Aluminum Oxide Danger

Aluminum oxide danger is a topic of great concern to dermatologists, aestheticians and other technicians who work with microdermabrasion equipment. The majority of these machines use a stream of tiny crystals of aluminum oxide to remove the top layer of the epidermis. Though the particles are delivered and suctioned away in a closed system, there is still concern that prolonged and repeated exposure might result in some aluminum oxide danger.

The abrasive quality of these tiny particles can adversely affect the lungs and respiratory system if inhaled. The particles can scratch corneas and irritate eardrums, causing earaches. When inhaled, a sore, scratchy throat and low-grade fever may result. For these reasons, it is recommended that microdermabrasion practitioners wear respirator masks. However, many are reluctant to do so because they fear it sends an unsettling message to their clients.

Aluminum Oxide Danger to the Neurological System

There is also increasing concern about possible aluminum oxide danger to the neurological system. Recent data links aluminum to the onset of Alzheimer's Disease and other forms of dementia. When aluminum collects on neurons, it short-circuits the electrical impulses that power the brain.

Some people are allergic to aluminum, in all its forms. It is a known contaminant of groundwater, and a reading of OSHA guidelines for those who work around aluminum oxide shows that it is considered a hazardous material. For these reasons, there has been a movement away from the use of aluminum oxide in microdermabrasion systems. Sodium bicarbonate is the most common substitute, and other abrasive particles such as ground rubies are being tested.