Warning signs you’re overdoing dermaplaning for scars include red skin that keeps hurting, small cuts, or flaky patches that don’t heal right.
Second, your skin will begin to feel tender, tight, or taut, as well as developing increased texture, bumps, or breakouts. In fact, sometimes scars will appear to be even darker or more pronounced.
Others around the U.S. Report an increased amount of swelling. Their skins are left peeling for days, leaving little time for the skin to heal.
Overdoing it will leave skin dry, irritated and itchy for weeks. Identifying these warning signs sooner rather than later can prevent more serious skin issues from developing.
The subsequent post will explain each of these signs in detail and how to protect your skin when dermaplaning scars.
Key Takeaways
- Signs you’re overdoing dermaplaning for scars Redness that persists upon completion Stinging and increased sensitivity These are pretty obvious signs that your skin is telling you to stop!
- If dryness, peeling, or even breakouts start coming on suddenly, these are signs that you’ve over exfoliated and are damaging your skin barrier.
- If your scars are becoming aggravated or worsen, it’s time to reevaluate. If you’re consistent but overdoing dermaplaning, tone down the frequency and/or intensity to start seeing those skin-surfing results.
- The type of each person’s skin and scarring needs to be considered individually. The right skincare solution dermatology expert advice can help you decide the safest treatment plan to address your individual needs.
- Appropriate prep, careful technique, and diligent aftercare—like an appropriate post-procedure moisturizer and sun protection—are key to safe, effective dermaplaning.
- If irritation persists or scars worsen despite adjustments, seek advice from a board-certified dermatologist to prevent further skin damage and support healthy recovery.
What Is Dermaplaning for Scars?
Dermaplaning is a cosmetic treatment performed with a sterile, single-use surgical blade. It painlessly removes dead skin cells and peach fuzz—vellus hair from the top layer of your skin. The primary purpose is to create a smoother skin surface, resulting in softer, more luminous skin.
Dermaplaning removes the outermost layer of skin. This exfoliation process can help smooth out uneven patches and create smoother overall skin texture, which is often a primary concern among scar-afflicted patients.
The most important benefit of dermaplaning is the way it prepares your skin for the products you use. Now that the dead skin is removed, creams and serums can penetrate further, meaning powerful ingredients such as vitamin C or retinol are more effective.
Others attempt it on their own. On the other hand, pros in SF or any other city where licensed estheticians are available will use sterile tools and proper techniques resulting in quicker, safer, more even results. This becomes especially important when working with scars, where skin can be more unpredictable.
How Dermaplaning Aids Scars
How Dermaplaning Aids Scars By accelerating the natural turnover of skin cells, dermaplaning can assist in fading scars. When the old cells are sloughed off, the skin produces new ones quickly, helping to soften the appearance of scars.
Raised scars, such as keloids, can appear flatter and smoother after several sessions. By removing dead skin, you allow scar treatments—such as silicone gels—to absorb deeper into the skin. These results aren’t permanent.
Because improvement is very fleeting, sessions should be conducted every 4-6 weeks.
Potential Scar Texture Benefits
Those with shallow acne scars or an uneven skin tone usually experience the most improvement. The uneven texture created by previous pimples can become more even, and discolored areas can lighten slightly.
There’s very little research on this topic, but one study suggests that frequent dermaplaning could encourage skin to produce additional collagen—a protein responsible for maintaining skin elasticity. This can result in a brighter, more uniform appearance to skin over time.
The Gentle Exfoliation Process
Dermaplaning too aggressively can have the opposite effect. Excessive scraping can result in raw, painful skin or even exacerbate the appearance of scars. This may disrupt the skin barrier, which protects against germs and helps retain moisture.
This is why more frequent treatments do not equal better or quicker outcomes. In reality, over-exfoliating can actually impede the healing of a scar and cause increased issues later on.
