Q: I want to dermaplane my face to get rid of peach fuzz. But is it safe to do myself?
Peach fuzz can crop up anywhere on the body. But when those wispy little hairs appear on the face, they can make some people self-conscious. The good news, experts say, is that dermaplaning is a great way to get rid of them.
Whether you try it at home or in a medical office or spa, dermaplaning is just “a fancy form of shaving,” said Dr. Kathleen Cook Suozzi, an aesthetic dermatologist at Yale Medicine. A sharp blade is used to gently scrape away those little hairs, she said, along with dead skin cells, which can improve the health and look of your skin.
But is it safe to try it at home? Here’s what to know.
How does dermaplaning affect your skin?
A medical or cosmetic professional will typically use a sterile surgical blade to perform the procedure, whereas the tools used at home are generally duller, Dr. Suozzi said.
Whichever route you take, dermaplaning should make your skin feel softer and look smoother and brighter, said Dr. Roberta Lucas, a dermatologist at Dartmouth Health.
The scraping removes built-up dead skin cells, which can give you a dull complexion, Dr. Lucas said. And along with bacteria and dirt, these skin cells can clog your pores and contribute to acne. Dermaplaning also keeps skin healthy by triggering cell turnover, where dead skin cells are shed and replaced with new ones, Dr. Lucas added.
When dead skin cells layer on top of peach fuzz, it can create an uneven surface for makeup, making it look “caky,” said Dr. Desmond Shipp, a cosmetic dermatologist at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Dermaplaning will create a smoother canvas. It also helps skin care products to absorb better, Dr. Lucas said.