Hydrodermabrasion

Hydrodermabrasion in Herzogenaurach: water-based exfoliation, vacuum extraction and active-ingredient infusion — three effects in one treatment, without crystals, without needles, without downtime. Skin is visibly smoother and clearer during the appointment itself. A cosmetic treatment under medical responsibility, following a skin analysis — with every further level available in the same building.

Medical Skincare · Device-Based Deep Cleansing · Level 1

Hydrodermabrasion

Three steps in one treatment: the outer skin layer is loosened with a mild acid solution, sebum and keratin debris are drawn out of the pores by vacuum suction, and moisture-binding active ingredients are infused into the freshly cleansed skin — right when it's most receptive. No crystals, no needles, no downtime. Skin is immediately smoother, clearer and finer-pored afterward, and visibly absorbs skincare better. That's why this procedure sits at the start of almost every skin routine we build here.

Treatment time45–60 minIncluding skin analysis, cleansing and finishing care.

DowntimenoneMild redness possible, usually gone after one to two hours.

VisibleimmediatelySmoothness and clarity even during the appointment; lasting over weeks as a series.

Context

Comparing the terms: What distinguishes the various device-brand names for water-based facial treatments, what the four available studies actually show, and which marketing claims deserve a critical read — covered in our terminology and evidence article (8-minute read).

Where hydrodermabrasion sits in the range of services: It complements manual Deep Cleansing (more targeted for individual comedones) and dry microdermabrasion (stronger mechanical removal). For structural changes — acne scars, deeper lines, pigmentation at depth — microneedling or medical peels are the more suitable procedures.

A note on terminology: Water-based facial treatments are often referred to colloquially by individual device-brand names. The procedure name is Hydrodermabrasion, and it describes the underlying principle independent of any manufacturer: dissolve, extract, infuse. For a comparison of the different brand terms, see our terminology and evidence article.

Dr. Thomas Ackermann's practice · Clinical approach

Some treatments promise a lot and deliver little. This one delivers exactly what it promises — reliably, on almost every skin type, in the first session. It creates the foundation on which everything else works better. That's why, in my practice, it isn't the extra — it's the starting point.

— Dr. med. Thomas Ackermann · Specialist in Anesthesiology

How it works

Three steps in one treatment

The treatment uses a handpiece that, through a spiral channel, delivers a solution onto the skin and draws it back off by vacuum suction at the same time. This carries away loosened keratin cells, sebum and residue without crystals or abrasive heads wearing down the skin. The three phases build on each other:

Step	What happens	Effect
1 · Dissolve	A mild fruit-acid or enzyme solution (e.g. low-concentration glycolic, lactic or salicylic acid) loosens the outermost skin layer and the sebum in the pores	Dead cells become removable, pores open, without irritating the skin
2 · Extract	Vacuum suction draws the loosened keratin cells, sebum plugs and impurities out of the pores — evenly across the whole area, not spot by spot	Comedones and excess sebum are removed; skin looks immediately clearer and finer-pored
3 · Infuse	A serum with hyaluronic acid, antioxidants or peptides is delivered into the freshly cleansed skin under gentle pressure	Moisture and active ingredients reach the skin at the moment it's most receptive

Which solution and which serum are used depends on the skin findings — oily, blemish-prone skin gets a different combination than dry, sensitive skin. This is determined before every treatment, not selected from a catalog.

What the system used here can do

Rotating silicone attachmentThe treatment head rotates on its own axis and is made of flexible silicone. It maintains contact even on curved surfaces — the sides of the nose, the chin contour, the jaw angle — where rigid attachments lift off.
Vortex principle in extractionSolution and loosened material are swirled together in the nozzle and carried away in the same motion. Nothing gets spread across the skin and rubbed back in.
Three separate solutions instead of one universal serumA dedicated formulation for each of the three steps — exfoliation, extraction, active-ingredient delivery. The selection follows the findings.
Continuously adjustable suction strengthIntensity is adjusted during the treatment to the region and skin sensitivity. Around the eyes and on the neck, a different approach is used than on the T-zone.
Rinse cycle between treatmentsThe tubing system is flushed with its own cleaning solution after every patient — a different hygiene standard than a device that's simply wiped down on the outside.
Not just the faceThe procedure is also suitable for the décolletage and back — areas where blemishes are common and hardly anyone treats them.

