How is cosmetic skin resurfacing different to sunburn? (Medical.)

Factual Questions
1

I am talking about the myriad of cosmetic methods: Laser, chemical peels, acid peels, microdermabrasion (like sandblasting)…that “remove old layers of skin and let youthful skin regrow.” How is this different from a bad sunburn?

I have two friends of a certain age who have had these sort of treatments with great success, after a fairly gruesome healing process.

[sub]I just had a serious peel done. I feel like an idiot, look like a burn victim, and have hidden in my house for three days. I had better look freaking 21 after this.[/sub]

2

Sweetie, hy would you want to look 21 when you already look 18 :D, you know I am more than happy to buy beer for you. :wink:

3

Well, I’m not a dermatologist, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night…

A sunburn damages the lower layers of the skin (the dermis). This is the very region that you are trying to expose through cosmetic skin treatments. So a sunburn would seem to be the opposite of what you are trying to accomplish.

I think.