Why Overdoing It Harms Scars
Scarred skin does not respond in the same way as healthy skin; it deserves a gentler approach with more time taken. When treating acne scars, be aware that atrophic scars respond well to dermaplaning but hypertrophic scars will not. Raised, flat or pitted, scars all need different methods.
You’ll find that some scars turn red quickly, or the scar will be tender or even burn after excessive treatment. That’s why it’s super important to employ techniques that work best for your individual skin! Stop overdoing it and taking someone else’s path. Treating every scar the same and going overboard can do more harm than good.
This is an even bigger deal if your skin is already very raw or thin in areas!
Scarred Skin Is Different
It’s a big misconception that more frequent dermaplaning will help scars heal quicker, when in fact the opposite can occur. Scarred skin is not the same as healthy skin and requires time to heal in between sessions. If you overdo it, the skin won’t heal properly, which will set you back on your journey.
Here’s how to find that balance so you aren’t over-exfoliating. If you overdo it with the blade, you’ll do more damage than good. You can accidentally create red spots or dry patches that last a week! This is when you really begin to see the diminishing returns and the pain.
The “More Is More” Myth
Overdoing it on dermaplaning can disrupt your skin’s natural healing cycle. Rather than improving the appearance of a scar, you may actually draw attention to it. When you overdo it on the scar, you prevent it from being able to relax and mature.
This has the potential to create additional scars or hyperpigmented marks. Overdoing it may run the chance of creating new wounds, contamination, and even permanent damage requiring a professional to repair.
Risking Impaired Scar Healing
Warning signs you’re going too far include:
- Redness or stinging that does not go away
- Skin feeling extra sore or touchy in treated spots
- New breakouts or little bumps showing up
Spotting Dermaplaning Overuse on Scars
If you’re using dermaplaning to treat scars, you need to be aware of when your skin is telling you it’s in trouble. As a rule, over-exfoliating skin—particularly if you are working to fade scars—will do more harm than good.
It’s no surprise that in cosmopolitan cities such as San Francisco, denizens have easy access to at-home dermaplaning devices. While this convenience is great, it often leads to too much product or technique misuse. Like any skin treatment, being attentive to how your skin is reacting and making changes to your routine accordingly is important.
Below, learn the warning signs and hazards that indicate when dermaplaning is overdoing it for your complexion.
1. Lingering Redness or Stinging
Lingering Redness or Stinging Redness that doesn’t subside within a few hours post dermaplaning treatment is the first and most visible red flag. This is not the moderate, transient erythema that resolves within 24 hours. Instead, it presents as an ongoing tomato-red flush that can last deep into the next day, often accompanied with stinging/burning.
Patients even describe their face as feeling hot to the touch. What’s worse is that other people see that it looks inflamed, sometimes for up to forty-eight hours after a session. These signs are an indication of over-exfoliation irritation.
The outermost layer of your skin serves as your body’s first line of defense against bacteria, grime, and environmental toxins. When you exfoliate excessively, that layer gets compromised, leading to a weaker barrier and increased risk of germs entering the skin.
If you’re improperly using blades purchased online, you’re not only doing your skin damage but putting yourself at risk. Otherwise you’re begging for nicks, scratches or even deeper cuts! If you’re experiencing this degree of irritation, stop your treatments. Allow your skin enough time to heal.
Allowing skin to recover with a gentler approach or longer intervals between dermaplaning sessions is key to skin resiliency.
2. New Extreme Sensitivity
Right after a dermaplaning session, some post-procedure sensitivity is to be expected and skin will feel smooth and slightly sensitive. New extreme sensitivity—where the skin starts responding with burning, stinging, or pain to products that it once accepted—is a big warning sign.
Extreme sensitivity Skin can be easily aggravated by overstimulation, showing signs of irritation even with a gentle cleanser or moisturizer may indicate more than just dermaplaning overuse. If it feels like your skin is burning when using your normal products—get help!
