We are living in an age where youthful, glowing, and smooth skin is king. The internet is chock-full of “quick fix” ways to improve the appearance and clarity of your skin, and advice is coming from all types of experienced and inexperienced individuals and influencers. Now more than ever, it's important to refer to a licensed aesthetician for advice on how you can maintain your skin health and get back your glow. One of the treatments our aesthetician regularly recommends for many skin types is dermaplaning.
Consulting an aesthetician can provide you with information on a variety of treatment options, and lead you in the right direction for what’s best for your skin.
One of the most effective aesthetic treatments to quickly and safely transform your skin is dermaplaning. While dermaplaning is a great solution for a number of skin types, it isn't the perfect solution for everyone which is why talking with your aesthetician before getting any skin work done is important.
As dermaplaning becomes more mainstream - with a number of influencers touting its effectiveness - you may be familiar with it as a procedure, but unfamiliar with the details. So let’s dive in.
What is Dermaplaning
Dermaplaning is a rather intense form of exfoliation, which is why it is a treatment provided by a medical professional such as a licensed aesthetician.
This method uses a 10-gauge scalpel, again wielded by an aesthetician who knows what they are doing, to gently scrape off the top layer of dulling dead skin cells. This removal gives your skin a smoother, brighter complexion.
The word “scalpel” might sound a little daunting, but it’s truly a very gentle and effective process. In fact, it’s painless and has been compared to the same feeling you get when shaving your legs (but on your face).
Dermaplaning Benefits
This professional exfoliation provides extensive benefits for your skin including:
- A bright, glowing look with no downtime
- A smooth finish that’s perfect for applying makeup
- Reduced look of “peach fuzz”
- Increased penetration and effectiveness of your at-home skincare products
Once you've done a dermaplaning treatment you'll see the difference in your skin immediately. Your skin photographs beautifully, which makes it a great treatment choice before big events.
It is safe to combine dermaplaning with several in-office treatments such as Hydrafacials or Laser Facials to “boost” the treatment results.
Dermaplaning Treatment Details
This pain-free process takes only 30 minutes with virtually no side effects or downtime needed. Your skin may feel a bit sensitive and can be prone to hyper-pigmentation post-treatment, so we do recommend that you wear sunscreen and avoid intense sun exposure afterward.
We recommend scheduling this treatment for once a month, as the skin needs time to turn over new cells and rejuvenate.
Who Should Get Dermaplaning?
This professional exfoliation process will have immediate (and beautiful) results, and it's recommended for all skin types except for those who are acne-prone.
The treatment removes the vellus hairs on your face which are needed for removing excess sebum or oil and if you are prone to clogged pores, you likely need your vellus hairs. For that reason, those with acneic skin or deep cystic acne should opt for other treatments.
A dermaplane facial is a great option for pregnant or nursing mothers who want professional exfoliation without the potential for any harsh chemicals entering their bodies.
This treatment is also perfect for anyone looking to combine facial treatments. Dermaplaning creates a skin surface that’s better prepared to absorb the benefits of additional skincare, such as a HydraFacial treatment or an enzyme treatment. It acts as a “booster” to achieve even better results with deeper penetration. This is because you are removing any barrier that might be on the skin prior to treatment.
A consultation with an aesthetician can help you decide if this treatment is right for your skin type.
The Difference Between Dermaplaning and Shaving
Dermaplaning and shaving are two completely different services, with different tools to achieve different goals. The oly commonality they share is that they both involve the use of a blade moving across the skin.
A shaving blade is a flexible blade designed to remove only hair from the surface of the skin. The proper angle to use a shaving blade is 30-35 degrees, and the blade is flexible so that it ‘floats’ over the surface of the highly lubricated skin. (Think about a man’s double-edged shaving blade: it is bendable so that it flexes as it glides over the skin. Even the blades women use to shave their legs are flexible blades that are housed in a plastic guard or sleeve.)
On the other hand, a dermaplane blade is a rigid surgical blade designed to exfoliate several weeks of dead surface cells from the face. The proper angle to use a dermaplaning blade is 45 degrees, and we gently stretch the skin into sections to match the blade so that it can clear away the vellus hair with the first 2-3 strokes. Then we begin to remove or “plane” away the dead skin cells with the subsequent strokes.
A shaving blade can only shave the face. A dermaplaning blade (in the hands of a trained professional) exfoliates the face.
People who are using the tools labeled as dermaplaning tools on the home shopping channels and beauty stores to ‘dermaplane’ themselves at home, are simply doing a glorified shave. The vellus hair is removed, but the buildup of dead skin remains!
The Difference Between Dermaplaning and Microdermabrasion
Many of our clients wonder about the difference between dermaplaning and microdermabrasion when they first consult with our licensed aesthetician, Noelle Cesario.
Microdermabrasion is where dead skin cells are sanded and suctioned. This is done in order to uproot clogged pores around the nose, mouth, and chin. Dermaplaning doesn’t involve any suction, it’s just a gentle scraping of the top layer of skin and peach fuzz. Both treatments are effective and work to clear and brighten skin. It’s just a matter of preference and what’s recommended by your aesthetician for your skin.
Professionally administered skin treatments can go a long way in helping you to achieve healthy, bright, and smooth skin. When it comes to a “glowing” look, dermaplaning may be just exactly what you’ve been looking for.
