Dermabrasion is a procedure in which a high-speed wheel, similar to a rotary sander using fine-grained sandpaper, is used to abrade the skin. As a method of resurfacing, dermabrasion can be an effective way to treat deep acne scars and deep facial wrinkling. Its strong point is that the procedure can be done without the heat damage that lasers or acid burns of chemical peels can cause. However, some expected side effects, both transient and longterm, are considered normal and do occur. Transient effects can include spot bleeding for several days after surgery, swelling, breakouts, and hyperpigmentation. Hypopigmentation, the permanent loss of skin color, occurs in 20% to 30% of patients. Possible scarring can also occur but that is true for any of the deeper chemical peels and ablative laser resurfacing (Source: eMedicineJournal, October 17, 2001, volume 2, number 10).
Despite these daunting considerations, dermabrasion may still be recommended for deep acne scarring, provided there is a firm understanding about the risk of depigmentation.