Microdermabrasion in Colorado Springs: Is It Right for Your Skin?

If your skin has been feeling dull, rough, congested, or just a little “blah,” it may not need a complicated routine — it just needs a fresh start.

Microdermabrasion is a non-invasive exfoliating treatment designed to remove some of the buildup of dead skin cells sitting on the surface of the skin. The result? Skin that looks smoother, brighter, and more refreshed!

But what exactly happens during microdermabrasion, and is it right for everyone? Is it right for our Colorado Springs environment?

Let’s talk about it.

What Is Microdermabrasion?

Microdermabrasion is a form of mechanical exfoliation.

During the treatment, a specialized handheld device gently exfoliates the outermost layer of skin while suction from the machine lifts away the loosened debris. Because microdermabrasion primarily works on the surface of the skin, there is typically no downtime.

And yes — the filter afterwards can be pretty satisfying to look at. All that buildup visible on those tiny felt circles 🤩

Microdermabrasion filter showing dead skin cells and surface debris after treatment

Used microdermabrasion filter after facial exfoliation treatment

Microdermabrasion filters after treatment showing removed surface debris and dead skin buildup

What Can Microdermabrasion Help With?

Microdermabrasion can be a great option when your goal is improving the overall look and feel of your skin. It may help improve the appearance of:

Dull or tired-looking skin
Rough or uneven texture
Mild congestion
Dry, flaky surface buildup
Enlarged-looking pores
Uneven skin tone
Superficial discoloration
Fine lines
Mild acne scarring

One of my favorite things about microdermabrasion is the immediate smooth & soft feeling many clients notice afterwards 🥰

Is Microdermabrasion the Same as a Facial?

Not exactly — but they work beautifully together! Microdermabrasion is the exfoliation technique itself and can be incorporated into a customized facial. If you schedule a microdermabrasion facial with me, expect to be double cleansed, exfoliated (that’s the microdermabrasion part), masked, massaged, moisturized, as well as getting a hydrating lip treatment and finishing with SPF. At Living Waters Renewal, I like to focus on effective AND relaxing facials.

What Does Microdermabrasion Feel Like?

Most people describe the sensation as a light scratching or polishing feeling combined with a gentle suction. It should not feel like your skin is being aggressively scraped.

Treatment intensity can also be adjusted based on your skin type, sensitivity, treatment area, and goals. Your skin may look slightly pink afterward, but significant irritation is NOT the goal.

Will My Skin Peel After Microdermabrasion?

Usually, microdermabrasion does not cause the type of visible peeling you may experience after a chemical peel.

You may notice a little dryness or light flaking afterward, especially if your skin was already dehydrated or had significant surface buildup.

Keeping your skin hydrated and following aftercare instructions can help support the skin as it settles after treatment.

What Should I Do After Microdermabrasion?

Freshly exfoliated skin deserves a little extra TLC. For the first few days after treatment:

Keep your skincare gentle
Use a hydrating moisturizer
Wear broad-spectrum SPF every day
Avoid picking or scrubbing the skin
Temporarily avoid strong exfoliating acids, scrubs, retinoids, or other potentially irritating products
Avoid excessive heat or anything that leaves your skin feeling irritated.

And yes, sunscreen matters even in Colorado when it’s cloudy! Especially at Colorado altitude 🧴

Grand Lake, CO

Who Should Avoid Microdermabrasion?

Microdermabrasion isn’t the best treatment for every skin condition. I may recommend another option is you have significantly irritated or compromised skin, open wounds, active infections, active inflamed acne, a rosacea flare up, or another condition that makes mechanical exfoliation inappropriate.

If you are prone to hyperpigmentation or have conditions such as melasma, treatment also needs to be approached thoughtfully. More exfoliation isn’t automatically better, and aggressive treatment can sometimes make pigmentation concerns worse. And that’s one of the reasons why I don’t give every client the same facial or will recommend a different service then the one you scheduled (with full disclosure).

Your skin gets a vote.

Before treatment, we will look at what’s happening with your skin and determine whether microdermabrasion actually makes sense for you.

Is Microdermabrasion just for the face?

Dead skin buildup, uneven texture, and congestion doesn’t stop at your jawline. Microdermabrasion may also be used on other areas of the body to help improve surface texture and smoothness.

Depending on your concerns, we can discuss whether facial or body microdermabrasion — or another type of exfoliation — would be the better choice.

How Often Should You Get Microdermabrasion?

There isn’t one schedule that works for everyone. Some clients may enjoy microdermabrasion periodically as part of their regular skincare routine, while others may benefit from a series of treatments when working toward a particular goal.

Your treatment schedule should depend on your skin, how it responds, the products you’re using at home, and what we are trying to accomplish. More treatments do not necessarily mean better results.

Healthy skin is always the priority.