Dermaplaning, also called “dermablading,” helps smooth and revive your skin by removing the uppermost layers. Considered minimally invasive, dermablading reveals new, undamaged skin to give you that youthful “glow.”
What is dermaplaning as a process and how does it work? Contact us for direct answers, and read on for the full explanation from the MedSpa at ChristiMD.
Dermaplaning As Gentle Exfoliation
The dermaplaning process involves your aesthetics provider using a medical-grade dermaplaning scalpel—called a “dermatome”—to scrape away the top layer or layers of skin in the treatment area.
The treatment, if done correctly, causes no pain. Many clients even find it to be relaxing ✨
How the Dermaplaning Process Works
All treatments, no matter the type, start with an initial consultation to discover your goals and concerns. Once those have been identified, treatments can be recommended. If dermaplaning works best for you, we’ll schedule a session time.
During a Dermaplaning Treatment:
- Your provider first gives your face a soothing wash with water and a mild cleanser. This relaxing step is almost like a massage as residual oils and enviromental detritus are removed from your skin.
- We apply a toner to the treatment area, gently massaged in for best results.
- After your provider has prepared your skin, they use the sterilized dermatome blade aimed at a 45-degree angle and drag it slowly across the skin.
- This smooth scraping action removes the upper layer of dead skin cells, reduces scar tissue, lifts debris and unclogs pores. It also removes any fine vellus hair (“peach fuzz”).
- After treatment, your provider applies a skin soothing product along with sunscreen.
What is dermaplaning aftercare?
Dermaplaning/dermablading doesn’t require a recovery period. Once the treatment is done, you can return to your normal daily activities with your refreshed skin and glowing look. You’ll see positive changes immediately, but expect the best results to arrive in the next 2 to 3 days.
Though there’s no downtime, you should still support your dermaplaning goals by following these aftercare suggestions:
- Avoid direct sun exposure on the treated skin for up to 3 days
- Stay out of extreme heat for up to 3 days
- Don’t use exfoliators/scrubs on the treated skin for 7 days
- Avoid chlorinated liquids on your skin for 7 days
- Apply ChristiMD-recommended moisturizers and/or serums
- Continue to use sunscreen
Benefits of Dermaplaning
Dermaplaning/dermablading can accomplish the following:
- Removes dead skin cells
- Lifts debris
- Opens pores
- Lessens scar tissue buildup
- Removes visible vellus hairs
- Helps heal ingrown hairs
- Increases blood circulation for that healthy glow
- Makes your skin look and feel smoother
There are even more benefits to the process, including the top 3 benefits of dermaplaning near you.
Improves Hyperpigmentation
Dermaplaning removes the top layer(s) of skin—including that layer’s hyperpigmentation. The treatment reveals new, healthy skin cells hidden beneath the dull, dead skin cell layer.
Increased skin cell turnover improves hyperpigmentation from sun damage, melasma, and other forms of this condition.
Immediate Brightening
Your skin will look fresher and more rejuvenated after a single treatment.
Improved Skincare Product Penetration
Without hair or dry and flaky dead skin to soak them up, your skincare products will be able to penetrate more completely into the living, glowing layers of new skin. This improves the potency of your skincare products’ active ingredients.
More Even Skin Tone/Texture
If you keep up a dermaplaning/dermablading regimen, your skin’s texture and tone can achieve a more even, smooth uniformity. Imagine reducing the need for makeup to even out your complexion, because your skin is already there.
Promotes Collagen Regeneration
Collagen is your skin’s foundation, and as your body produces less collagen you inevitably get more wrinkles. This happens even if you’ve done your best to avoid sun damage, environmental abuse, and other wrinkle-making issues.
Dermablading at MedSpa at ChristiMD can stimulate your body to produce more collagen in the treated area, making the skin plumper and fuller. This can erase or greatly minimize fine lines and wrinkles.
Decreased Bacterial Infections
What is dermaplaning doing for infections? It removes vellus hair/peach fuzz and dead skin cells, two features that have a tendency to help trap dirt and oils in your skin. This mixture of contaminants creates the right environment for one of the big causes of bacterial infections: acne.
Removing acne’s feed grounds and home bases can help avoid those blackheads, whiteheads, red bumps, and more.
That said, dermablading cannot be done during an active acne outbreak. Ask your ChristiMD provider about this.
Readies Skin for Other Treatments
Dermaplaning/dermablading can be used as part of your preparation for other treatments. Removing that dead skin and other debris primes your skin for treatments:
- SECRET™ RF Skin Rejuvenation
- Laser Genesis
- IPL Photofacial
- Medical-grade serums/products
Better Makeup Application
When you have peach fuzz on your face, makeup can cling to it and make your skin appear uneven, patchy, and/or textured.
Dry skin doesn’t help, because you’ll have to use more product over it to get that beautiful evenness in consistency.
Dermablading allows your makeup to sit directly on skin that’s now more even in both texture and tone. Plus, there’s no more of the vellus hair! You’ll use less makeup with better results.
What is dermaplaning’s anti-aging advantage?
Aging changes our skin in a number of ways. The natural effects of growing older include a steady decline in the collagen production and lowered skin cell turnover.
When you add dermaplaning to your anti-aging regimen, it delivers two pluses in one session—promoting collagen production while removing the dead skin cells to allow the brighter, living cells to rise to the top.
