Dermaplaning is a procedure that exfoliates your skinand gets rid of dirt and vellus hair, better known as “peach fuzz.” It’s different from dermabrasion, where an aesthetician or doctor uses a high-speed, rotating brush to exfoliate the skin. With dermaplaning, they use a scalpel or a tool called a dermatome. The doctor or aesthetician moves the dermatome, which looks like an electric razor, back and forth to scrape off the top layer of dead skin.
The exfoliation and hair removal can leave your skin brighter and smoother. The treatment may soften fine lines and wrinkles and ease hyperpigmentation, or uneven skin tone. It’s also used to treat deep acnescars. How well it works really depends on your skin type, tone, and medical history.
Most people have little to no irritation or reaction. Short-term side effects may include:
It’s not common for your hair to grow back thicker or darker. But in rare cases, dark hair may grow near your chin or “sideburns.”
Dermaplaning isn’t recommended if you have inflammatory skin conditions such as:
If you’re taking isotretinoin, a prescription medicationused to treat severe acne, you should wait 6 months after you stop taking it to try dermaplaning.