We’re all after the appearance of a smooth and clear complexion. One of the hindrances to achieving our goals is often the appearance of unwanted hair on the face, or dead skin cells clinging to the surface of our skin!
While we might not like to discuss (or even acknowledge) the “peach fuzz” on our faces, it is a common occurrence for most of us.
Unnecessary “peach fuzz” can cause our makeup to look heavy, and it can also cause dirt and excess oil to cling to the skin. Dead skin cells can cause our skin to look dull and lack radiance, encourage areas of flakiness and dryness, or create clogged pores on the surface of the skin.
The solution to this issue is a skincare treatment called “dermaplaning,” which delivers glowing results to the appearance and feel of your skin, in a quick and pain-free procedure.
What is dermaplaning and how long does dermaplaning last? Dermaplaning is a skincare treatment that will essentially remove any unwanted hair or dead skin cells from the face to ensure your skin looks radiant and your makeup goes on smoothly. It is a non-invasive treatment that can work for most skin types, and the results last anywhere from 2-3 weeks.
Below we will discuss the details of this skincare procedure and its benefits. Keep reading to determine if dermaplaning is a treatment you want to try!
What Is Dermaplaning?
Dermaplaning is a skincare treatment that deeply exfoliates the skin by removing hair (“peach fuzz”) and dead skin cells from the face to reveal brighter, smoother, and softer skin.
The process essentially “shaves” away any unwanted hair while also eliminating any dead skin cells, which allows the skin to appear more radiant and even-toned. While the process can be likened to shaving, it is a more intense process that uses a specific, high-grade tool and should be performed by a professional.
A dermaplane procedure utilizes a specialized scalpel blade to remove unwanted “peach fuzz” and dead skin cells. The blade is swiped against the face in an upward motion (against the grain of the hair growth) to “scrape” away the layer of hair and dead skin cells that are sitting on the surface.
Because of the high-grade scalpel being used, and the scraping against the face, it should be executed by a professional dermatologist, esthetician, or doctor to prevent any damage from happening to the skin.
Benefits Of Dermaplane Treatments
The ultimate benefit of a dermaplane treatment is the smooth and brightened appearance of your skin afterwards.
Dermaplaning enhances the complexion’s appearance in many ways, but through deep exfoliation, the removal of unwanted hair and dead skin cells helps skin to look more even in tone. This exfoliation can also help with any discoloration due to sun damage or acne scars.
Dermaplaning can also help with the skin’s texture by removing the excess dead skin cells that can cling to the skin. The texture of your complexion will not only appear to be soft and smooth, but will have a radiant glow as well.
With the removal of excess “peach fuzz” and dead skin cells, your makeup is able to apply more smoothly. Foundation especially will look even and smooth, eliminating any chance for a “too cakey” application.
Along with your foundation applying effortlessly, your skincare products will be able to absorb more deeply as there are no patches of dead skin cells preventing the skincare from penetrating through the layers.
There is little to no downtime required for a dermaplane treatment — it is often referred to as a “lunchtime procedure” because of that. You should be able to return to your daily activities post-treatment without any issues.
This is a non-invasive, pain-free procedure that will leave your skin bright and glowing for weeks to come.
Side Effects Of Dermaplane Treatments
There are no damaging side effects to dermaplaning and there is no downtime needed to recover from the treatment.
While there are no known damaging side effects, your skin might appear red after the treatment. Redness can occur depending on your skin sensitivity, but it doesn’t happen every time or for every client and will fade quickly post-appointment.
In extreme cases, if not carried out properly, some cuts or scrapes can occur from the razor tool that could potentially lead to scarring. That is why it is important to consult with your professional prior to the procedure to ensure that the proper tools and techniques will be used.
It is also another reason why at-home dermaplaning could potentially be damaging to your skin and should be executed by a professional.
Time And Cost Of A Dermaplane Appointment
The result of clear, smooth, bright skin is immediately visible after a dermaplane appointment — only one session is required. The average time for a dermaplane appointment can be anywhere between 30-45 minutes.
The average cost for a dermaplane appointment varies, depending on location and who is providing the treatment. However, the general average price of a dermaplane appointment is at least $100 and can cost up to $250.
What Is The Dermaplaning Process?
The process of a dermaplaning treatment is a pretty straightforward procedure, and the treatment as a whole should take no more than 40 minutes.
Generally, your dermaplaning professional will cleanse your face if needed to prep your skin for the treatment. Once the skin is completely dry, that is when the dermaplaning begins.
Your professional will take the razor tool and begin to work it over the facial skin in short, even strokes. While working the tool over the face, the skin will be held taut to ensure the tool can work smoothly and effectively, without any chance of cuts, knicks, or missing sections.
Working with the razor, they will use the tool in short strokes to go against the grain of the hair, and the dead skin cells and “peach fuzz” will begin to fall away.
After using the tool over the entire face area, your professional will then cleanse the skin if needed, or apply a facial moisturizer to add hydration.
While you might experience a little redness on the face, you will be able to resume your normal activities right away. There is little prep needed to be done to ready your skin for a dermaplane appointment.
Although your specialist will most likely cleanse the skin prior to the procedure, it is best to come to your dermaplane appointment makeup-free to ensure your skin is free of anything that can potentially clog your pores.
It will also ensure that the razor tool is able to easily glide over the skin to closely remove unwanted hair and dead skin cells without picking up any unnecessary product.
