Risks

Dermabrasion can cause side effects, including:

• Redness and swelling. After dermabrasion, treated skin will be red and swollen. Swelling will begin to decrease within a few days to one week, but might last for weeks or even months.

  Your new skin will be sensitive and blotchy for several weeks. It might take about three months for your skin tone to return to normal.

• Acne. You might notice tiny white bumps (milia) on treated skin. These bumps usually disappear on their own or with the use of soap or an abrasive pad.
• Enlarged pores. Dermabrasion might cause your pores to grow larger.
• Changes in skin color. Dermabrasion often causes treated skin to temporarily become darker than normal (hyperpigmentation), lighter than normal (hypopigmentation) or blotchy. These problems are more common in people with skin of color and can sometimes be permanent.
• Infection. Rarely, dermabrasion can lead to a bacterial, fungal or viral infection, such as a flare-up of the herpes virus, the virus that causes cold sores.
• Scarring. Dermabrasion that's done too deeply can cause scarring. Steroid medications can be used to soften the appearance of these scars.
• Other skin reactions. If you often develop allergic skin rashes or other skin reactions, dermabrasion might cause these reactions to flare up.

Dermabrasion isn't for everyone. Your doctor might caution against dermabrasion if you:

• Have taken the oral acne medication isotretinoin (Myorisan, Claravis, others) during the past year
• Have a personal or family history of ridged areas caused by an overgrowth of scar tissue (keloids)
• Have acne or another pus-filled skin condition
• Have frequent or severe outbreaks of cold sores
• Have burn scars or skin that's been damaged by radiation treatments