Dermaplaning the Nose: Uncover Shocking Risks and Amazing Benefits You Must Know!

Dermaplaning has become a trendy skincare procedure, promising smoother skin and a flawless makeup application. It involves using a specialized blade to remove the top layer of skin and vellus hair (peach fuzz). While dermaplaning is generally safe, understanding its risks and benefits, especially when performed on the nose, is crucial for making informed decisions.

What is Dermaplaning?

Dermaplaning is a quick, non-invasive procedure that uses a single razor blade to remove the top layer of skin. It is a superficial exfoliation treatment, and the removal of vellus hair is a positive side effect. Peach fuzz, the ultra-fine, downy hair that grows on your face, can sometimes cause insecurity and low self-esteem. Dermaplaning can help to remove dead skin, increase brightness, and improve skin texture.

Benefits of Dermaplaning

Dermaplaning offers several benefits, making it a popular choice for those seeking skin rejuvenation:

Exfoliation: Dermaplaning removes dead skin cells and peach fuzz, unclogging pores and promoting a brighter, more even skin tone. It reduces the likelihood of acne breakouts.
Enhanced Product Absorption: Removing the barrier of dead skin cells and fine hairs allows skincare products to penetrate more deeply and effectively into the skin. Serums, moisturizers, and other treatments are absorbed more readily, maximizing their efficacy.
Smooth Skin Texture: Dermaplaning results in a smoother skin texture, promoting a youthful appearance and a glowing complexion.
Immediate Results: Dermaplaning provides an immediate improvement in skin texture and appearance, making it a suitable option for individuals seeking quick and noticeable results.
Improved Skin Tone: By removing peach fuzz, your skin will look brighter, rosier, and less dull.
Reduces Dryness: Regular exfoliation with dermaplaning can remove the upper layers of dead and dry skin cells that may make your skin feel rough to the touch.
Minimizes Fine Lines: When dead skin cells are removed, fine lines and wrinkles instantly appear much less noticeable.
Reduces Pigmentation Concerns: Dermaplaning can reduce pigmentation concerns, including sun damage, melasma, dark spots, and other blemishes.
Minimizes Scarring: Removing dead skin cells can soften the appearance of textural scars such as rolling scars and other shallow scars, making them less noticeable.
Controls Breakouts: Dermaplaning can help control breakouts by removing dead skin cells, allowing the natural oils in your skin to spread out more evenly without accumulating in your pores.
Stimulates Collagen Growth: Dermaplaning can help stimulate the growth of new collagen for healthier-looking skin.

Risks and Side Effects of Dermaplaning

As with any exfoliating treatment, dermaplaning can result in some temporary side effects. It's essential to be aware of the potential risks, especially when dermaplaning the nose:

Breakouts: If you are prone to acne, dermaplaning can result in a fresh breakout. It shouldn’t be performed on active acne, as it can easily spread the bacteria and cause another flare-up.
Irritation: Dermaplaning can cause irritation to your skin. For 1 or 2 days after your dermaplaning session, you may feel that your skin is red, discolored, or itchy.
Dryness: It is normal for your skin to feel dry or even a little flaky after an exfoliating treatment like dermaplaning.
Minor Cuts: A more intensive dermaplaning session may leave you with a few tiny cuts or grazes on your skin, especially if you have uneven skin texture.
Infection: There is always a low risk that the procedure can go wrong, even if you visit a professional. You may be left with nicks, scratches, or deeper cuts, and there is always the risk of infection and possible scarring.
Impaired Skin Barrier: If the skin has been overworked, then your skin’s barrier will be impaired, and you will be left red, inflamed, and sensitive, and many skincare products will irritate it.
Burns: It’s vital to avoid using a hairdryer after the treatment, as your forehead will be more prone to burns.
Uneven Skin Texture: Without experience, it’s easy to use too much pressure in some areas and not enough in others, leaving your skin looking patchy, red, and irritated.
Introduction of Infection: By doing something that’s potentially invasive like dermaplaning using a sharp instrument, it’s very easy to introduce an infection if the instrument is not clean or you’re not following the proper antiseptic techniques.

Dermaplaning the Nose: Specific Considerations

The nose presents unique contours that require special attention during dermaplaning. Here are some factors to consider:

Intricate Contours: Unlike the smoother planes of your cheeks and forehead, your nose presents unique contours that require special attention during dermaplaning.
Risk of Cuts: Due to the curves of the nose, there is a risk of making tiny cuts around the nose that weren’t noticeable until you put on a face oil containing vitamin C.
Skill Required: It requires a certain level of skill to do it without causing micro-tears or not-so-small cuts.

Who Should Avoid Dermaplaning?

