Dermaplaning Aftercare: How Long to Wait Before Washing Your Face + Must-Know Tips for Flawless Skin

Dermaplaning has become a popular exfoliation technique in many skincare routines, providing instant rejuvenation by removing the top layer of dead skin cells and vellus hair (peach fuzz). While dermaplaning is generally safe, proper aftercare is essential to avoid irritation, maximize results, and ensure the skin heals effectively. This comprehensive guide provides expert tips on caring for your skin post-dermaplaning, focusing on when to wash your face and other crucial aspects of aftercare.

Understanding Dermaplaning

Dermaplaning involves using a surgical scalpel to exfoliate the skin's top layer, removing dead cells, impurities, and vellus hair. This process results in smoother, glowing skin and enhances the effectiveness of skincare products by allowing better penetration. The procedure is non-invasive and generally painless, though some individuals may experience slight tingling or heightened sensitivity. A session typically lasts around half an hour, and while dermaplaning is considered low-risk, it's essential to follow proper aftercare guidelines to ensure the best results.

The Importance of Proper Aftercare

Although dermaplaning is a gentle treatment, it scrapes the skin’s surface, leaving it drier and more sensitive than usual. Immediate aftercare usually requires more rigorous and intensive skin care because the skin is freshly exfoliated and very sensitive. Patients need to follow appropriate aftercare guidelines to ensure the best results. Proper aftercare ensures you get the best results for as long as possible.

When Can You Wash Your Face After Dermaplaning?

After your treatment, resist the urge to immediately wash your face. Allow the skin to rest and recover for at least four hours before gently cleansing. You can safely wash your face the same day after treatment. Proper cleansing helps maintain skin hygiene and reduces the risk of infection. However, make sure to wash your face properly.

How to Wash Your Face Post-Dermaplaning

Use a Mild, Non-Foaming Cleanser: Opt for a gentle, non-foaming cleanser to avoid stripping the skin of its natural oils. The day of treatment you should cleanse the skin with a gentle, hydrating cleanser.
Lukewarm or Cool Water: After washing your face with a mild, non-foaming cleanser, rinse with lukewarm or cool water.
Gentle Motions: Use very light motions when cleansing to avoid irritating the freshly exfoliated skin.
Pat Dry: Pat your face gently with a towel to dry, rather than rubbing it.

Essential Skincare Routine Post-Dermaplaning

After dermaplaning, the skin is often sensitive and dry so use only essential products in your skincare routine - a cleanser, serum/moisturizer, and sunscreen. Ensure the products are mild, without acids, retinol, or other potentially abrasive ingredients. The main goal of the dermaplaning recovery period is to avoid things that will make your fresh and vulnerable skin feel dry and irritated.

Hydration is Key

Post-dermaplaning skin needs ample moisture, so have your gentlest, most hydrating moisturizer on hand. Apply moisturizing products whenever you feel the skin is tight and dry to help it heal. Look for oil-free, fragrance-free formulas with skin-replenishing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, ceramides, aloe vera, and shea butter. Apply morning and night.

Proper hydration remains essential, so make sure to use serums and creams with potent hydrating and barrier-strengthening agents, including hyaluronic acid, ceramides, probiotics, prebiotics, niacinamide, and more.

Sun Protection is Non-Negotiable

Your fresh, exfoliated complexion is highly vulnerable to sun damage. Ultraviolet rays are particularly harsh on newly resurfaced skin after dermaplaning. Avoid direct sunlight completely and avoid it for the first several days, and if you must go out, wear an SPF, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses. The skin remains sensitive in the days following dermaplaning.

Sunscreen is your best defense against skin damage from UV rays and is the single most important aftercare tip to protect the skin from sun damage and prevent hyperpigmentation. Use it whenever you leave the house, especially after cosmetic treatments that make your skin vulnerable, like dermaplaning. Wear broad spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen whenever you go outside, even if just briefly. The skin remains vulnerable to UV damage even after it has fully healed from dermaplaning. Wear SPF 30+ daily to prevent premature aging and skin cancer.

Your practitioner should apply sunscreen immediately after the treatment. You will then need to ensure you have sunscreen on every time you go outside (even on cloudy days!) for several weeks. dhesthetics recommends wearing SPF daily on your face.

