Dull-looking skin has a way of prematurely aging us and making us look more tired than we feel, but dull-looking skin isn’t only an aesthetic issue. In fact, dull and tired-looking skin can have some adverse effects on your skin health, particularly if you have skin challenges such as acne, combination skin, or mature skin. Fortunately, the experts at One Life Health and Performance in Palm Beach, FL know that simple treatments such as dermaplaning can go a long way.

How Often Should You Dermaplane?

This is one of the most common questions patients have about this treatment, especially when they fall in love with the positive effects of dermaplaning. The most common frequency for this treatment is once every three or four weeks, meaning a dermaplane appointment is one cosmetic treatment you can have about as frequently as a facial or a light chemical peel.

Why This Frequency?

While the frequency of your appointment will be determined by your aesthetician’s recommendation, the general timing of your treatment appointments is dictated by a few factors. For one thing, your skin type will determine how often you should have this treatment, as those with sensitive skin may need longer breaks between treatments.

Your age is also a factor to be considered. Generally speaking, those who have mature skin and age-related concerns may need to wait four weeks between appointments, while younger people may be able to have this treatment every three weeks. This is because your age sets the rate of your skin cell turnover, with the rate of the turnover slowing as you age.

What Is Skin Cell Turnover?

Skin cell turnover is the process of how quickly your skin naturally sheds dead skin cells and replaces them with new ones. The average length of your skin cell turnover cycle is between 28 and 40 days. This length of time is determined primarily by your age, with younger people having skin cell turnover rates that are quicker.

Your skin cell turnover rate is essential for the overall health of your skin. For example, the faster your skin cell turnover, the more quickly you can recover from superficial wounds. Slower skin cell turnover, on the other hand, is associated with skin that is more prone to dryness and thinness, as well as skin that is already showing the visible signs of aging, such as fine lines and wrinkles.

What Can Dermaplaning Help With?

A dermaplane treatment can do a lot for your skin health, as well as for your overall appearance. For example, a dermaplane treatment can exfoliate the dead skin cells from your skin surface and remove downy hairs that make your skin appear dull. This form of exfoliating can help with a lot of skin concerns, including:

• Reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
• Correcting dry skin and uneven texture
• Smoothing the skin
• Promoting healthy skin tone
• Managing acne breakouts
• Evening oil production

How Does Dermaplaning Work?

Dermaplaning is primarily an exfoliating treatment, so the main goal of the treatment is to remove dead skin cells. This is done by gliding a sterile surgical blade over the surface of your skin to scrape off dead skin cells and downy hairs. A dermaplane appointment can be completed within 20 to 30 minutes and leaves your skin looking refreshed and feeling smooth.

What Does Exfoliating Do to Your Skin?

Exfoliating is an essential skin process. While our bodies do have a natural cycle to exfoliate the skin with skin cell turnover, the fact of the matter is that sometimes manual exfoliating is more helpful for skin health. Many people have skin cell turnover cycles that are irregular, or that are incomplete for one reason or another.

If you have a dysfunctional skin barrier that leaves your skin dull and dry, your skin cell turnover rate may not be functioning at full capacity. Exfoliating can do a lot for your skin, particularly for managing acne.

By regularly and fully exfoliating your skin, you are helping your skin regulate other processes, including the oil distribution in your face and the moisture balance within your skin. Regular exfoliation also has the superficial effect of reducing some of the visible signs of aging.

Are There Risks?

Exfoliating is one of the least risky things you can do for your skin. All exfoliating means is that you are removing tired and old skin cells from your skin surface.

Exfoliating itself is not an invasive technique and does not harm the healthy skin beneath dead skin cells. Done by a skilled hand, regular exfoliating can even help improve your skin health over time.

Do You Need Downy Hairs?

Downy hairs, also called peach fuzz, are a type of hair that is commonly found on most areas of the body. Downy hairs are a type of vellus hair, which scientists believe are instrumental in temperature regulation, so they clearly play some role in your overall health. But do you really need these downy hairs on your face?

The truth is, it’s a matter of preference. Some people naturally have more downy hair than others, meaning the downy hair is more visible and slightly thicker, something which is likely caused by hormones. The downy hair on your face is not necessary for any health reasons, which means it’s safe to remove this hair.

Will Hair Grow Back Thicker?

No, the downy hair removed by this treatment will not grow back thicker or darker. This is because vellus hair behaves differently than other hair on your body, such as the terminal hair on your legs, underarms, and pubic area. When vellus hair is removed, it grows back just as sheer as before.

