|
|
(HealthNewsDigest.com) – ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Aggressive microdermabrasion appears to improve the appearance of aged human skin, according to a report in the October issue of Archives of Dermatology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
“The significance of this study lies in the fact that this procedure
is minimally wounding,” says Darius J. Karimipour, M.D., who conducted
the research while a clinical assistant professor in the University of
Michigan Health System’s department of Dermatology. He now has a
private practice.
“Healing occurs in the course of a day instead of weeks to months as
is seen with other procedures that improve sun-damaged skin,” he
adds.
Aggressive microdermabrasion involves either sand-blasting the skin
with aluminum oxide crystals or buffing the skin using a hand piece
studded with minute diamond crystals. In order to objectively change the
appearance of wrinkled skin, this procedure would have to induce the
production of collagen, the major structural protein in the skin.
Previous studies have shown that microdermabrasion using aluminum oxide
may not always stimulate collagen production. However, the authors of
this study wondered if increasing the aggressiveness with which
microdermabrasion was performed would stimulate more collagen
production.
Microdermabrasion, a popular procedure for skin rejuvenation, has been
suggested to improve the appearance of wrinkles, atrophic acne scars,
discoloration and other signs of aging skin, according to the authors of
the study.
“Our study shows that microdermabrasion, if performed aggressively,
can stimulate a wound healing response that may correct adverse changes
in sun damaged or wrinkled skin,” says Karimipour, the study’s lead
author.
Karimipour and a team of U-M researchers conducted a biochemical
analysis of skin biopsy specimens before and four hours to 14 days after
a microdermabrasion procedure. Forty adults age 50 to 83 years old with
sun-damaged skin on their arms volunteered to participate in the study.
Each underwent microdermabrasion with a diamond-studded hand piece of
either a coarse-grit or medium-grit abrasiveness.
When performed with the coarse-grit hand piece, microdermabrasion
resulted in the increased production of a wide variety of compounds
associated with wound healing and skin remodeling. This includes
cytokeratin 16, a well-characterized response to injuries to the
skin’s outer layer; antimicrobial peptides that fight infection;
matrix metalloproteinases that break down skin’s structural proteins
to allow for rebuilding; and both collagen precursors and other
substances that form the pathway to its production.
These molecular changes were not seen in individuals who received
microdermabrasion using the medium-grit hand piece, the authors noted.
All patients experienced a mild period of redness that typically lasted
less than two hours.
Reference: Arch Dermatol. 2009;145[10]:1114-1122.
Funding: This study was supported by a Dermatology Foundation Clinical
Career Development Award in Dermatologic Surgery to Dr. Karimipour and
by a University of Michigan Human Appearance Research Fund to the
Department of Dermatology.
Additional authors: Laure Rittie, M.S., Ph.D.; Craig Hammerberg, M.S.,
Ph.D.; Victoria K. Min, B.A.; John J. Voorhees, M.D.; Jeffrey S.
Orringer, M.D.; Dana L. Sachs, M.D.; Ted Hamilton, M.S.; Gary J. Fisher,
Ph.D.
Subscribe to our FREE Ezine and be eligible for Health News, discounted products/services and coupons related to your Health. We publish 24/7.
HealthNewsDigest.com
We videotape Press Conferences, produce SMT’s, VNR’s, B-rolls, PSA’s, – all with distribution: HealthyTelevisionProductions