Over the counter microdermabrasion kits serve as an ideal way to approach do it yourself acne scar correction. And with four scientifically sound tweaks to your current dermabrasion regime, you can transform this skin treatment into a world-class spa experience with striking results.

1. Prep the skin with proper cleansers

Effective dermabrasion treatments remove the upper layers of the damaged and dead skin cells. However, after a normal day, dead skin cells, oils, and cellular waste create a sticky, protective barrier called "stratum corneum" on the upper layers of the skin. This dermal shield can downgrade the actions of a derma-scrub.

Before applying a dermabrasion treatment, use witch hazel to safely and effectively remove this collective debris from the skin. Cleanse your face with a warm wash cloth and pat dry. Next saturate a cotton ball with witch hazel and smooth the cotton ball over the face for at least 60 seconds.

Alternately, Daniel M. Siegel, M.D.of State University of New York Downstate Medical Center suggests prepping the skin with a soap containing lava ash such as Lava (available for under $5US in most drug stores). Dr. Siegel explained to Skin and Allergy News that Lava soap removes part of the stratum corneum.

2.Use the correct pressure and pull the skin taut

How you apply a microdermabrasion treatment to the skin readily determines how spectacular your results will look. For example, a study in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that applying negative pressure to the skin activated key genes that help grow new, blemish free skin.

Similarly, gently pulling the skin taut when applying a microdermabrasion application increases the amount of skin surface area treated, while allowing you to more deeply penetrate the skin and thereby remove more damaged layers.

3.Use smooth circular motions

As you tenderly pull your skin taut and apply the right amount of pressure to your skin, smooth on the dermabrasion product in circular motions with a diameter of about an inch and a half or the size of a strawberry. These small motions will help you more evenly apply the dermabrasion treatment so that the therapy is uniform, and creates an even skin tone and texture.

4. Apply a deep penetrating moisturizer that contains aloe vera or hyaluronic acid

After rinsing off the microdermabrasion treatment, you have removed part of your guardian stratum corneum, exposed young skin cells and essentially created a mini-wound on the skin. Now time it's to help your skin protect itself again by applying a moisturizer that contains aloe vera or hyaluronic acid.

Aloe vera cools the skin and helps calm inflammation so that you can enjoy skin renewal faster. Likewise, hyaluronic acid (hyaluronan) comprises the skin and facilitates the wound healing process. In the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, researchers reported that applying a moisturizer containing hyaluronan after dermabrasion helped improve skin healing.

There you have it, four ways to make the most of your time and money while applying an at home dermabrasion treatment.

Sources:

Karimipour, Darius J et al. Microdermabrasion with and without aluminum oxide crystal abrasion: A comparative molecular analysis of dermal remodeling. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology; March 2006, vol 54, no 3, pp 405-410.

Kirn, Timothy. Dermatologic Supplies Abound on Hardware Store Shelves. Skin and Allergy News; August 2005, vol 36, no 8, p 20.

Voinchet, Véroniqu; Pascal Vasseur & Jérôme Kern. Efficacy and Safety of Hyaluronic Acid in the Management of Acute Wounds. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology; 2006, vol 7, no 6, pp 353-357.