The end goal of an amazing facial is usually smooth, dewy skin. The cosmetic industry has come up with it all — from creams to chemical peels. Social media’s newest obsession is #dermaplaning and is said to exfoliate skin and get rid of peach fuzz. What exactly is it and how does it work?
What is Dermaplaning?
Dermaplaning is a quick procedure where a dermatologist or aesthetic doctor uses a surgical blade held at a 45-degree angle to skim dead skin off your face. Much like other forms of exfoliation, it removes the outermost layer of your skin, unclogs pores and helps your skin glow. In the process, the tiny facial hairs on your skin are removed as well.
It is safe for most people, with little risk of side effects when performed properly. It does not require any downtime for recovery and results typically last three weeks.
The idea is simple: as your skin is exposed daily to harsh environmental aspects like toxins and sun damage, dermaplaning can help clear the damaged skin cells to let the newer skin cells come through. This can be done as a standalone treatment or as part of a facial.
You may notice your skin look immediately brighter, but it often takes a few days before you see the full results. The results, however, are not permanent and will fade after about three weeks. Take note that with dermaplaning, it is important to be careful about sun exposure that can reverse the effects or create blotches on your skin. Sunscreen is essential!
Are there any side effects to Dermaplaning?
Generally, dermaplaning is a low-risk procedure that may cause slight redness in your face after treatment. Although rare, it might irritate your skin or cause infection if done incorrectly or if the blade used is not sterile.
Another important thing to note is that dermaplaning should be avoided if you suffer from acne, sunburn, or other inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis because dermaplaning will exacerbate these issues and further irritate your skin.
If you do have acne and would like to avoid chemical peels, Microdermabrasion might be a good alternative to consider.
What is the difference between Microdermabrasion and Dermaplaning?
Microdermabrasion is also a minimally invasive procedure that helps exfoliate dead skin to improve skin tone and texture. The difference lies in the method and technology, where instead of using a blade, fine particles are used to create a mildly abrasive surface for exfoliation.
These can be done with: [1]
A diamond-tipped handpiece — This handpiece removes dead skin while performing a suction function to clean them off immediately. This is good for more sensitive parts of the face, such as the eyes.
Crystal microdermabrasion — This form of microdermabrasion uses fine crystal particles to exfoliate the skin. This also has a suction function to clean the dead skin off immediately.
Although severe side effects are rare, the suction process may cause mild bruising. Sensitive skin may also experience dermatitis or allergic reactions.
Aquajet Microdermabrasion Facial
Taking on the same idea as a traditional Microdermabrasion but with a softer approach, the Aquajet Microdermabrasion facial is a 3-step Korean therapy that helps renew and smoothen skin, while providing it with nutrients for a healthy glow. It replaces the rough crystals from normal microdermabrasion with a much gentler jet water stream and extremely fine aluminium oxide powder.
By delivering a combination of highly potent skin solution coupled with the revolutionary VORTEX technology, Aquajet Microdermabrasion Facial effectively deep cleanses pores without extraction or damage to the skin. The gentle vacuum activation brings the sebaceous glands closer to the surface of the skin and applies sufficient pressure that ejects the sebaceous contents like dead skin, dirt and oil, and cleans them off immediately with the water stream.
Under an experienced therapist, you should experience no side effects, other than slight redness that goes away in 5 to 10 minutes. It would be recommended to keep the skin hydrated and protected from the sun with moisturiser and sunscreen.
That being said, there is no downtime to this treatment and you can return to your daily activities right after.
Patients are recommended to come back once a month for longer-lasting results. Unlike traditional microdermabrasion, this treatment is gentler on your skin with the similar benefits of radiance and glow. If you’re unsure of whether this treatment is suitable for you, book a consultation for a proper diagnosis and a more targeted treatment plan that would best suit you and your skin concerns.