If you’re suffering from actinic keratosis—rough, scaly patches caused by frequent or prolonged exposures to UV rays—dermablading can help address these areas too. You should always have your actinic keratosis first examined by your health care provider to ensure it hasn’t been left untreated too long. The condition, left untreated, can lead to squamous cell carcinoma.
What Dermaplaning Isn’t
You’ve got an idea what dermaplaning/dermablading is, you should know what it isn’t, so that you can approach your aesthetic choices with confidence.
Dermaplaning isn’t permanent hair removal.
The dermaplaning treatment removes your peach fuzz and other hair at the skin’s surface. The follicle remains, so it will eventually grow back the same as it did before.
Dermaplaning isn’t shaving.
Shaving only addresses the hair, and usually not as cleanly or deeply as dermaplaning. When you compare dermaplaning vs shaving, dermaplaning exfoliates the skin as it removes the vellus hair. Shaving does not do that.
Because dermaplaning removes a layer of skin, it should be done by a professional.
Dermaplaning isn’t dermabrasion or microdermabrasion.
Though they all exfoliate the skin. However, dermabrasion uses a high-speed rotating brush to accomplish the task. Microdermabrasion applies an abrasive surface to basically “sand off” the skin layers. It uses either an air tool to blast particles at the skin, or a special tool that gets applied directly for exfoliation.
Dermaplaning at Home
Dermablading your face at home might seem fiscally advantageous, but it only tackles the vellus hair. If you have to push hard on your skin, you run the risk of causing a rash there. Those non-medical grade blades and the lack of professional training can inflict scarring damage to your skin.
Plus you’ll benefit from the extra advantages that come with professional dermablading near you, such as complementary treatments for even more dramatic results, access to medical-grade products and serums, and more.
Dermaplaning FAQs
What is dermaplaning’s effect on hair?
The dermaplaning/dermablading treatment removes the vellus hair (“peach fuzz”) on the surface of the skin. However, it does not affect the follicular structure of the hair, so it will have no effect on hair growth. The hair will grow back at the same rate, color, and texture as before, no matter how many times you undergo dermaplaning.
Is dermaplaning safe?
The MedSpa at ChristiMD staff only uses the safest methods to leave your skin refreshed and rejuvenated. Dermaplaning is safe when performed by a properly trained skincare professional. We take great measures to ensure you won’t experience razor burn or any other skin damage issues.
After treatment, your skin can be more sensitive to the sun, similar to any facial treatment or exfoliation. We recommend using a broad-spectrum sunscreen (SPF 30) for any direct exposure to sunlight. We also recommend not wearing makeup on the treated skin for the first 24 to 48 hours to keep from irritating the newly-forming top layers of skin.
Can I combine dermaplaning with other treatments?
You certainly can! Many patients combine Dermaplaning with Laser Genesis for maximum results. Laser Genesis is a skin rejuvenation treatment that targets rosacea, wrinkles and scars. It reduces redness and improves texture and skin tone. You will see dramatic results!
You can also combine Dermaplaning with Secret RF, which has been called “The Natural Facelift!” Secret RF combats the signs of aging, sagging skin, wrinkles, acne scars, photoaging or striae (dermal scarring).
IPL Photofacial selectively targets sun-damaged pigment in skin without damaging the normal skin area. Using light-based technology, specific wavelengths react with the affected sun spot pigment causing it to follow a path of healing and flaking off over a short period of time. Dermablading allows that energy to penetrate where it needs to, and not be lessened by reacting with any pigment in old, dead skin cells.
Medical-grade serums and products can penetrate deeper and apply more of their active ingredients when there’s no hair or dead skin cells to absorb or block the product.
The MedSpa at ChristiMD experts will discuss your skin wellness goals to determine which combination of treatments are right for you!
What could keep me from having a dermaplaning procedure?
Some skin types are not suitable for Dermaplaning. If you have active breakouts or cuts on your face, you may not be a candidate for Dermaplaning. Your provider will determine if your skin is suitable to undergo dermaplaning. This facial treatment is great for most patients, even if you are taking Accutane or Retin-A.
Does dermaplaning hurt?
Dermaplaning works by your provider gently scraping a medical-grade scalpel across your skin’s surface. The process should be entirely painless. Because the pressure applied for the treatment is minor, there are few risks of cuts or abrasions.
Will I need more than 1 dermaplaning procedure?
Some clients receive multiple dermaplaning procedures over time to achieve the best results. The number depends on your short- and long-term goals. The most important thing is to let your skin heal completely between treatments. Your ChristMD provider can help you map out a treatment regimen that achieves your goals safely.
How long do dermaplaning results last?
The treatment session only takes 15 to 30 minutes, so you could possibly do it over your lunch break! The best results show up within 2 to 3 days of your last dermaplaning/dermablading treatment, and should last up to 3 weeks.
What is dermaplaning? Find out, at MedSpa at ChristiMD
The ChristiMD staff members are professional, knowledgeable, and compassionate. We share a commitment to provide you with a trustworthy, welcoming space to talk about your concerns. Contact us with your questions, or request a consultation. We’re here to help!
Operating inside Methodist Medical Office Building Two, we have access to highly advanced medical treatments that aren’t available under one roof anywhere else in Houston.
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