What is dermaplaning?

Dermaplaning is an exfoliating treatment that involves a doctor or qualified aesthetician gently scraping the surface of your skin with a surgical scalpel to remove dead skin and peach fuzz. Basically, it’s a bit like having your face shaved.

The idea of having your face shaved, free-hand, with a scalpel may sound a bit crazy, but this is a gentle—if rather advanced—form of facial exfoliation carried out by a well-trained skin specialist using an ultra-fine scalpel. It’s a swift way to improve skin texture on the surface, because careful shaving not only removes the top layer of dead, polluted skin cells that make the face look dull, but also all the fine vellus hairs or ‘peach fuzz’, leaving your skin super-smooth.

Although the idea of someone sliding a blade across your face is a scary one, it’s not actually painful at all and, apart for some slight redness, it is quite possible to go back to work after the 40-minute treatment. The only thing you shouldn’t do is apply make-up to your face before a full day has passed since the treatment.

In the hands of a professional, dermaplaning is safe for all skin types and is especially good for those with sun damage, fine lines, dry patches and dull skin. However, those with sensitive skin or rosacea may find it too irritating. The same applies to inflamed acne as, predictably, sliding a sharp scalpel over spots will irritate them and can cause more severe breakouts.

After the treatment, skin will be more receptive to skincare ingredients and make-up will look better, too, as your skin will be so smooth. It is still essential, though, to protect your skin with an SPF30 or higher sunscreen.

Contrary to what many people believe, dermaplaning will not make your hair grow back thicker or darker. When the hair begins to grow back, it won’t feel like stubble, either, because vellus hairs are so fine. These hairs will be the same thickness and colour as before and will continue to grow as normal.