Prevent issues post dermaplaning for acne scars! Avoid irritating skin care, sun exposure, sweaty exercise and makeup for up to one to three days.
Dermaplaning leaves skin open and easy to hurt, so strong scrubs, acids, or retinol can burn or cause red spots. While the sun may not seem intense in San Francisco, the result will be a dark spot or sunburn on raw skin.
Therefore, sunscreen and/or shade is important! Excessive working out or sweating can cause skin to break out or become irritated.
Makeup can further irritate and clog the skin as it’s in a more sensitive healing state. This promotes optimal skin healing and minimizes the risk of developing new scars or hyperpigmentation.
Coming up, the blog will dive into each step with even more detail.
Key Takeaways
- After dermaplaning for acne scars, your skin will be more sensitive. This is a delicate procedure that requires detailed post-care to prevent inflammation, infection, or prolonged recovery time.
- Don’t spend time in the sun or use tanning beds. Avoid chlorine pools, hot showers and steam to avoid further irritation and pigmentation problems prevalent in the U.S.
- Don’t use heavy makeup, harsh cleansers, strong actives or exfoliants. This will help your skin with the healing process and preserve the function of your skin barrier.
- So, apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen every day, and use gentle, hydrating skincare products to help replenish your moisture barrier and protect your skin.
- Don’t pick at your acne scars. Avoid touching your face. Excess touching can lead to bacteria, aggravating known skin problems and causing new one.
- Continue to monitor your skin for signs of irritation or infection. If you experience any unexpected symptoms or ongoing issues, always feel free to consult with a skincare expert!
Why Post-Care Is Crucial
Immediately following dermaplaning, a little caution goes a long way in protecting the skin while it recovers and preventing any reversals from occurring. This isn’t solely about avoiding discomfort. It’s all about protecting your skin from further damage and maximizing the results of your treatments.
When post-care is ignored, discomfort such as redness and stinging along with a longer healing process are common. All this progress can be quickly undone by any corresponding implementation, if not worse grades or developing down marks. When you maintain consistent post-care, your skin will recover in no time.
It will really smooth the skin and keep that nice luminescence for weeks on end! Healthy habits help ensure your skin barrier—your body’s first line of defense—remains hardened. This prevents germs from getting in and prevents moisture loss, both essential to skin health.
Your Skin’s New Vulnerability
Immediately following dermaplaning, the skin is brand new but very thin, making it highly reactive to the sun, wind and even sweat. Sunburn, for example, often occurs more quickly and even minor abrasions or microscopic scrapes can appear the following day.
Making sure to wear SPF 30+ daily, even when it’s cloudy, is important. Minimize prolonged sun exposure and vigorous exercise that leads to excessive perspiration. Gentle, fragrance-free cleansers and lightweight moisturizers both calm and protect.
Keep an eye out for flare-up warning signs—such as swelling or increased redness—and adjust your post-care accordingly.
Stop Scars From Worsening
If you pick at scars or acne spots after dermaplaning, you risk further damaging the area and delaying the healing process. Consider gentle spot treatments, not harsh scrubs or acids, which can complicate recovery.
Don’t skip your usual routine, and inquire about scar care strategies with your provider. This prevents existing scars from darkening and gives fresh skin a uniform appearance.
Get Max Dermaplaning Results
Take provider aftercare instructions seriously and be diligent about following them. Hydrate—look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid or ceramides to help retain moisture.
Schedule post-care appointments when recommended, and avoid touching your skin or washing with soap for a minimum of four hours. Avoid waxing and other irritating creams for a week before treatment.
Monitor your skin’s appearance and texture to identify consistent improvements.
Crucial Post-Dermaplaning Don’ts
Following a dermaplaning treatment, especially for treating acne scars, the skin is extremely vulnerable and exposed to outside factors. The thin, outermost layer of skin has been swept away…which means your skin is at its most bare and vulnerable.
Stick to these rules to make sure your skin heals beautifully! You’ll ensure you receive the best possible results from this treatment. Here’s our rundown of crucial post-dermaplaning don’ts. It goes further by explaining why it should matter and how it all fits into a comprehensive recovery plan.
Failing to heed these considerations can prolong the healing process, cause further breakouts, or irritate the skin. Each of these “don’ts” is meant to help you avoid wasting time and money to help you achieve the best, longest-lasting results.
- Don’t use harsh cleansers or strong skincare ingredients
- Avoid direct sunlight, tanning beds, and skip sunscreen
- Hold off on wearing heavy or full makeup
- Don’t exercise hard enough to break a sweat
- Keep your hands away from your face
- Avoid hot water, steam, and hot tubs
- Wait before using chemical exfoliants or strong actives
- Avoid chlorinated pools for a minimum of one week
Avoid these pitfalls to ensure your skin has the opportunity to heal properly. This prevents your skin from becoming irritated and lowers the chances of post-dermaplaning breakouts. Here’s a deeper dive into why each is significant.
1. Avoid Harsh Skincare Now
Your skin barrier is highly compromised post-dermaplaning, therefore it is not the time to scrub and scrub and scrub. Abrasive cleansers or face scrubs will be too harsh and aggravate your skin.
Even a rough washcloth or one of those exfoliating silicone pads can cause irritation, including stinging, redness, or micro-tears. Retinoids, glycolic acid, or vitamin C serums are very harsh and can cause your skin to burn.
They can cause irritation or even peeling, mostly when your skin is newly treated! Use gentle, fragrance-free cleansers and simple moisturizers for a minimum of 7 days. Save all exfoliants—even chemical ones—until your skin has settled down.
Soothing, hydrating products with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, aloe, or ceramides help your skin bounce back faster, while harsh ones slow the process, often leaving you with more bumps or prolonged redness.
