Do-It-Yourself Cosmetic Procedures

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For thousands of years, people have tried home remedies in hopes of achieving facial rejuvenation.  In 20 A.D. Cleopatra soaked her face in sour milk, an original facial peel of sorts, to expose smoother skin.  Throughout time, people have tried old wine, sandpaper, ground apricot pits, and much more in the hope that these treatments would provide skin rejuvenation.  Many of these produced very limited success. 

Luckily cosmetic surgery advances have produced a myriad of surgical and non-surgical options for people wishing to enhance their facial appearance.  In 2004, plastic surgeons performed over one million chemical peels and nearly the same number of microdermabrasion procedures, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. 

Within the last year or so, beauty product manufacturers have introduced a new level of do-it-yourself skin rejuvenation: at-home chemical peel and microdermabrasion kits.  These DIY kits are intended to mimic the effects of professional procedures performed by plastic surgeons and qualified spa technicians, but with less irritation.  These skin product kits can range from $25 to $250 and are manufactured by several beauty brands.  Some believe that kit makers are looking to cash in on a burgeoning market of procedures and products intended to fight wrinkles, spots, and blemishes.

Doctors are saying that these DIY facial kits are pretty safe but do not achieve the same results as their professional counterparts.  “They are not as powerful or concentrated as a peel from a dermatologist’s office,” says Dr. Glaser a professor of dermatology at St. Louis University, “So overall they are pretty safe, but you shouldn’t expect the same results.”  These DIY kits are not as effective at fighting wrinkles and blemishes as professional procedures. 

At-home microdermabrasion kits, for example, substitute the high pressure blast of aluminum oxide crystals used in the professional procedure for a battery-operated scrubber application of a gritty cream.  Doctors say that this abrasion is effective but that something is missing.  The second portion of the professional procedure involves a suction technique that clears pores and stimulates the skin’s natural collagen production.  These benefits are not achieved with the at-home microdermabrasion kit. 

Some people are finding the at-home kits desirable despite their limitations.  The cost of these kits attracts some users while others prefer a milder peel and limited results for the opportunity to perform skin rejuvenation at home.  Some mild stinging or redness is to be expected with these home kits but, when used properly; do not carry any more serious risks.  The FDA has added a warning to these products advising users to wear a sunscreen, as the products will make the skin more sun-sensitive. 

While there are some desirable features of these DIY kits, they are not able to achieve the same results as a professional chemical peel or microdermabrasion procedure. 

 


 


Page Last Modified: 2009-11-7 22:00:36 UTC

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