If there is redness and swelling with gentle touch, this screams overuse. Certain individuals are at increased risk for this irritating form of overuse. This is particularly relevant for patients with a history of treatment with Accutane or isotretinoin.
Selecting gentler approaches and allowing adequate time between treatments will help with healing. Focusing on soothing, calming products and hydration goes a long way to help sensitivity clear up.
3. Sudden Breakouts or Bumps
If you notice sudden breakouts or bumps shortly after dermaplaning, your skin’s barrier may be affected. Whether or not the treatment is actually beneficial in clearing pores. When exfoliation is overdone, the new skin is left unprotected, creating a higher chance of clogged pores and acne breakouts.
Many people will find small breakout whiteheads showing within 24-48 hours of having a dermaplaning treatment. These are pretty much always the case of direct skin irritation or bacteria entering through micro-cuts.
By tracking your skin’s response following each session, you’ll begin to notice patterns and be able to modify your technique accordingly. A more spaced out schedule with time to heal in between treatments is more effective and less likely to cause sudden breakouts.
4. Excessive Dryness and Peeling
An obvious indicator of excessive dermaplaning is if your skin appears dry and flaky. If the skin begins to peel in layers then the soft, natural oils and moisture barrier have most definitely been removed.
It can become taut, or appear glossy and translucent. This excessive kind of dryness is not only uncomfortable but increases the visibility of any scars. After each treatment, proper hydration is key.
Applying gentle, fragrance-free moisturizers or hydrating serums will allow the dermis to recreate its moisture barrier. If dry skin continues, decrease the frequency of the treatment and work on getting the skin back on track before the next treatment.
5. Scars Look Worse, Not Better
One purpose of dermaplaning is to improve the appearance of scars. If you see your scars getting worse, darker, redder or raised with use over a few treatments, STOP! This should be a dead giveaway that your overzealous exfoliation practices have caused more harm than good.
When denigrated skin is added to the mix, scars become more pronounced as the natural healing process is interrupted. Around this time, it’s a good idea to take stock of your routine.
Take your sessions more slowly and consult a dermatologist or skincare professional if you are unsure to avoid making scars look even worse.
6. Skin Takes Longer to Recover
Healthy skin should only take a few days to fully recover from dermaplaning with only temporary redness or tingling sensations. If your skin is still sensitive, red, or swollen after forty-eight hours, pay attention! This is a sign that the skin’s healing process is struggling.
Allow your skin space between treatments and a gentle approach to readjusting to its natural healing cadence.
7. Unwanted Skin Texture Changes
Overdosing on dermaplaning can result in oral texture changes. Rather than a desirable smoothness, you would see swollen, red patches of rough or uneven texture, or worse, the appearance of fine scratches in the skin.
These alterations indicate that your skin is being overworked and not given adequate time to repair in between sessions. Pay attention to your skin’s texture and appearance.
It may just take a few minor adjustments to your methods or materials to keep your skin feeling even, smooth, and happy.
Factors That Increase Overuse Risk
- Personal skin sensitivity and history of reactions
- Type, depth, and age of scars being treated
- DIY treatments vs. professional dermaplaning
- Use of over-the-counter blades and improper technique
- Recent use of medications like Accutane or isotretinoin
- Frequency and intensity of sessions
What Ups Your Overuse Risk?
Dermaplaning scar treatment seems straightforward, but your liability increases exponentially if you overlook the nuances. Every one of us has different skin, which means your experience with dermaplaning won’t be the same as the person beside you.
Just like everybody is different, some people have thinner or more sensitive skin which turns red or raw faster, while others are able to tolerate more. It’s essential to understand your skin’s needs and tailor treatments.
You need to observe closely for signs such as swelling and new lesions appearing. Permanent pink patches are a sign you’re overdoing it. Personalizing your skin care routine to address and treat your specific concerns and conditions is key. This is infinitely more important than following a single guideline!
