Is Dermaplaning Bad for Your Skin? What You Need To Know
Published October 11, 2022
Dermaplaning is a cosmetic procedure that aims to get rid of your vellus hair. Also known as peach fuzz, vellus hair is the extremely fine, thin, and almost invisible hair in different parts of your body.
The main selling point of the procedure is the removal of vellus hair, which has a surprising effect on your face. Often, removing one’s peach fuzz results in more youthful and smooth skin, which is ironic since vellus hair grows during infancy. In addition, you’ll find it easier to apply cosmetics as there’ll no longer be vellus hair to get in the way. These are just some of the benefits of dermaplaning.
However, upon looking into dermaplaning on the internet, you may find articles about the potentially harmful effects of the procedure. So, is dermaplaning bad? Read on to find out the answer and more.
Is Dermaplaning Bad for Your Skin?
The short answer is NO, dermaplaning is NOT bad for your skin, and for several reasons:
- It’s not intensive. One of the many reasons people tend to assume an exfoliation treatment is bad for the skin is that some treatments are truly harmful. These are the particularly intensive treatments. When an expert dermaplanes you, it’s only slightly more intensive than regular shaving. Hence, it’d be unusual if it harms your skin.
- It’s not chemical-based. In addition to intensive treatments, there are also specific procedures that utilize acid-based chemicals. Dermaplaning isn’t one of those treatments.
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It doesn’t involve an intrusive machine or device. The other type of exfoliation treatment is mechanical. It makes use of devices to exfoliate the skin. Similar to acids, some of these devices have a reputation for being excessively intrusive, resulting in long-term side effects. Dermaplaning, however, doesn’t involve a machine. It only uses a small blade.
Simply put, dermaplaning is generally harmless to the skin or other body parts. It also helps to know that doctors and other experts describe dermaplaning as superficial. If you’re not aware, superficial in medical terms means not invasive or only affects the skin on the surface. But why do patients with the procedure report signs of irritation, redness, and similar side effects? you may ask.
What Are the Side Effects of Dermaplaning?
To start with, it’s important to understand that most procedures generally have temporary side effects. Even shaving your face can lead to soreness if you put in more force than you should. The same applies to dermaplaning. In most cases, you may experience the following side effects:
- Irritation
- Discoloration
- Redness
- Breakouts
Perhaps the worst effect dermaplaning can have on your skin is an infection, though that only happens under the right (or wrong) circumstances. That takes us to one of the main issues with dermaplaning.
When Is Dermaplaning Not Advisable?
As stated earlier, dermaplaning is just a slightly forceful version of shaving one’s face. And if you shave your face regularly, you should know the circumstances that make it more harmful than usual.
Here’s a look at situations where dermaplaning becomes harmful:
- When you have a sunburn
- When you’ve been taking tretinoin or any medication that treats acne
- When you have a particularly sensitive skin
- When you currently have an active breakout
- When you have a lot of acne on the area where your vellus hair is
Can You DIY Dermaplaning at Home?
Due to the increasing popularity of dermaplaning, many manufacturers are starting to sell dermaplaning blades online. Though that’s good news for professionals, it’s not so much for patients like yourself. If you have no experience with dermaplaning, or any exfoliation treatment, for that matter, we suggest not doing it by yourself at home. You risk cutting yourself, which is highly likely for DIYers, by the way. As a result, it may develop into an infection, and that is bad for your skin.
You may save yourself from the costs of dermaplaning, which is pretty high, but you risk causing damage to your skin which is far worse. Seek the help of professionals for dermaplaning.
(Related: Hydrating Vs. Moisturizing: Which Is Better For Your Skin?)
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About The Author
Lenard Arceo is an experienced writer who has written about a vast array of topics. His passion for beauty trends fuels his work for the Salon Suites of Palm Beach website and blog.
