Dermaplaning: Benefits, What Is It, Aftercare & More
Taking a surgical blade to your face doesn’t sound appealing in the slightest, but it's not as bad as it sounds and let me tell you, the results speak for themselves. Dermaplaning has become super popular over the last few years and it’s now a staple treatment in many of my clients’ skin routines. But what actually is it and why is it so popular? Keep reading to find out!
1. What is Dermaplaning?
As you’ve probably guessed, Dermaplaning is a professional skin treatment that involves using a surgical blade. This blade is swept gently across the surface of your skin to provide a deep exfoliation by removing dead skin cells and peach fuzz (or vellus hair). Your skin is left super smooth, glowing and noticeably refreshed and another bonus… the results are instant! We’ll get to a full list of the benefits further down the page.
It's a fantastic alternative to microdermabrasion for those skin types who are a little more sensitive, or for those who suffer from spider veins, as it still provides deep exfoliation but is much more gentle on the skin.
Dermaplaning is great as a one off to give your skin a boost, or you can take it up once a month as part of your regular skin care routine.
2. Does Dermaplaning hurt?
I get asked this question quite a lot, and even though it sounds scary it really isn't - it's actually quite relaxing. Of course you can feel the blade on your skin, but much like shaving your legs it doesn’t hurt one bit (as long as it’s being done correctly)!
3. How does Dermaplaning work?
A surgical blade is held at a 45 degree angle against the surface of your skin. When moved back and forth the blade gently scrapes off the top layer of dead cells and peach fuzz. Using short, controlled motions the practitioner will work their way methodically across your face until all areas have been covered. The removal of the dead cells exposes brighter, fresher cells underneath which leaves your skin smoother with a youthful glow.
4. Who is suitable for Dermaplaning?
This treatment is great for most skin types, including oily, dry, those with fine lines, wrinkles or a dull complexion. Really the only skin type we can’t treat are those with active acne - obviously running a blade over sore and inflamed skin has the potential to irritate the acne and spread bacteria, and we don’t want that! Don’t worry though as there are alternatives such as chemical peels that would be more suitable, and still give great results. However, if it’s just blackheads and congestion you’re struggling with, Dermaplaning is a great preventative treatment. The removal of dead skin cells, dirt and oils from the skins surface helps prevent blackheads from forming, and when you couple Dermaplaning with blackhead extraction and a solid daily skin routine, you’re well on your way to congestion free skin!
5. What are the benefits of Dermaplaning?
So now we’ve covered how it works, lets talk about what Dermaplaning does and how it can benefit your skin…
Deep exfoliation ( up to 3 weeks worth of dead skin and peach fuzz removed)
Visibly brighter, smoother skin
Instant results - no downtime
Increases efficacy of your skincare as products can penetrate deeper into skin
Creates perfectly smooth canvas, great for better makeup application
It’s honestly a game changer - if you're like me and don’t love the look of peach fuzz then you will absolutely love this treatment. Once a month keeps the fuzz at bay and keeps your skin looking fresh and glowing! And for even more benefits you can combine dermaplaning with a superficial chemical peel for enhanced results - please note, this will depend on the strength of the peel, but your facialist will be able to advise this.
Is dermaplaning safe?
Yes it's a very safe procedure provided you visit a practitioner who is properly trained and experienced. Any associated risks such as sun damage, irritation or breakouts are minor and can be avoided if proper aftercare if followed.
6. Can’t I just use a razor and do it at home?
While there are DIY Dermaplaning tools available we really don’t recommend trying to do it yourself - just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. Taking a blade to your face under the dim lights in your bathroom mirror is a recipe for disaster.
The risk of nicks and cuts to your skin is high, and not to mention the quality of the blades are poor so you’re never going to get the same finish that can be achieved in a professional treatment. Then there's also the issue of hygiene - the blades used in professional treatments are single use, sterile and are of medical grade quality meaning they’re safe to use in surgeries! The same can’t be said for that razor that’s been sitting on your bathroom shelf for the past few months.
7. Will the hairs grow back thicker and darker after Dermaplaning?
This is probably the most common question I get about Dermaplaning. The short answer is no! But here’s the breakdown so you know I’m not fibbing. Our hormones play a vital part in determining the thickness of the hairs on our body - dermaplaning has absolutely no affect on these hormones. The peach fuzz, or vellus hair, that gets removed during Dermaplaning is a totally different type of hair to that on our legs, armpits, or nether regions, meaning that is behaves in a totally different way. Where those hairs grow back coarser and darker, the peachy fuzz on our face grows back exactly the same as it was before.
Secondly during Dermaplaning we are only cutting the hair at the surface of the skin and we do absolutely nothing to the hair follicle (which lies well beneath the surface) that may affect the hair growth. The hair will grow back exactly as it did before, the only difference is when the hair first grows back it may feel different to the touch, but the hairs are that fine it's doubtful you’d feel any difference whatsoever. As we cut the hair it will initially grow back with a blunt tip, but as the hairs continue to grow they will begin to taper off again. I always say to my clients, I’ve been Dermaplaning myself for years and I’m yet to grow a beard!
8. Is there any downtime?
One of the things that I love about this treatment is that the results are instant and there is pretty much NO downtime! Some clients may experience a little bit of redness due to the stimulation of the skin's surface, but for most this subsides within 20 minutes or so.
9. How to prepare for your appointment.
Booked your appointment, but not sure what to do before Dermaplaning? To get the best results, it's key that you prep your skin for your Dermaplaning appointment. As Dermaplaning is an exfoliating facial, it’s important that you avoid anything that could make the skin more sensitive such as sun beds, facial waxing, facials, face scrubs or skincare ingredients such as AHA/BHA’s or Vitamin A (retinol).
We cannot treat anyone who is taking prescription acne medication as this can thin the skin. Clients must wait 6 months after finishing their course of meds before getting Dermaplaning.
After your treatment we advise clients to refrain from wearing makeup for the rest of the day, and to
10. What to do after your Dermaplaning appointment
After your treatment it’s very important that you wear sunscreen. As we’re removing the top layer of dead cells your skin will be more susceptible to sun damage so you need to be wearing a minimum of SPF 30 every day. Despite how tempting it is, you should also avoid touching your face as this can spread bacteria which may result in breakouts. Lastly I advise sticking to gentle products only for 1 week after your treatment. As dermaplaning is an exfoliation technique, the use of any chemical or physical exfoliants could cause irritation.
Image source: Instagram @skinritualsbyjess
Tip: Avoid ingredients such as retinol, AHA’s, BHA’s or other exfoliating acids for 1 week following your treatment.
11. The takeaways
So there you have it… if glowing, super smooth skin is what you’re after, then Dermaplaning is what you need. As long as you’re not experiencing any severe breakouts your skin will definitely benefit, and just remember, it's not a DIY treatment - always make sure you visit a professional to get the safest treatment with the best results.
If you’re ready to try Dermaplaning then please get in touch - we’d love to welcome you to the clinic!
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