An Expert Explains Everything You Need To Know About Dermaplaning

With a renewed focus on skin care in the recent past, exfoliation has found itself to be a frontrunner in this revolution. From coarse mitts for your body to electronic cleansing brushes, even if one isn't an outright beauty lover, there's no one who doesn't love exfoliation's key benefit - the spanking clean skin it leaves behind. Along with scrubs and brushes, dermaplaning is a buzzword on the exfoliation circuit.

Before you get puzzled, dermaplaning is a skin care procedure that uses a scalpel to exfoliate the skin and improve its health. Since it's an emerging trend, we spoke to Dr Kiran Lohia, American board-certified dermatologist and founder of Lumiere Dermatology, to shed more light on dermaplaning and its benefits.

 

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A video of dermaplaning in action

1. It's Still Finding Its Feet

While skin care addicts may know and love dermaplaning, it isn't as popular with the general public like something as common as botox or glycolic peels. "While dermaplaning is well-known abroad, that isn't the case in India," says Dr Lohia and continues, "This is mainly because of the prevalent myth that shaving affects the skin and makes hair grow back thicker and darker." Since the myth has been busted many times over, we're hoping that the procedure catches up in the Indian market.

2. It Isn't Face Shaving

By now, everyone is familiar with face shaving and some even try it at home. This has led to dermaplaning being likened to face shaving and while they are similar, they aren't the same. While face shaving is carried out for hair removal and skin exfoliation is an added benefit of it, dermaplaning is solely carried out to exfoliate the skin. "Think of dermaplaning as a stronger version of face shaving that's more aesthetically carried out with the main purpose of skin care," confirms Dr Lohia.

3. It's Pretty Straightforward

Dermaplanning isn't complicated, as seen in its steps listed down by Dr Lohia - "The procedure starts with a cleanser applied to soften the skin. A scalpel is then used to remove the uppermost layer of dead skin and peach fuzz. This is then followed by moisturizer." The whole procedure can be wrapped up in minutes, depending on the area to exfoliate. The results of dermaplaning last from a few weeks to a month, based on one's skin and hair growth.

4. The Benefits Are Immense

It may be a simple skin care procedure but the benefits you reap with it are immense. "Dermaplaning gets rid of fine baby hair, removes the upper layer of dead cells and improves the overall texture of one's skin," says Dr Lohia. It can also be carried out standalone or as part of a larger facial treatment. One simple procedure and these many benefits? It's possible.

5. It's Low On Maintenance

Unlike many tedious skin procedures, dermaplaning doesn't require much maintenance. In fact, it doesn't have any downtime at all so you can move on with your day once done. Just make sure you are wearing a thick layer of sunscreen when you do.