Certain people aren’t good candidates for the treatment:

People with severe sunburn
People with active breakouts
People with sensitive skin
People who have been taking Accutane or tretinoin in the past 6 months
People with cancer who are undergoing cancer treatment
People with active skin conditions such as acne
People with eczema
People with rosacea flare-ups
People with any type of skin infection
Those taking blood-thinning medications

What to Avoid Before and After Dermaplaning

Avoid retinoids for 3 to 5 days before treatment.
Avoid retinoids for 2 to 3 days after dermaplaning.
Avoid any physical scrubs for 2 to 3 days after treatment.
Avoid makeup for 24 hours after treatment.
Avoid intense sun exposure in the week leading up to your appointment.
Stop at-home exfoliation, such as manually scrubbing your skin or using chemical exfoliants, at least three to five days before your procedure.

Safety Precautions

To avoid a dermaplaning horror story, follow these safety precautions:

Seek a Trained Professional: Ensure the clinic you choose has trained practitioners and good reviews.
Do Your Research: Make sure the clinic you choose has trained practitioners and good reviews.
Consultation: Speak with your dermatologist or dermaplaning esthetician to make sure you’re well-prepared.
Sterile Environment: Ensuring a sterile environment is crucial to mitigate infection risk.
Proper Hygiene Practices: Adherence to proper hygiene practices significantly mitigates these risks.
Avoid DIY: Do not attempt to DIY dermaplaning with drug-store razors or peach fuzz removers.
Don’t Dermaplane with a Breakout: If you’ve had a big breakout or even just one small pimple or lesion, it’s time to reschedule your appointment.

At-Home vs. Professional Dermaplaning

While dermaplaning may look like something you could do at home, most professionals recommend against it.

Dangers of Self-Dermaplaning: Without knowing the correct technique, such as the right angle and how you should hold the blade, you can easily cut the skin and this can lead to infection.
Effectiveness: In a clinic, dermaplaning can be paired with another treatment, such as a skin peel, LED light therapy, or a HydraFacial, which will leave you with much more noticeable results.
Sterility: At home, you’re on your own when it comes to ensuring safety, sterility, and proper blade technique. Without experience, it’s easy to nick yourself with a sharp blade, cause ingrown hairs or trap bacteria under the skin.
Expertise: At home, you’re left to guess if your skin can handle it, if any underlying issues could be aggravated or if it will actually provide the results you want. Any adverse effects would then be your responsibility alone.
Tools: Dermaplaning tools used in spas and dermatology offices are also far superior to any DIY options. At home, you make do with whatever sharp objects you can find, like safety razors, hair removal creams or dull blades that can irritate the skin. Professional tools help glide across contours while maintaining control, precision and safety.

Alternatives to Dermaplaning

For hair removal at home, other options like waxing, laser removal, electrolysis or IPL provide benefits over dermaplaning with less risk of irritation or damage. Laser and electrolysis offer semi-permanent hair loss after several treatments. Waxing smoothes skin for 3-4 weeks but with less exfoliation.

If your goal is simply smoother skin, a targeted skincare regimen can improve the appearance without hair removal procedures. Glycolic or salicylic acid helps slough the outer layer of skin and unclog pores. Vitamin C boosts collagen, brightening skin and improving texture. Retinoids stimulate cell turnover to keep skin clear, smooth and vibrant.

What to Expect During and After Dermaplaning

During: You might feel a scratching or stinging sensation on your skin, but dermaplaning usually isn’t painful.
After: Your skin will likely be red, swollen, and slightly tender after the dermaplaning procedure. Your healthcare provider may recommend over-the-counter pain medication to help with any discomfort.
Improvements: The day after your dermaplaning treatment, you should begin to see improvements in the way your skin looks and feels. You’ll have a smoother surface with a healthy appearance.
Skincare: Ask your medical spa expert about safe, mild skin cleansers and other skin products to use at home.

Aftercare

Wear SPF after the treatment to avoid sun damage.
Wear sunscreen to protect your newly revealed skin cells.
Avoid using harsh products such as AHAs, BHAs, and retinol for a few days.
Following dermaplaning, your skin becomes exceptionally receptive to hydrating ingredients, making hyaluronic acid an ideal post-treatment choice.

Dispelling Myths

Some people who have never had a dermaplane facial before may be concerned about the possibility of peach fuzz growing back thicker or darker. However, it’s a myth that the color or density of your peach fuzz will change after a dermaplane facial. As any hair on your body grows back, it will grow back with stubble. However, stubble from peach fuzz is not like stubble from body hair. While body hair stubble may be rough or prickly, peach fuzz stubble will still feel very soft. Vellus hair maintains its original texture and color when it regrows.

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