other procedures. Microdermabrasion is a procedure that is used to treat a variety of skin ailments including acne. The procedure is a way to exfoliate skin and causes skin to become smooth and soft. The procedure can even remove minor scars as it is removing the upper layer of skin and allowing new skin to grow back in its place.

Microdermabrasion is a process that removes the outer layer of skin by means of some sort of abrasive material such as sandpaper, chemicals or lasers. As the upper layer of skin is removed, some treatments will include suction as well in order to remove the skin and other impurities away from the face. The process removes the outer layer of skin which is made up of dead skin cells and therefore does not harm the living skin or leave lasting effects.

The treatments are usually carried out by skin care professionals at beauty and health salons, although recently products for home microdermabrasion kits have become available to the public. Home kits generally use creams with abrasive grit in in order to remove the upper layer of skin. Due to it being more expensive while achieving the same results, laser microdermabrasion is a less common option that mechanical microdermabrasion.

The effectiveness of microdermabrasion in cases of acne can vary from person to person, which is common for most acne treatments. The procedure can remove small acne scars over time and those with minor cases of acne have seen some success with continued treatments. It is recommended that individuals with moderate to severe acne try other forms of acne treatment as the more severe a case of acne is, the less this procedure has a positive effect. The procedure can range anywhere from $75 to $150 per session in beauty salons and multiple sessions are recommended for the best results.

Although microdermabrasion is a relatively safe procedure, there are a few possible side effects that could be major drawbacks. After a session, it is possible that your skin will have minor dryness, redness or bruising.  It can also cause sensitivity to the sun, as the outermost layer of skin is removed, leaving less protection from the suns rays. In some cases, microdermabrasion can actually cause individuals to break out with more severity than previously had.