Your Unique Skin Profile
Scar type determines the ideal dermaplaning regimen. Sometimes, raised scars require a more delicate approach, or flat scars can take a bit more.
New scars can be very sensitive and can worsen quickly if you are not patient. With old scars especially, they move slow and take their sweet time—harsh hands or excessive sessions will only create adverse effects.
A skin pro will help you figure out what’s worth it, saving you a lot of pain—and time—on unnecessary overuse.
Type and Age of Scars
While DIY is simple and affordable, professional projects offer expertise and security. Unsafe equipment or improper use at home can lead to wounds, hyperpigmentation or even ulceration.
When your scars are particularly deep, or if your skin tends to hyperpigment easily, a professional touch ensures the most effective and safe results.
Finding Your Safe Frequency
- Check your skin after each session.
- Ask a skin expert for advice.
- If you notice red, dry, or sore areas, space out sessions.
Before You Start
- Use mild cleansers and lotions to protect skin before you start.
- Keep your hands and tools clean, and work in a clean area to reduce risk.
Safe Dermaplaning for Scarred Skin
We can use dermaplaning very gently after careful planning to smooth out scarred skin to allow for a more even appearance. With scarred skin, extra care should be taken to reduce the chances of aggravation or further scarring. Aside from preparation, technique, aftercare, and knowledge are crucial for safe results. We pride ourselves on offering safe, effective results.
Steps for Gentle Skin Preparation:
- Gently wash your face with a gentle, non-exfoliating cleanser to ensure all dirt and oil are removed.
- Use a calming serum or lightweight moisturizer to hydrate.
- Ensure your skin is clear of active breakouts or potent actives, such as retinoids.
Prepare Skin Gently Always
Mastering technique is of utmost importance. Then, hold the blade at a 45-degree angle and use slow short strokes—don’t go too fast or press down firmly. Your hand’s precision ensures that nicks or scratches don’t occur—these are much more likely when working on scarred or uneven surfaces.
If you are new to dermaplaning, practice using it in non-sensitive areas such as the jawline or cheek first. When you’re ready to proceed, you can dermaplane over scars. Always ensure that your tools are clean and sterilized, and listen to your professionals if you have deep or raised scars.
Master the Right Technique
With dermaplaning completed, the next step is nurturing the healing process. Apply a gentle, non-irritating moisturizer on a regular basis to keep skin hydrated, and use sunscreen diligently every day, especially if spending extended time outdoors.
Avoid makeup and potentially irritating products for at least 24 hours to minimize irritation. Since the sun can darken scars, protect your face from the sun until the skin has completely healed.
Prioritize Scar Aftercare
Pay attention to your skin. If permanent redness or bumps appear, back off or increase the time between treatments. Be patient—overzealously advancing can only put you further behind. Allow your skin to dictate your speed.
Learn Your Skin’s Limits
Call a dermatologist if:
- Redness, swelling, or itching lasts over three days.
- Scars look worse or more raised.
- You have deep or keloid scars.
When to Consult a Dermatologist
Dermaplaning for scars may result in smoother skin and reduced scarring. It is easy to overdo it. When your skin is just not getting any better, it’s time to make a move.
When redness, itching, or persistent swelling occur, that’s our cue to touch base with a specialist. As a rule of thumb, it’s helpful to track your skin’s reaction and/or condition after each session. If irritation persists, don’t just wait it out. Treating these symptoms as soon as possible can prevent larger issues, such as infections or permanent scarring.
If Irritation Persists Badly
If you notice that your scars appear more pronounced or your skin is painful following a dermaplaning session, this is a warning sign. If you notice increased swelling, discoloration, or pain, it could be a sign that the treatment is overly aggressive.
Take notes or photos at the end of each class to identify changes over time. If irritation persists badly or moves beyond what you’ve covered over the course of a week, a dermatologist can help evaluate your routine and concerns. They can recommend a more gradual approach or an alternative approach that’s more compatible with your skin.
