History and Background of Dermabrasion

Dermabrasion is a skin resurfacing technique that has been practiced for hundreds of years. It can slow the signs of aging, reduce scarring and treat lesions. Dermabrasion works by wounding the upper layer of the skin, or epidermis, so that the skin regrows and rejuvenates itself.

Dermabrasion throughout History

People have been practicing dermabrasion since about 1500 BC. Egyptian doctors used sandpaper to remove scars. In the early 1900s, German doctors used rotating wheels and rasps to remove the upper layer of skin. In the 1950s, doctors began to use motorized wire brushes for this purpose. In the past, dermabrasion techniques had a lot of problems. They were painful, and patients took a long time to heal from the procedures. The procedure could also backfire easily, causing increased scarring when reduced scarring was intended. Patients faced a high risk of infection, and caring for the wounds during recovery was time-consuming. Since the procedure causes bits of the patient's skin to fly into the air, doctors themselves risked infection as well.

Dermabrasion Today

Drs Mattioli and Bruto invented the first microdermabrasion machines in Italy in 1985. Today, there are over 100 types of microdermabrasion machines on the market, and these make the procedure safe and easy to perform, even without medical supervision.