Skin treatments aren't just about your skin's health, they're also a great way of relaxing and pampering yourself. Two very common skin treatments are microdermabrasion and chemical peels.

Both of these skin treatments are used to help deal with different skin problems. The procedure you finally decide to use will depend on your particular skin problem and your personal expectations. Here's a look at what makes these procedures different.

Microdermabrasion and Skin Renewal

This procedure can be performed in a doctor's office, in a day spa, or in a salon. It is a safe treatment that doesn't require anesthesia and provides a deep exfoliation for skin renewal.

However, it is only a cosmetic procedure used to treat specific skin issues such as fine lines and blemishes. Microdermabrasion can be done anywhere on the body, not just the face. It takes about 20 to30 minutes and is fairly painless.

The final results are smoother and younger looking skin. To maintain these results you can use a natural skin treatment which may include natural products or natural ingredients found at home. These ingredients may include sugar, salt or crushed grape seeds.

After any microdermabrasion treatment, you should use sunscreen to protect the newly exposed skin. This treatment is not recommended for anyone that has sensitive skin because it may produce rashes or irritation. You should also proceed with caution if you have mature skin.

Chemical Peels: A popular Resurfacing Technique

Chemical peels should always be performed by a medical professional even if it is a light peel. The type of professional specialized for this type of treatment is a dermatologist. He or she will use different types of chemicals to treat your skin. This will depend on the severity of your skin condition.

Light chemical peels are usually done with AHAs like glycolic acid, lactic acid or fruit acids. This type of peel is a great way of treating more superficial skin problems such as fine lines, uneven skin tone, dry areas, and even acne. It can cause some stinging, but it is light enough that it doesn't require anesthesia.

Other peels, such as medium and deep peels will definitely require anesthesia and pain medication. Medium peels are generally done with TCA (Trichloroacetic acid). It can be used to treat the same problems as AHAs that affect the deeper layers of the skin.

Phenol is used for deep peels. This type of chemical peel will require you to withstand a longer recovery time. The normal progression of this type of treatment begins with scabs that will form and later fall off revealing a lighter looking skin.

Chemical peels done with phenol will make the skin lose its ability to produce melanin so, therefore, it is important that you use a good sunblock daily.