By Erica Sweeney
Peach fuzz can crop up anywhere on the body. But when those wispy little hairs appear on the face, they can make some people self-conscious. The good news, experts say, is that dermaplaning is a great way to get rid of them.
Whether you try it at home or in a medical office or spa, dermaplaning is just “a fancy form of shaving,” says Dr Kathleen Cook Suozzi, an aesthetic dermatologist at Yale Medicine. A sharp blade is used to gently scrape away those little hairs, she says, along with dead skin cells, which can improve the health and look of your skin.
But is it safe to try it at home? Here’s what to know.
Whichever route you take, dermaplaning should make your skin feel softer and look smoother, according to dermatologist Roberta Lucas.Credit: Getty Images
How does dermaplaning affect your skin?
A medical or cosmetic professional will typically use a sterile surgical blade to perform the procedure, whereas the tools used at home are generally duller, Suozzi says.
Whichever route you take, dermaplaning should make your skin feel softer and look smoother and brighter, says doctor Roberta Lucas, a dermatologist at Dartmouth Health.
The scraping removes built-up dead skin cells, which can give you a dull complexion, Lucas says. And along with bacteria and dirt, these skin cells can clog your pores and contribute to acne. Dermaplaning also keeps skin healthy by triggering cell turnover, where dead skin cells are shed and replaced with new ones, Lucas adds.
When dead skin cells layer on top of peach fuzz, it can create an uneven surface for makeup, making it look “cakey,” says Dr. Desmond Shipp, a cosmetic dermatologist at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Centre. Dermaplaning will create a smoother canvas. It also helps skin care products to absorb better, Lucas says.
If you’re worried that dermaplaning will cause your hair to grow back faster, darker or coarser, don’t be. “That’s an old tale,” Shipp says, but the hairs might look and feel different.
Is it safe to dermaplane at home?
Although “micro-traumas” such as little cuts or nicks can occur at home or in a professional’s office, the risk of it happening is a little higher if you do it at home, Suozzi says.
This is because over-the-counter blades usually aren’t as sharp as the surgical blades used by professionals, she said, so you might have to press more firmly, increasing the risk of cuts or irritation. Most at-home blades are meant for multiple uses, too. So the more you use them, the duller they become.
Experts say that you should ideally leave it to a professional; preferably a dermatologist or an aesthetician experienced with the procedure.
Because manual exfoliation is generally harsh on the skin, Suozzi says she prefers chemical exfoliation, which involves using products with alpha hydroxy acids to remove dead skin cells. These items will brighten your complexion without the possibility of cuts – but they won’t remove the peach fuzz.
People with sensitive skin should avoid dermaplaning, Lucas says. The treatment can also worsen conditions such as eczema or acne, Shipp adds.
How can I minimise the risks?
Your skin should be clean before dermaplaning, Shipp says. It can be helpful to apply a barrier, such as an oil, to the skin before the procedure to help minimise irritation, Lucas adds. And try to avoid other types of manual or chemical exfoliation, for at least a couple of days before the procedure, Suozzi says.
When dermaplaning at home, hold the skin taut and gently skim the blade over its surface no more than three times to avoid irritation, Lucas says.
Once you’re done, Suozzi suggests using a fragrance-free moisturizer to minimise irritation. And Shipp recommends wearing sunscreen and going without makeup for 24 hours. He also says to avoid retinol or acid-based products for a few days.
Don’t dermaplane again until your peach fuzz starts regrowing – that could take anywhere from a couple of weeks to about a month, Suozzi says.
The New York Times
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