Hydrodermabrasion and its Potential for Soothing Sensitive Skin

Hydrodermabrasion is a skin treatment that combines cleansing, exfoliation, pore extraction and infusion for health and hydration of the skin. It involves using a handheld tool that infuses liquid, often a serum or solution, into the skin while simultaneously suctioning away dead skin cells, dirt and debris. The liquid used in hydrodermabrasion helps to exfoliate and cleanse the skin while providing hydration, and nutrition while leaving it feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

Hydrodermabrasion is a revolutionary way to exfoliate and deeply clean and nourish the skin. If this process sounds familiar, it is very similar to microdermabrasion. However, this treatment uses a liquid solution instead of small crystals, that can damage sensitive skin, to treat many different skin concerns. Making hydrodermabrasion a safe and effective treatment for those with sensitive or sensitized skin. The procedure also does not create barrier damage, maximizes blood flow to the skin and helps stimulate the production of collagen for healthier skin long term. This procedure gives immediate visible aging, plumping, texture, and toning results. This gentle facial rejuvenation treatment is also safe for all skin tones, which allows estheticians to use it on a vast array of clientele.

Hydrodermabrasion Benefits

One of the key advantages to hydrodermabrasion is that it provides both immediate and long-term benefits. The treatment deeply cleans, detoxifies and purifies the skin using both chemical (solutions) and physical (vacuum) exfoliation. It immediately removes bacteria, dirt, dead skin, debris, excess oil and other impurities. This detoxification and unclogging of the pores can reduce sebum production, minimize the appearance of enlarged pores, and prevent future breakouts. This exfoliation process creates a brighter and more even skin tone, improves texture, resulting in a brighter and more radiant complexion.

This treatment also provides deep hydration, vitamins, antioxidants, and nourishment to the skin depending on the solutions and serums utilized in the machine. The infusion of liquid solutions during the treatment helps to hydrate the skin, leaving it looking refreshed and glowing. The exfoliation and hydration provided by hydrodermabrasion can help diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, giving the skin a more plump, smoother and more youthful look. Also, depending on the serums used, this treatment can fade dark spots and reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation. In addition, hydrodermabrasion has been known to rebuild skin elasticity and firmness. It is a powerhouse treatment that achieves multiple things at once, giving the client exactly what they want, beautiful skin and a healthy glow.

Sensitive Skin Suitability

Hydrodermabrasion is generally gentle and suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin, without causing significant irritation or discomfort. In comparison to microdermabrasion, which uses abrasive crystals to slough off dead skin, hydrodermabrasion uses a suctioning device and a light chemical peel to gently exfoliate the skin. This makes it suitable for the more sensitive client. Sensitive skin clients cannot usually tolerate BHA (beta hydroxy acid) peels or more aggressive treatments, making this a perfect facial treatment for them. Hydrodermabrasion for sensitive skin emphasizes great results without irritations, the perfect combination.

The biggest benefit for this treatment is that it is so versatile and can be customized to every client’s skin concerns and needs, no matter what skin type. The practitioner can control what type of solutions or serums are used in the machine and customize according to skin sensitivity or condition. The esthetician can choose between using AHA’s or BHA products in the machine and use more mild ingredients and dilution techniques if necessary. They can also reduce the number of passes, length of treatment and use a lighter technique for those suffering from acne, rosacea, or medically compromised skin.

The machine also can make extractions so much easier on the client. There is usually no pain involved in using hydrodermabrasion for extracting on the nose and the chin. Those with broken capillaries or blackheads on sensitive skin, can now have deeper and more thorough extractions done by the machine instead of a standard extracting tool. Fortunately, there is also no risk of hyper or hypo pigmentation for darker skin tones.

What are the best serums or solutions to use in the machine for sensitive skin? The solution used for hydrodermabrasion is dependent on skin type, skin condition and skin sensitivities. The exfoliation fluid used can be a gentle AHA (alpha hydroxy acids) such as lactic or mandelic acid for sensitive skin and can even be diluted to ensure no irritation may occur in this treatment. There are many specialized infusion serums that can also be used for sensitive skin. These skin types benefit from hyaluronic acid, peptides, antioxidants, calming serums, and vitamin C which can be customized with each treatment.

Related: Now Trending: Hydrodermabrasion

Hydrodermabrasion Tips for Sensitive Skin

Ultimately, hydrodermabrasion is more gentle to the skin and ensures immediate results. In standard microdermabrasion, estheticians use tools to lift the layer of the skin that could create inflammation and redness afterward, leaving a painful experience for the clients. On the other hand, hydrodermabrasion is done in a crystal-free and pain-free procedure that achieves desired results in a non-abrasive way. Therefore, hydrodermabrasion is indeed a comfortable way to achieve healthier skin with its faster, non-invasive, multi-faceted, and more efficient procedure.

Many machines available have plastic tips and some even have silicone tips. The silicone tips are the absolute best for sensitive skin. Using this type of tip ensures that no damage will occur on the skin because of the pliability, flexibility, and softness of this tip type. Oftentimes, depending on the skin type, it could be perfectly paired with other services such as microcurrent, LED, oxygen infusion, peels, nano infusion, and holistic therapies.

Why Offer This Service?

Overall, hydrodermabrasion is a great option for those with sensitive skin who want to rejuvenate their skin and cannot tolerate more aggressive or harsh treatments. This type of clientele is more difficult to treat but can be the most loyal clientele if the treatments are performed well. This niche client base (sensitive skin) needs to have options as far as facial treatments. The treatment can be customized for any skin concerns and level of sensitivity, creating a specialized target market. Offering hydrodermabrasion in the treatment room ensures more clientele, no turn aways or outside referrals.

Another major benefit is that there is virtually no downtime. The non-invasive procedure gives rapid results. Therefore, there is no need to schedule facial days before an event, and the client can attend directly after the treatment. This process is entirely non-invasive, and any redness or inflammation will be gone in less than an hour.

The price of this facial service can have a very high menu price, increasing income substantially. This is no ordinary facial service; it is a high dollar service on any spa menu. Hydrodermabrasion treatments can also be sold in packages or series of treatments, also increasing income. This service can also be unique in the local area, and draw in specialized clientele, specifically the sensitive skin client. This service is not common in most spas or treatment rooms, therefore offering it will be setting the esthetician apart from some competing spas. Lastly, the results speak for themselves. This service is easy to advertise, market and encourages word of mouth referrals, again, increasing income. Hydrodermabrasion can expand the service menu and can bring nothing but success to any spa or treatment room.

Shawna Rocha is the owner of Awaken Day Spa in California and Washington. She loves helping clients with compromised and sensitive skin. Since becoming an esthetician, Rocha completed multiple advanced courses in Oncology Esthetics and Immuno-Esthetics, and she specialized in training in sensitive skin and holistic therapies. She holds several certifications, including one in NCEA and has become the director of education for Hale and Hush Skincare.