Dermabrasion

Dermabrasion is a technique of resurfacing skin, using a high-speed rotary instrument with different abrasive end pieces used to remove the chosen layers of skin. This way, the epidermis regenerates from epidermal appendages in the deep dermis. The organized remodeling of the dermis brings out rejuvenated skin that is firmer and smoother than it was before.

Ancient Egypt physicians used sandpapering techniques that were similar to dermabrasion to treat scars. In 1905, Kromayer first reported controlled abrasion of the skin. His technique involved the use of rotating wheels and rasps, which differed little from tools used for present-day dermabrasion. He treated acne scars, keratoses, and areas of hyperpigmentation. Despite this early report of surgical planing, dermabrasion did not gain widespread popularity until the early 1950s.

The first to present a series of patients who underwent dermarasion was Abner Kurtin, a dermatologist at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. He used modified dental equipment in 1953. During this time, various abrasive end pieces were written. The people who coined the word dermabrasion were Blau and Rein. Contributing further to this field were Alt and Yarborough by advocating use of the diamond fraise and of wire-brush end pieces. As further refinement of ths procedure were the development of antiviral medications, dressings that were semipermeable. Tumescent anesthesia and cryoanesthesia have been used to refine further the procedure. Nowadays, cutaneous laser and of chemical peels are being used, however, dermabrasion is recommended to remain a useful tool for skin resurfacing.