Microdermabrasion has been touted as the answer to all your skin's problems, getting rid of dead dull skin and rejuvenating the complexion – but does it work? Marie Madden took a trip to the Galway Laser and Skincare Clinic to find out.

Having long heard stories about the exciting affects of microdermabrasion, I was very curious as to whether it would live up my expectations. So last week, I took the plunge and decided to try out the treatment for myself. The idea behind this method of microdermabrasion is that the skin is massaged with a tip of densely packed real diamonds to thoroughly exfoliate and rejuvenate the skin, and while this sounds like it would achieve results, it also sounded a little painful!

So it was with trepidation that I walked into the Galway Laser and Skincare Clinic, ready to face my fear in the hope of glowing skin. Luckily, it turned out to be a much more pleasant experience than I had anticipated.

On arrival, my therapist asked me a number of questions about my medical background and lifestyle, before giving my skin a quick analysis. As I have combination skin with an oily A-zone and rough skin around my nose, I was the perfect candidate for microdermabrasion so she quickly got to work, using the tool to exfoliate my skin.

As she worked from one area of the face to another, the main feeling that I experienced was one of a slight pulling sensation, occasionally feeling rough in sensitive areas. Overall, it was not painful or uncomfortable and once I had gotten used to the sensation, I was happy enough to relax and let the tool do its magic. The therapist checked throughout the treatment to make sure I was comfortable and worked around the face very quickly and efficiently, with extra concentration on my problem areas.

On completion, she applied a serum to the skin with relaxing massage techniques before putting on a firming mask to nourish the skin. She then turned off the lights in the suite, leaving me to enjoy a few minutes of relaxation. After a short time, she returned to remove the mask and cleansed, exfoliated and moisturised the skin. During this period, she also advised me on my skin condition and gave lots of useful tips on skincare.

With that, I was set to go back to work and spent much of the day marvelling at the smooth texture and glow of my skin. While I had not had any major skin complaints prior to the treatment, I found that the procedure greatly improved the condition of my face, minimising the appearance of pores and revealing a much more radiant complexion. Some areas of my skin felt more sensitive following the microdermabrasion but surprisingly, it was not as red or irritated as I had expected. In fact, I could return to the office following my appointment without even applying make-up!

All in all, I was very pleased with the results of the treatment and would definitely consider returning for another session in the future. As well as generally improving the skin, microdermabrasion can also be used to treat eye areas, hand and large body areas, sun damaged skin, hyper pigmentation, acne scarring, congested skin, blackheads and white heads, oily skin and ingrown hairs.