Is This Treatment the Same As Shaving?

Yes and no. While both shaving and dermaplaning are hair removal methods, a dermaplane appointment will do much more than shaving can. Shaving the downy hair off your face at home will only remove the hair, which might not accomplish all of your aesthetic goals.

A dermaplane treatment, on the other hand, is a dual-action treatment that can accomplish more of your aesthetic goals at one time.

Should You Do Anything to Prepare?

Because this is a simple, non-invasive treatment, there is very little that needs to be done to prepare for this treatment. About three or five days before your appointment, you will be instructed to temporarily cease any manual exfoliation or exfoliating products.

It’s also important to avoid any direct unprotected sunlight for at least one week before your appointment. Please reschedule your appointment if you have active acne or other skin condition breakouts.

Will You Have a Recovery Period?

There is not a recovery period associated with this treatment. Since this is a “lunchtime” appointment, you will be able to return to all of your normal daily activities following your treatment.

It’s important that you maintain skin moisture after your treatment, and to wear sunscreen protection of SPF 30 or greater anytime you are in direct sunlight.

Is This Treatment Safe?

Yes, this treatment is safe for all patients. Regardless of your skin tone, skin type, or skin condition, you can safely use this treatment to improve the appearance of your skin. We will help you determine the treatment frequency that is best to achieve all of your skincare goals.

What Are the Benefits of Dermaplaning?

There are several benefits associated with this treatment, such as smoothing the appearance of your skin and producing a more radiant, youthful glow. Other benefits for this treatment include:

Painless and Quick

Because this is a non-invasive treatment, your appointments will be quick and the treatment will not involve any pain or discomfort. Some exfoliating treatments, such as chemical peels or microdermabrasion, may involve some minor discomfort for those who have sensitive skin, but this treatment is totally pain-free.

Instant Results

The results of this treatment can be seen immediately after your treatment is finished. Your skin will appear brighter, smoother, and more radiant as soon as your treatment is concluded, and will continue to look improved for the next two weeks.

Perfects Complexion

Perhaps more than any other benefit, the fact that this treatment so easily perfects your complexion is reason enough to seek the treatment. Ideally, your complexion should appear bright and free of blemishes, dark spots, fine lines, and wrinkles.

This treatment can improve each of these aspects, while also evening out your skin texture and skin tone.

Better Skincare Product Absorption

Another highlight of this treatment is the fact that it helps with skincare product absorption.

Because of the removed dead skin cells and downy hair from your skin surface, your skincare products can penetrate the deeper sub-dermal layers of your skin. When your skincare products can be more easily absorbed, they become more effective.

Easier Cosmetic Application

Many patients seek this treatment purely to ease the application of cosmetics. Products like liquid foundation and loose powder are often caught on the downy hairs of your face, which muddles the texture of your make-up application.

When the downy hairs are removed from the surface of your skin, your make-up will go on smoother and the final result will ultimately look better.

Reduces Acne Scar Appearance

There are a few types of acne scars – enlarged pores, rolling scars and dimples on the skin surface, and dark spots caused by post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

By exfoliating your skin and removing downy hairs, the appearance of collagen-induced scars will be reduced and superficial scars caused by hyperpigmentation will lighten.

Helps Manage Acne

Using this treatment regularly may also help manage acne breakouts. Most acne is caused by pores that have been clogged by dirt, oil, and bacteria because the hair follicles from the pore help deliver these elements directly into the pore, leading to acne development. By removing downy hair from the skin surface, there is less chance of dirt and oil clogging pores.

Easily Paired Treatment

This treatment is also easily paired with virtually all cosmetic treatments. From facials and microneedling to injectable treatments, it’s very easy to add dermaplaning to your regular treatment plan to achieve and maintain all of your aesthetic goals.

Are You a Good Candidate?

Because this treatment is safe for all skin types, tones, and conditions, virtually all patients are eligible candidates. This treatment might be ideal for you if your goals are to smooth your skin surface, perfect the tone of your complexion, and restore a more radiant appearance.

Perfect Your Complexion With Dermaplane Treatments!

If you’re tired of living with dull skin or not seeing the results you want from your over-the-counter products, it’s time to try a new aesthetic solution. If you think the key to perfecting your complexion is with dermaplaning treatments, contact One Life Health and Performance in Palm Beach, FL to schedule your consultation appointment today!