Dermaplaning Pros and Cons – Is the Treatment Worth It?

⏱️ 4 min read

Dermaplaning is a very trendy facial treatment at the moment and everyone is raving about its benefits.

But there are also people talking about how this treatment didn’t live up to the hype – and even way worse – how it ruined their skin. So what’s the truth? Do the dermaplaning pros outshine the cons?

Let’s weigh out the benefits and drawbacks of dermaplaning, helping you decide whether this treatment is something worth getting. Let’s get into the dermaplaning pros and cons, honestly and objectively.

Dermaplaning Pros

Dermaplaning can resolve many skin issues, which is why it’s so beloved by skincare enthusiasts. Here are some universal dermaplaning benefits:

It Provides Better Product Application

Our faces are covered in thin vellus hairs, more commonly referred to as peach fuzz. Although they’re barely visible, you’d be surprised at how much they affect product application and absorption!

Dermaplaning removes these tiny hairs, allowing the products you apply to the face to sink in much deeper, instead of just sitting on top of the dead skin and getting stuck into the peach fuzz. This makes the ingredients more effective and benefits more intense.

Maybe a bit more noticeable, these hairs and dead skin also affect the way your makeup looks. Once all the rough spots and dry patches are removed, you will no longer have to worry about your makeup caking. It will glide on much smoother and give more natural-looking results.

Image source: Instagram @theskinspaceco

It Cleanses the Skin & Prevents Breakouts

This treatment is often used as a cleansing treatment, or in combination with other deep cleaning treatments. By scraping a scalpel against the skin, all the dirt, oils, and excess sebum get removed from the pores.

This not only makes the pores appear smaller but also helps prevent future breakouts. By unclogging and cleaning the pores, it stops excess sebum from accumulating and decreases the chances of bacteria-induced acne.

It Evens Out Your Skin Tone

Dermaplaning strips the first layer of your skin, and with it, all the harm done to the skin by environmental toxins that cause your skin to appear dull. By exposing a healthy new layer of the skin beneath it, your skin will appear healthier, more radiant, and more youthful.

To a point, it even has anti-aging effects as it makes fine lines less visible. It also takes care of hyperpigmentation and scarring, making the complexion look a lot more even.

Image source: Instagram @studiomaribrandao

It’s Quick, Easy, and Painless

One of the biggest dermaplaning pros is that it’s completely non-invasive and doesn’t require any recovery period (just a tiny bit of simple aftercare).

This quick and simple skincare treatment can usually be done in under an hour, after which you can get back to your normal daily schedule.

The sensation of the treatment itself is nowhere near as scary as it sounds. It’s completely painless, and even weirdly satisfying.

Dermaplaning Cons

Just like any other skincare treatment, dermaplaning isn’t without its flaws. Here are a few things to be cautious about.

Chance of Acne Breakouts

Breaking out after dermaplaning is the most common dermaplaning gone wrong scenarios. But this shouldn’t be attributed to the procedure itself – well, unless it was done on active acne. In that case, the tool probably spread the bacteria onto other surfaces.

In most cases, though, acne breakouts after dermaplaning are related to poor aftercare – constantly touching your face with unclean hands, using unclean towels to dry your face, not changing your pillowcase frequently enough, etc.

Image source: Freepik

It’s Not for Absolutely Everyone

Although dermaplaning is beneficial for all skin types, there are other things that determine if someone is a good candidate for the treatment.

Make sure you go to a professional as they’ll decide if this treatment is suitable for the condition your skin is in.

They know how to work around skin concerns that can be worked around. But if the skin barrier is already compromised, scraping it with a sharp tool isn’t the best idea.

Do not do dermaplaning by yourself for the first time, especially if you have:

Inflammatory skin conditions (psoriasis, eczema, and rosacea)
Active or cystic acne
Cold sores
Raised lesions
Skin rashes (contact dermatitis)

There’s a high chance dermaplaning would backfire in these cases, making the conditions worse instead of improving them.

There’s Risk of Sun Damage Post-Treatment

One of the biggest dermaplaning cons is that your skin mustn’t be exposed to UV radiation afterwards.

To be fair, this is something that really shouldn’t be labeled as a dermaplaning con, rather it’s tied to improper aftercare.

Since your protective skin barrier was just removed, you need to be careful in protecting your new skin. Unfortunately, many clients don’t take this warning seriously and don’t use SPF as regularly as they should. Worst of all, some skip it entirely!

By exposing your fresh skin layer, you are not only undoing all of the effects dermaplaning has had on your skin, but you’re also endangering your skin health permanently.

There’s also the risk of developing sun spots (hyperpigmentation blotches) and prematurely aging the skin.

There’s a Chance of Irritation

Those that have sensitive and reactive skin may experience some skin irritation after dermaplaning. Irritation is considered a dermaplaning side effect, not really a risk, and it should go away within a day or two.

Until it passes, be extra gentle with the skin and avoid wearing makeup. Make sure the skincare you’re using is suitable for freshly dermaplaned skin.

Image source: Instagram @beauty_skincare_byhannah

So, Which Way Do Dermaplaning Pros and Cons Sway You?

Now that we’ve gone through dermaplaning pros and cons, you can see which way you sway. Unless you suffer from a skin condition that makes you a not-so-great candidate, it’s worth giving it a shot.

It might be just the thing your skin needs, and it’s much simpler and less invasive than many of the treatments offered as skin solutions.

If you wish to learn more about some additional pros and cons of dermaplaning before making a decision, check out:

Cover image source: Freepik