Fixing skin problems can be a frustrating business. It can often take time for topical skincare and home beauty gadgets to deliver any measurable results.
Our bodies are constantly shedding dead skin cells and creating fresh ones. This process slows with age, leading to duller skin, increased pigmentation, fine lines, enlarged pores and so on. Topical creams and devices usually treat these problems by stimulating the cell renewal cycle but it’s not quick – it takes between 22-55 days (depending on age) to complete just one cycle.
‘Fixing’ skin is a game of treating and waiting. But then there are those occasions when we hit upon a product that makes an immediate impact on the look of our skin. And I’ve just had a ‘halleluiah’ moment with this gadget - the PMD Personal Microderm.
My skin has been bombarded with a lot of gadgetry over the years, from Fraxel lasers, to LED lights, ultrasound, sonic cleansers and microcurrent machines… you name it. But it’s never previously been put through microdermabrasion.
Microdermabrasion is deep exfoliation with vacuum suction. The combination is said to leave skin looking brighter, smoother and younger.
The treatment is said to activate our skin’s natural healing process, i.e. stimulating cell renewal and collagen production in the upper layers of the skin. Over time, it is said to improve skin tone, fine lines, light scarring, age spots and other pigmentation.
Any good?
This works! At least from the measure of ‘did I get instant results?’ After my first treatment my skin was noticeably smoother. It was also much brighter and more radiant, beyond the results I usually get from a topical solution.
The exfoliation is quite intense (I used the sensitive skin disc – there are three types of discs of varying intensities – and I have fairly robust skin too). It’s not for the faint hearted - I had a smattering of little red blood dots over my face after my initial treatment (apparently you learn to avoid this with experience). Don’t be alarmed if this happens. These are superficial marks where the suction has gone beyond the dead skin – mine healed within three days.
The device is quick to set-up and use. Simply choose a disc (there are larger ones for treating the body), slot it into the machine, replace the cap, plug in the device and away you go. The technique takes a bit of getting used to. To treat, gently pull the skin back with your free hand and glide the device over a freshly cleansed face without pausing. A single session takes no more than 5-10 minutes.
The discs do wear down, and will need replacing – Personal Microderm recommends this every 2-4 treatments, though I think you could make them last longer. Replacement discs cost £19 for six discs.
The treatment doesn’t hurt but I would advise allowing the skin to heal fully before going ahead with a second – I left two weeks between my first two sessions. You also need to wait at least 7 days if using other exfoliators such as peels, retinols and hydroxyl acids.
I would also err on the side of caution if your skin is super sensitive. But if it isn’t, and it tolerates other forms of exfoliation pretty well, and you want to give yourself a bit of a radiance boost from the comfort of your own armchair, then I think this an effective and simple to use piece of kit.
The PMD Personal Microderm has an RRP of £150 but there’s £15 off the price at Currentbody.com at time of post here - last minute Christmas present anyone? More on Personal Microderm here.
PR Sample
