The pros and cons of dermaplaning

Let’s start with the basics of dermaplaning

When you hear the word “scalpel” it’s easy to feel nervous, but dermaplaning is very superficial and doesn’t hurt one bit as the uppermost layers of your skin consist of flattened dead cells. “As we age, the process of eliminating this top layer slows down and causes the skin to look lackluster. As dermaplaning removes this, it can promote a more vibrant-looking skin”, says Cape Town-based aesthetician Dr Varsha Padarchee. She says you can have a dermaplaning treatment as often as once a month as your skin’s natural renewal cycle is every 28 days. And nope, it won’t make your hair grow back faster. “This is a beauty myth,” she adds.

Good candidates are those who wanting to exfoliate and remove hair at the same time, provided they don’t have sensitive skin or active acne. Still, like any treatment, it’s got its pros and cons, but we’re going to break them down.

The pros

Completely painless
Can be done often 
Chemical-free  
Can help lighten up the look of post-inflammatory pigmentation - the dark mark left behind by a pimple

The cons  

More expensive than other exfoliation and hair removal methods
Hair isn’t removed from the root so it’ll return faster than waxing
Can aggravate inflammatory skin conditions like active acne and eczema
Can make your skin more sensitive to the sun

Other ways to smooth

If dermaplaning doesn’t sound like the treatment for you, there are lots of other ways to exfoliate and remove facial hair, just not necessarily at the same time. To get rid of dead skin cells, you could use a physical exfoliator or a chemical one containing enzymes or acids. 

As far as hair removal goes, laser treatment is a very effective permanent solution, especially if your hair is dark. If you have specific trouble areas, like your upper lip or eye brows, you could also use wax strips especially designed for your face. However, if it’s over all peach fuzz that’s the problem, it would be best to invest in an electric facial hair trimmer.

IMAGE CREDIT: 123rf.com