Dermaplane Treatment Aftercare
Taking care of your skin after any type of treatment is important for your skin’s safety as well as the effectiveness of the results.
As the results are immediate after a dermaplaning treatment, making sure you take the proper steps to care for your skin in the aftermath will help to prevent any unnecessary irritation from occurring.
As dermaplaning is using a razor-like tool to scrape off the top layer of dead skin cells and hair, the fresh new layer is exposed and, while soft and smooth, can be vulnerable.
It is important to protect your skin with a facial SPF, as always, and to avoid any excess or increased sun exposure for several days following your treatment.
As dermaplaning deeply, yet gently, exfoliates the skin of dead skin cells, you can avoid any of your physical exfoliants (or chemical exfoliants such as retinoids) for several days post-treatment.
The newly exposed layer of skin will be sensitive, and you want to avoid products that can cause any irritation or over-exfoliation.
While there is no downtime for recovery and you are safe to apply skincare or makeup products on top of your skin following the treatment, because your skin and pores are open and exposed, it is encouraged to let your skin breath for a day or two following your appointment before putting makeup on.
The freshly dermaplaned skin can allow your skincare products to penetrate deeper and absorb into the skin quickly, and will have the same effect with your makeup products.
While makeup products are safe to apply over dermaplaned skin, to prevent possible irritation it is a good idea to let your skin fully adjust after your treatment.
Hydrating your skin with a good moisturizer is key in any skincare routine, but it is especially important after a treatment. As a new layer of skin is exposed, and the top layer of excess skin cells was removed, using a moisturizer targeted on hydrating the skin will work well for your post-treatment aftercare.
How Long Do The Results Last?
Typically, the results from a dermaplane treatment last between 2-3 weeks. The average cycle for skin cell rejuvenation takes around three weeks to complete, and that is when the new skin cells are ready to emerge while the dead skin cells begin to fall away.
Dermaplane treatments often claim that they can remove up to three weeks of dead skin cells.
While the results of dermaplaning are only temporary, there is often the concern that the unwanted “peach fuzz” will begin to grow back darker, thicker, or with more hair. While peach fuzz will indeed begin to grow back, the quantity, color, and texture of the hair will be the same as before the treatment.
How Often Should You Dermaplane?
The frequency of how often you can receive a dermaplane treatment is ultimately based on the individual. As stated above, the results of dermaplaning are not permanent and will last about three weeks at most.
Dermaplaning appointments can be done once a month, or every 4-6 weeks. If you have skin that is more on the sensitive side, you can stretch the time between appointments to better suit your skin’s needs.
However, based on your skin type and needs, it is best to consult with the professional providing the treatment to understand how often your skin can undergo a dermaplane treatment for the best results.
Best Times To Get Dermaplaning
Dermaplaning is a skincare treatment that can be performed anytime, as sessions are relatively short and there is no downtime required for recovery.
However, if you are planning your dermaplane appointment, you should anticipate avoiding any excess sun exposure for several days and make sure you are actively applying (and reapplying) your facial SPF to protect the newly exposed layer of skin.
When To Avoid Dermaplaning
Dermaplane treatments work for and benefit most skin types, but there are a few factors that can make this treatment one you might want to skip.
If your skin is acne-prone, or you have actively inflamed breakouts, dermaplaning would not be the ideal procedure for you. The scraping of the skin can cause irritation to the already angered breakouts, and there is the potential to spread the bacteria from the breakouts to other areas of the face.
While dermaplaning can help ease the appearance of acne scars, if you have active acne breakouts you will have to wait before having this treatment.
Also, if your skin is particularly sensitive or you have existing skin issues (such as rosacea), dermaplaning might also be a treatment you want to avoid due to potential skin irritation.
For sensitive skin with existing skin conditions, finding other manual exfoliators or scrubs that are formulated for your skin type would be an alternative to the deep exfoliation from the scalpel tool.
Because dermaplane treatments expose new layers of the skin, which can make it more sensitive, it is best to avoid excessive or increased sun exposure — plan your appointments accordingly.
While it can seem like dermaplaning is a DIY type of treatment you can try at home because it only requires a razor and scraping across the face to remove the dead skin cells and hair, it is best to avoid the at-home temptation and have the treatment done professionally.
You will avoid any potential damage to your skin, such as cuts or scrapes, and will be treated with a high-grade tool specifically meant to remove the topical layers of unwanted skin irritants.
Final Thoughts
Overall, dermaplane treatments are the ideal way to achieve a smooth, bright, and soft complexion. This is a treatment that can work for almost any skin type and tone for optimal results.
However, if you have existing skin issues or active breakouts, it is best to speak to your dermaplaning professional about whether this is a treatment you can undergo.
This non-invasive treatment with no downtime required for recovery enables this treatment to be done any time of the year, but it is important to be mindful of sun exposure after your treatment and to protect your skin with SPF to prevent potential sun damage or irritation.
The procedure is done quickly, allowing you to resume your regular, daily activity immediately after.
Unwanted “peach fuzz” and dead skin cells prevent the skin from looking its best, by making it appear dull, textured, or disturbing the makeup laying on top of the skin. Dead skin cells especially can cause clogged pores and uneven texture if it clings to the skin and prevents the new skin cells from coming through.
By exfoliating the excess “peach fuzz” and dead skin cells away, your makeup will look smoother, your skin will appear brightened, and your overall complexion will look soft and radiant.
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