Appointment

One treatment, three effects — in an hour.

Cleansing, smoothing and active-ingredient delivery in a single appointment, without downtime. Herzogenaurach, twelve minutes by car from Erlangen.

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Common reasons

Does this sound familiar?

"My skin looks gray and uneven"

When natural renewal slows down, dead keratin cells build up. Complexion loses its light, makeup sits unevenly. Hydrodermabrasion removes exactly that layer — gently, across the whole surface, without a redness phase.

"Blackheads on my nose and chin keep coming back"

Sebum and keratin build up in the T-zone. The combination of acid solution and vacuum suction cleans the pores more thoroughly than manual extraction — and with regular use, they stay clear longer.

"Before an event — without risk"

No downtime, no peeling, no needles — and a result visible during the appointment itself. The treatment works well as preparation for a wedding, celebration or photo shoot; two to three days beforehand is the right timing. That's exactly what it's booked for most often.

Important to know

So expectations match reality

It works at the surface — and that's its strength. Outer skin layer, pores, sebum, active-ingredient absorption: that's where the effect is proven and immediately visible. For acne scars, deeper lines or skin laxity, microneedling and medical peels are the right tools — procedures also available here when the findings call for them.
It shows its full value as a series. One appointment brings immediately visible freshness. For a lastingly clearer complexion, series of four to six treatments have proven effective — the same rhythm the available studies examined. After that, a touch-up every six to eight weeks is usually enough.
With active inflammatory acne, we start one level further. Inflamed pustules are not suctioned. What helps there is medical therapy — and once the skin has calmed down, cleansing becomes part of the plan. We can take that path within the same practice.
Not every skin may be treated. During a rosacea flare, on broken skin, with herpes, sunburn, ongoing isotretinoin therapy, or shortly after a peel, treatment does not go ahead. We check this beforehand at the skin analysis — something no walk-in studio checks.

Process

Why this practice

The same treatment. A different framework.

Water-based facial treatments are now offered by almost every beauty studio. The difference isn't in the device — it's in what's possible before and after.

Before: The skin analysis here is a medical assessment. Contraindications are identified before treatment — a rosacea flare, ongoing isotretinoin therapy, perioral dermatitis that looks like acne but isn't. That's the point where a studio has to pass.

After: When cleansing isn't enough, it continues here instead of ending. Microdermabrasion and a medical peel for renewal, microneedling for structure and scars, and for acne, medical therapy with prescription active ingredients. Four levels under one roof, in a sequence the findings determine — not the menu.

And in between: the treatment itself is carried out by a trained cosmetician, unhurried, with an active-ingredient selection that matches the findings, not the catalog.

Further reading: Deep Cleansing · Microdermabrasion · Cosmetic Peeling · Acne Clinic

Pure skincare without a skin problem? Cosmetic hydrodermabrasion with the DermaClear device is offered by our cosmetics institute HZO Kosmetik in the same building (website in German). For blemishes, acne or rosacea, the treatment stays here at the practice.

How your treatment unfolds

Skin analysisSkin type, sebum production, sensitivity, current skincare and medications. This determines the choice of solution and serum — and whether treatment goes ahead at all.
Cleansing and preparationMakeup removal, mild cleansing, steam or warmth if needed so the pores open.
Three phases with the handpieceDissolve, extract, infuse — across the whole face, and neck and décolletage if needed. You'll feel a light pulling from the suction, no pain. About 25–30 minutes.
AftercareCalming mask or ampoule, sun protection. For a few stubborn comedones, the cosmetician adds manual extraction.
Recommendation for home care and rhythmCare guidance for the first 48 hours, a suggestion for a series: every 3–4 weeks for blemish-prone skin, every 6–8 weeks for maintenance. No subscription, no package obligation.

Frequently asked questions

The next step

In time for your next event.

Book the treatment directly — or start with a skin analysis if you'd like to know what your skin actually needs. Herzogenaurach, twelve minutes by car from Erlangen.

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Is this the same as a well-known branded water-based facial?

That term is a registered trademark, used colloquially as a catch-all for water-based facial treatments in general. The procedure we use is called Hydrodermabrasion and works on the same three-step principle. The differences between the various brand names are explained in our terminology and evidence article.