If Scars Seem Aggravated
Keloids and other deep scars are not good candidates for regular dermaplaning. At other times, these scars become larger or more prominent. Too much of a good thing won’t do any good and may actually delay healing.
If scars seem aggravated, dermatologists aren’t just experts in identifying an ideal treatment plan. Each scar requires a different approach, and only an expert can determine the appropriate cure-all for challenging cases.
For Deep or Keloid Scars
Dermaplaning is not the magic solution for everyone. Taking care to not cause further damage is half the battle. Your doctor should be able to advise you on any potential risks, as well as regarding preparation and aftercare.
They’ll take your safety into account, and will ensure that treatments are appropriate for your skin type and history of medical conditions.
Conclusion
Warning sign #1 Your skin looks raw, sore, or red. If you’re overdoing it, you’ll notice little bumps forming, cuts occurring, or worse—new scars appearing. San Francisco’s dry fog can make skin more sensitive, so it’s easy for things to go south quickly. Following the proper timeline prevents your scars from becoming more pronounced and prevents you from overthinking your skin. If you notice any negative changes, don’t assume—consult with a professional. Taking care of your skin should not come at the chance of injury or harm. Want to avoid uneven skin texture down the road? Go with caution, understand the warning signs, and trust your skin. Have something to say, a question or a strange emoji reaction. Talk to an experienced local dermatologist before you go any further. Don’t go to extremes—make your skin move smart, not risky.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How often should you dermaplane scarred skin?
Many times per session and overdoing it On scarred skin, dermaplaning more often than every three to four weeks is overdoing it. This gives your skin enough time to heal, preventing excessive irritation or damage.
2. What are the first warning signs of overdoing dermaplaning for scars?
Pain, redness, stinging, or irritation are signs that you’ve gone overboard. Another sign is if you notice flaking or experience rawness lasting over 24 hours.
3. Can dermaplaning worsen scars if overused?
Can dermaplaning worsen scars if overused? It can actually create new scars from irritation and skin barrier disruption!
4. Who is at higher risk of overusing dermaplaning on scars?
Individuals with sensitive or thin skin, or those using aggressive skincare products such as retinoids, are more susceptible. If you have any underlying chronic skin conditions, such as rosacea, psoriasis or eczema, use dermaplaning with extreme caution.
5. What should you do if you think you’ve overdone dermaplaning?
Stop dermaplaning immediately. Stick with gentle, fragrance-free moisturizers and steer clear of irritating products. If these symptoms last, you should visit a dermatologist.
6. Are there safer alternatives to frequent dermaplaning for scars?
Are there safer alternatives to frequent dermaplaning for scars? As always, consult a licensed skincare expert before pursuing any new treatment.
7. When should you consult a dermatologist about dermaplaning scars?
If you begin to experience long-lasting redness, pain, or swelling, get treated! Talk to a board-certified dermatologist near you for individualized recommendations on any new or worsening scars.
Revitalize Your Skin With The Best Dermaplaning Treatment!
No other dermaplaning treatment compares to ours at Simply Skin Esthetics in downtown Walnut Creek, California. Why? We blend cutting-edge techniques, premium tools, and years of expertise to deliver smoother, brighter skin for even the most sensitive skin types – all with the highest standards of professionalism and hygiene.
Finding an esthetician who can perform dermaplaning with precision, care, and professionalism can be challenging. That’s why our service stands out as the best in the San Francisco East Bay Area. Our commitment to exceptional care is reflected in our loyal clientele who trust us with their skincare needs.
At Simply Skin Esthetics, we offer more than just dermaplaning. Our extensive range of services includes Ultrasound Facials, Signature Facials, Men’s Facials, Express Facials, Treatments/Peels, Teen Facials, and Back Facials. Ready to transform your skin and experience unparalleled care? Contact us today to schedule your first dermaplaning session and discover the Simply Skin Esthetics difference!
