What is Dermaplaning?
Dermaplaning, with promises to correct such problems as scars and uneven skin texture, might sound like another trendy treatment with too-good-to-be-true results. But it is backed by skincare professionals and proven to be one of the most effective ways to brighten dull skin. At Backstage Salon & Spa in Rowley, MA, we also believe it’s a great way to prep skin for smoother makeup application and deeper product penetration. Let’s answer your question in mind on “how long after dermaplaning can i wear makeup?”.
How Long After Dermaplaning Can I Wear MakeUp?
Immediately after treatment, your face will feel fresh, smooth, and even a little lighter – the way your head feels after a haircut. The reason for this is simple enough: by removing peach fuzz and dead skin cells, your face is free of the gunk that clogs pores and suffocates the skin. Just one session can remove two to three weeks of accumulated dead cells and debris. And the featherlight strokes feel like a massage.
When you touch your face, which we recommend doing very little, the silky surface seems perfect for makeup. But we urge you to wait 24 to 48 hours. Your skin is finally breathing, especially if you’ve never had a deep exfoliation treatment. It’s also a blank canvas, meaning it will drink in everything you apply. An immediate layer of makeup will soak into and potentially reclog pores; the ingredients in makeup can also irritate skin cells that are now newly exposed.
Fresh Skin
Before we go further, we need to explain that dermaplaning is the use of a medical-grade surgical blade that gently but deliberately glides across your face at a 45-degree angle. The goal is to remove peach fuzz, as we just mentioned, but in so doing, it also removes the skin’s surface layer. This is highly beneficial, as exfoliation often gets described as the secret to perfect skin.
Removing the skin’s top layer forces underlying cells that are new and healthy to the surface. Again, this is advantageous because it gives you a vibrant, glowing appearance that mimics youth. As dead cells sit on your face, they cause any number of problems: breakouts, a dull complexion, and more visible lines and wrinkles. Removing those cells boosts skin’s health in a very broad way, with visible improvements that include:
- Brighter complexion
- More even tone
- Reduced appearance of acne scars
- Fewer lines and wrinkles
The Makeup Phenomenon
As far as makeup is concerned, it will go on like a dream after treatment. Imagine using the softest and most velvety primer possible. This result comes by way of the barriers that are now eliminated. Yes, peach fuzz interferes with the smooth application of all cosmetics because it covers the skin’s surface. Your foundation, or any other product, therefore sits on this downy hair, rather than your skin, and looks matte and cake-like.
Without peach fuzz, your makeup will glide across your skin like butter. It will also lay flat, the way you want it to, without sticking to patches of dry skin caused by dead cells.
Deeper Product Penetration
If you ask skincare professionals the number one benefit of dermaplaning, at least some will say the path it paves for deeper product penetration. You probably have already guessed that on a typical day, your skin does not absorb 100 percent of the products you wear. This means those serums and moisturizers you so diligently apply can’t deliver the benefits they should.
Just as treatment allows your makeup to absorb more effectively, it does the same for your skincare products. Now the hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and other nutrients you’ve selected with care can go to work. This can be as beneficial as the dermaplaning itself, proving that treatment can provide a two-fold effect.
Additional Guidelines
We’ve fully explored wearing makeup after treatment, so now we can provide you with a few more guidelines. We’re going to start with the days leading up to your session. Seven days prior, you should avoid waxing the treatment site, and three days before, we recommend stopping all topical products that contain common anti-aging and acne-fighting ingredients. These include:
- Retinols and retinoids
- Glycolic acid
- Salicyclic acid
- Alpha hydroxy acid
Also in this timeframe, do not wax, bleach, or tweeze any spot on your face. Stay out of the sun, wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen each day, and use a gentle, non-comedogenic cleanser.
The Day of and After Treatment
We recommend that you arrive at your session with a clean face. This means no makeup, creams, or other topical products. Immediately after treatment, you’ll need to discontinue the use of most topical products for about 72 hours. A mild cleanser, gentle moisturizer, and sunscreen should be the only products you use. While you can wear makeup during this window, refraining will only help to improve your results. You should also:
- Avoid direct sun exposure
- Stay out of extreme heat
- Skip the scrubs and other exfoliators
- Avoid chlorine
Good to Know
Before you think that dermaplaning is nothing more than applying a razor to your face, we caution you to think again. It is a cosmetic treatment that employs a surgical-grade scalpel and the skill of a qualified, steady-handed practitioner. It does not involve a disposable razor raked across your face, which can and will cause serious damage.
