I get this question all the time, Can microdermabrasion get rid of dark spots and lighten African American skin?  The first question asked might be- is microdermabrasion actually good for African American Skin or darker skin tones?

African Americans seem to be obsessed with lightening their skin.  The fastest selling products on the market are skin lighteners and dark spot removers.  The top spa treatments among African Americans are microdermabrasion and chemical peels.

But since I’ve gotten a lot of calls and questions about microdermabrasion let’s take a look at what it is, what it does and how it affects your skin.

What is Microdermabrasion?

Essentially, microdermabrasion is a powerful mechanical exfoliation of your skin generally done with either the original crystal microdermabrasion technology or the newer diamond tip microdermabrasion.  Both methods can be a challenge for skin of color.

In essence someone is using a machine to exfoliate your face.  The process is that of removing the uppermost layer of dead skin cells from your face and neck.  If the treatment doesn’t include your neck you’d have an obvious  difference in the appearance of your skin.

The procedure uses a wand that sprays and vacuums up aluminum oxide crystals along with the dead skin cells on your face or neck.

Now for all of you that feel you can achieve these results with the “At Home” version, think again.  Because you don’t realize the amount of pressure you’re giving to your skin, you can actually bring trauma to your skin and  complicate matters even worse.

Microdermabrasion needs skilled hands to administer its treatment and when it comes to African American skin, you’d better have a very good idea of who’s working on your skin and their ability to provide the service without causing your skin damage.

Can Microdermabrasion Get Rid of Dark Spots?

That’s a loaded question.  Microdermabrasion can remove dead skin cells but if done incorrectly, the procedure can certainly “cause” dark spots.  It will all depend on the skin therapist working on your skin.

By the way, if you don’t apply a sunscreen on the part of your skin that’s been treated, you’ll end up with skin that’s darker than the rest of your body. And, you must stay out of the sun after this treatment.   Not only have you removed dead skin cells but you have also removed part of your protective layer.

Don’t forget my dark skin beauties, you also have melanin in your skin and melanin can cause some pretty interesting things to take place when not treated properly.

There’s a lot to take into consideration when thinking of microdermabrasion especially for darker skin tones.  If you have sensitive skin and most skin of color is sensitive, microdermabrasion may not be the best choice for you.

If your skin is keloid, challenged with scrapes and bruises, you have cold sores or you’ve had botox, all of these challenges put you on the side of the page for Not having microdermabrasion.

Consider natural alternatives for removing dark spots and evening out your skin tones.  It might take a bit longer for results but the treatment will be much safer for your skin as a person of color.

Have you tried microdermabrasion? I’d love to hear about your experience, leave me a comment!

Dedicated To Your Beauty

Juliette Samuel
Esthetician/Author/Publisher
Nyraju Skin Care