What to Avoid After Dermaplaning

The skin remains sensitive in the days following dermaplaning. To ensure proper healing and prevent complications, avoid the following:

Picking, Peeling, and Scrubbing: Do not pick, peel, pop, or scrub at any dryness or flaking. It is imperative that you do not pick at these spots and let them breathe and heal naturally.
Harsh Exfoliants: After dermaplaning, you do not need to exfoliate (dermaplaning is extreme exfoliation!). One week after dermaplaning, your skin is still too sensitive for strong actives like AHAs, BHAs, and retinol. They may over-dry and irritate the newly exposed skin.
Certain Skincare Products: Acne products may contain retinoids, salicylic acid, and other harsh ingredients that tend to over-dry and irritate sensitive skin.
Heat Exposure: Likewise, so as to not exacerbate the redness, avoid too much heat for three days too.
Chlorine: Chlorine can additionally dry out sensitive skin after dermaplaning.
Strenuous Exercise: Avoid strenuous exercise for at least 48 hours. Medical providers recommend avoiding intense exercise that causes sweating and raises your heart rate for at least 24 hours after dermaplaning. Sweating and increased circulation can irritate the exfoliated skin. You can engage in light activity, such as walking.
Other Facial Treatments: Avoid other facial treatments for two weeks after dermaplaning to prevent skin irritation. Wait at least four weeks post-dermaplaning before undergoing chemical peels, microdermabrasion, laser treatments, injectables, and other intensive skincare therapies.
Tanning Beds and Lotions: Avoid prolonged and direct sun exposure, tanning beds and tanning lotions for 1 week post facial.

Resuming Your Regular Skincare Routine

After about a week, your skin should feel less sensitive and ready for your regular products again.

Gentle Exfoliation: At the two week mark, you may begin using gentle liquid exfoliants like lactic acid and glycolic acid up to 2-3 times per week. Exfoliate regularly with chemical exfoliants to keep skin smooth.
Makeup Application: After two weeks, most skin can handle makeup application again. Still opt for mineral makeup and non-comedogenic products. It is recommended to wait 24 hours after your facial appointment before applying makeup. During this initial period, the open pores are more prone to clogging and infection.

Addressing Potential Side Effects

Dermaplaning is a gentle treatment that causes no downtime. Common side effects, such as mild redness, irritation, and dry skin, typically go away after 24-48 hours. It’s not unusual to experience some redness for a few days immediately following dermaplaning which may appear worse for the first few days. Pore detoxing or “purging” can happen to the best of us!Your treatment can help to loosen debris that’s been trapped below a buildup of dead skin cells. After a facial it is normal to experience some peeling or minor breakouts.

Increased breakouts can happen as a reaction to the thorough exfoliation. If you experience swelling and pain after dermaplaning, you can apply ice and cold compresses. The cold will help soothe sore, irritated skin. However, you should never apply ice directly on the skin.

If your skin becomes increasingly red, sensitive, itchy, or irritated at any point, discontinue use of any active ingredients and see your dermatologist.

Maintaining Long-Term Results

With proper care, dermaplaning results can last for weeks. Results last about 4-6 weeks as peach fuzz slowly grows back. For optimal maintenance, schedule follow-up dermaplaning sessions once a month.

Keep your skin glowing after a facial by washing daily with quality filled ingredient products and staying moisturized and hydrated.

Considerations for Different Skin Types and Conditions

While dermaplaning is generally safe for most skin types, certain skin conditions might make it inadvisable. Important: If you have any of these conditions or other skin concerns, it’s essential to consult a dermatologist before undergoing dermaplaning. Consult your esthetician or dermatologist about your particular needs.

Additional Tips for Optimal Recovery

Here are some additional tips to enhance your dermaplaning recovery:

Sleep Well: Always aim to get seven to nine hours of uninterrupted sleep during the night, especially after a cosmetic treatment, when your skin needs more attention and nurturing.
Use Clean Pillowcases: After dermaplaning, your skin is more vulnerable to irritation and infection. Use a freshly washed pillowcase to avoid potential bacteria transfer.
Hydrate from Within: Topical products that nurture your skin are essential after dermaplaning. Another important factor is hydrating your body from within.
Avoid Touching Your Face: Touching your face can introduce bacteria to the skin and cause irritation; picking and scratching can cause infection by damaging the skin. Avoid touching your face as much as possible after dermaplaning.
Consider Hydrating Masks: Yes, hydrating gel masks are safe about 5 days after dermaplaning. Avoid clay, charcoal, and peel-off masks for the first 2 weeks.

Benefits of Dermaplaning

Dermaplaning offers numerous benefits, including:

Smoother Skin Texture: Dermaplaning is a procedure to create smoother skin. It works by removing the very top layers of your skin where there is evidence of scars (e.g. from acne), fine lines, and some blemishes from sun-damaged skin. It produces a smoother skin texture.
Better Product Absorption: Enables better product absorption: When you apply creams and serums to your face, they need to penetrate the top layers to fully benefit your skin. With dermaplaning, the top layer and dead skin cells are removed, meaning the product can penetrate more deeply.
Removes Peach Fuzz: Removes peach fuzz:The fine soft hairs on your face will be completely removed with dermaplaning, leaving your skin clear and soft.
Non-Invasive with Minimal Recovery: Non-invasive and minimal recovery: This isn’t a complex cosmetic procedure, and within a few days you’ll notice the benefits. Dermaplaning is considered to be low-risk and suitable for most people.
Reduces Appearance of Wrinkles and Acne Scars: Dermaplaning is a painless facial skin exfoliation treatment that reduces the appearance of wrinkles and acne scars.

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