It’s also a chemical-free exfoliant that improves circulation and promotes new skin cell growth. Circulation is the unsung hero of skin health; it delivers oxygen and crucial nutrients while also sweeping away toxins. This helps give you that ethereal glow everyone pursues. We characterize glowing skin as that with even tone, small pores, and a clear complexion, which explains why this treatment is routinely demanded before events and special occasions.
The Benefits of Combining Treatments
We already discussed how to care for skin after treatment, but now is a good time to mention that products containing hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and retinol can help fast-track your results. You might also consider combining this treatment with a peel, facial, or other non-invasive therapy. Because dermaplaning preps your skin so well, combining treatments can offer such benefits as:
- Restored hydration
- Fewer rosacea and acne scars
- Reduced future breakouts
- Less pigmentation
- Improved collagen synthesis
Ideal Candidates
Although this treatment is suitable for most skin types, some patients should delay their sessions. This includes those with active and/or inflamed acne. You might also want to pass if you have sensitive, highly reactive skin. Just because this technique may not be right for you, however, doesn’t mean you can skip exfoliation. A consultation with our office will allow us to craft a personalized treatment plan that meets your needs.
Ideal candidates include those with sun damage, dry patches, fine lines, and dull skin. It’s also suitable for patients of almost all ages, as it’s non-invasive and does not involve medical restrictions or risks.
Treatment Frequency
Most patients should have treatments every four to six weeks. Those with more sensitive skin should opt for a schedule of every six to eight weeks or, in extreme cases, once per season. We try to time treatment so it coincides with the skin’s natural renewal cycle. Throughout your life, your skin is in a constant state of change. This includes the epidermis, or outer layer, which turns cells over every 27 or 28 days.
Why does the skin behave in such a manner? First, it’s important to remember this organ is far more complex than meets the eye. It houses microbes, bacteria, and flora that influence our external appearance and internal health. The skin also regulates the body’s temperature, protects against UV damage, and helps us understand each other. The flush of embarrassment, for instance, sends a clear message about our emotions at that moment.
Cell Turnover
Cell turnover is an important way for the skin to renew itself. It endures an onslaught of activity every day, constantly replacing dead cells with those that are strong and healthy helps the skin function at optimal levels. It also provides us with a youthful, radiant appearance.
But for some people, turnover doesn’t operate as it should and dead cells are left to sit on the surface. Cell regeneration also slows as we age. This helps explain the development of wrinkles and fine lines that characterizes our later years. Exfoliating, especially dermaplaning, helps turnover cells in a way that works with the body’s natural processes.
All the Answers You Need
Treatments that remove hair tend to spark a lot of misconceptions. With this therapy, patients often believe their peach fuzz (vellus hair) will grow back thicker and/or darker. We want to assure you this is not the case. Your facial hair will continue to grow in the exact same color, speed, and texture as before. And because peach fuzz is so fine to begin with that you won’t experience the sharp bristles that shaving causes on your legs.
Will My Skin Look Better?
The answer is yes, absolutely. Your face will look smoother and brighter, and without the layer of hair growth, it will also look healthier. Although hair is a natural part of the body, it can muddy your complexion and trap dirt and oils. Once gone, light refracts more easily off the skin so you look fresh and dewy.
Will I Be More Sensitive to the Sun?
Again, the answer is yes. In removing that top layer, fresh skin cells are newly exposed and therefore more susceptible to damage and irritation. You’ll want to take sun protection seriously if you don’t already and wear your SPF. We recommend choosing one rated specifically for the face, as these sunscreens are formulated to be compatible with fragile skin.
Does Treatment Hurt?
Most patients report that treatment feels like a light-fingered massage. Some find it to be very relaxing, while others simply enjoy the sensation. But we do recommend that you do not do this at home; applying a blade to your face without knowledge of the pressure to apply or the motions to use can be painful and even harm your skin. It’s therefore best to leave this treatment to the professionals.
Do Results Show Immediately?
For some patients, the benefits take 48 to 72 hours to fully develop. The two effects that show most quickly are the evenness of texture and a bright, healthy glow. These, of course, are in addition to the silken feel of your skin. After a couple of days, you’ll see fewer scars, smaller wrinkles, and a general boost in skin health.
The Easy Way to Better Skin
This treatment is easily delivered and quick to show results. It’s also relatively low risk, helping to exfoliate and remove unwanted facial hair in a way that rejuvenates your skin’s appearance. To learn more about this classic therapy, call Backstage Salon & Spa in Rowley, MA, today.