What's the difference from microdermabrasion?

Microdermabrasion removes the outer skin layer mechanically — with crystals or a diamond head, dry. Hydrodermabrasion dissolves it with liquid and suctions it away, plus adds active-ingredient infusion. It's gentler and better suited to sensitive or dry skin; microdermabrasion works more strongly on thicker, more keratinized skin.

Does the treatment hurt?

No. You'll feel a light pulling from the suction and a cool, moist gliding of the handpiece. A brief tingling from the acid solution is possible. Afterward, skin may be mildly red for one to two hours.

How often does it make sense?

One appointment brings immediately visible freshness. For a lastingly clearer complexion with blemish-prone skin, series of four to six treatments spaced two to four weeks apart have proven effective — also the rhythm the available studies examined. After that, a touch-up every six to eight weeks is usually enough.

What's different about this treatment here compared with a beauty studio?

The framework. The treatment itself is a cosmetic service and is carried out by a trained cosmetician — but under medical responsibility. Concretely, that means: a real assessment beforehand, medically evaluated contraindications, and if the skin needs more than cleansing, the next step is available in the same building. You don't have to start over somewhere else if it turns out not to be a cosmetic issue.

Can I combine this with other treatments?

Yes, sensibly, in sequence: Hydrodermabrasion works well as preparation before light therapy or before a cosmetic peel. Not on the same day as microneedling or a medical peel — leave at least two weeks between them. Whether and how to combine is decided at the skin analysis.

What do I need to keep in mind afterward?

No makeup, exercise, sauna or direct sunlight on the day of treatment. No acids, retinoids or peels at home for 48 hours. Daily sun protection — true anyway, especially after a treatment.

For which skin is this treatment not suitable?

With active inflammatory acne, a rosacea flare, herpes, broken skin, sunburn, known acid intolerance, the first months of isotretinoin therapy, or during pregnancy, treatment does not go ahead, or only in a limited way. The skin analysis clarifies this before the first appointment.

What does the evidence show?

Unusually well documented for a cosmetic procedure. Two randomized studies show measurable advantages over the individual component alone: more active ingredient reaching the skin than with simply applying the serum, and markedly fewer blackheads than with the acid solution without suction. One treatment series in mild to moderate acne improved the proportion with nearly clear skin from 20 to 65 percent. All four papers are listed below with source and context — nothing here is claimed that can't be checked.

What does the treatment cost?

A flat rate including VAT — no package requirement, no subscription. A series is never sold in advance: after the first treatment, we discuss whether and at what rhythm to continue. See the overview under Costs.

Evidence base

What the studies show

Freedman BM, 2008. Hydradermabrasion: an innovative modality for nonablative facial rejuvenation. J Cosmet Dermatol 7(4):275–280. PMID 19146604. Randomized, 20 women: six treatments with an antioxidant serum increased epidermal and papillary-dermal thickness and the skin's polyphenol content; the same serum applied manually without the procedure showed no change.
Kim SJ et al., 2015. The effect of physically applied alpha hydroxyl acids on the skin pore and comedone. Int J Cosmet Sci 37(5):519–525. PMID 26032934. Randomized split-face study, 23 women: 4% AHA combined with vacuum suction reduced comedones significantly more than AHA alone after one week; pore area and sebum production decreased only in the combination group.
Storgard R et al., 2022. Efficacy and tolerability of a hydradermabrasion clarifying treatment series in active acne vulgaris. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol 15(12):42–46. PMID 36569524. Open-label study, 20 patients with mild to moderate acne, six treatments over 12 weeks: proportion with nearly clear skin rose from 20 to 65%. Not blinded, one author affiliated with the manufacturer — to be read with corresponding caution.
Razi S et al., 2024. Hydradermabrasion through the lens of line-field confocal optical coherence tomography. Skin Res Technol 30(4):e13684. PMID 38558475. Eight subjects: outer skin layer thinner immediately after treatment, more homogeneous and rebuilt after two weeks; no change to collagen fibers in the dermis — evidence for the treatment's surface-level effect.

Four studies, two of them randomized: they support cleansing, smoothing, and markedly better active-ingredient absorption. For a cosmetic treatment, that's a solid foundation — and the reason this procedure sits at the start of the level system here.