2. Shun Sun, Tanning Beds
Dermaplane skin is extremely sensitive to UV rays and sun in general. It’s important to note that even a brief walk outdoors is enough to incur sunburn, pigment changes or dark spots.
UV exposure after dermaplaning is one of the most common contributors to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, particularly in individuals with Fitzpatrick skin types IV-VI. Tanning beds are equally as hazardous, accelerating aging and introducing patchy pigmentation.
Urban residents in cloudy cities such as San Francisco will be lured into thinking sun protection isn’t necessary. Do you know what else doesn’t stop just because it’s cloudy outside—UV rays!
Apply a broad-spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen whenever going outside, including just for short errands. Just don’t forget to reapply to keep that glow going! Hats, sunglasses, and finding shade are just as clever.
This routine not only protects skin from future damage but it works to lighten acne scars rather than darkening them.
3. Delay Heavy Makeup Use
Putting on a foundation, concealer, or powder immediately post-dermaplaning can lock in bacteria and particles on the skin. This might block temporarily opened pores and impede the healing process.
Your complexion requires some time to recuperate. Ideally, dermatologists recommend avoiding any makeup for at least 24 hours. If you need to wear makeup at all, opt for a lightweight, non-comedogenic tinted moisturizer.
Unless you’re choosing a mineral powder that’s non-comedogenic and non-irritating. If you need to wear makeup, opt for a natural, no-makeup makeup look for a day or two. This helps your skin to remain healthy and minimizes the possibility of irritation or infection.
Waiting allows you to gauge the recovery of your skin and allows any post-procedure redness to subside naturally.
4. Skip Intense Sweaty Workouts
In fact, skipping intense sweaty workouts is one of the most important post-dermaplaning don’ts! Sweat can burn, clog pores, and introduce bacteria into open skin, increasing the chance of breakouts and rashes.
For at least 24 to 48 hours, avoid strenuous activities and opt for low-impact movement such as walking or stretching. Work out schedules around the needs of your sensitive skin!
If your skin is feeling tight, tender, or appears to be swollen, allow it a little extra time to recover. In return, your skin will reward you with fewer bumps and less pain.
5. No Picking, Touching Face
We know that it’s hard not to touch your smooth new skin or pick at those tiny new bumps. Hands bring bacteria and oil that can lead to breakout or infection.
Picking at scabs or healing areas can cause discoloration and an increased risk of scarring, as well as extending healing time. Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly prior to applying any product and be mindful to use a gentle touch.
Tell yourself hands-off is more considerate, even during times your face feels prickly or flaky. This one easy guideline prevents fresh breakouts from occurring while allowing existing acne scars to heal more clearly.
6. Avoid Hot Water, Steam
The immediate, extreme heat of hot showers, steam rooms, or saunas may cause previously dermaplaning sensitive skin to feel stinging or irritating. Excessive heat causes blood vessels to open up and brings even more fluid to the surface, resulting in increased redness or swelling.
Instead, stick to lukewarm water when washing your face and don’t soak in hot tubs for a minimum of one week. This allows the skin barrier to repair itself and prevents further irritation from creeping in.
Making these changes to your routine now will save you the irritation in the future with smoother, calmer skin long-term.
7. Pause Strong Actives, Exfoliants
Actives such as retinol, AHAs, BHAs, and vitamin C can be very harsh on compromised skin. Chemical exfoliants will exacerbate this by stripping the skin of all healthy oils and taking the skin barrier to the extreme.
Allow a minimum of one week before resuming the use of these products. Once you do, ease into them—taking it step by step, every other night, or as tolerated by your skin.
When in doubt, be sure to consult with a skin professional. This gradual reintroduction minimizes the risk of a negative reaction, while providing you with an opportunity to notice any potential new sensitivities.
8. Steer Clear of Pools
Swimming pools and hot tubs have chlorine and other chemicals that are not good for your skin. These ingredients can cause irritation, dryness and inflammation on new skin.
The chance of infection is increased, as well, because your skin no longer has its protective barrier intact. Pools should be avoided for at least a week post-treatment.
If you live near bodies of natural water, like the Pacific Ocean or a freshwater lake, pay attention to any warning advisories. Be wary of potential sources of contamination!
If you do get your face wet, remove any product immediately with cool, plain water. Afterwards, monitor the skin for any persistent redness or bumps.
Embrace Gentle Skincare Now
Since your skin is typically raw and open after a dermaplaning treatment, it requires extra care. Treat it gently to allow it to heal and reduce the risk of redness or post-inflammatory breakouts. Opting for gentle products helps skin thrive and reveals a healthy, soothed appearance.
The gentler the products, the lower the chances of flare-ups for sensitive skin and the simpler the routine to follow long-term.
- Safe products: fragrance-free cleansers, hydrating serums, rich moisturizers, mineral-based sunscreens.
- Soothing ingredients: aloe vera, hyaluronic acid, ceramides, oat extract.
- Simple routine: skip scrubs, avoid retinols and acids, use mild formulas.
- Gentle serums/moisturizers: look for lightweight, non-comedogenic options with proven hydrating power.
Pick a Mild Cleanser
Choose a cleanser that removes grime and oil without leaving skin tight or dry. Creamy or gel-based cleansers free of fragrance and dyes will be kinder to your skin barrier. Avoid abrasive exfoliators or foaming cleansers—they just dehydrate the skin and impede recovery.
Try a new cleanser on a small patch first, or use it as a treatment, and avoid it if your skin is reactive.
Hydrate Your Skin Deeply
Opt for an occlusive, fragrance-free moisturizer to trap water and soothe skin. Hydrating and plumping serums infused with hyaluronic acid can replenish moisture, allowing skin to spring back in time from the exfoliation of dermaplaning.
Apply creams in the morning and at night, and keep an eye out for dry patches. If skin is still left with a tight or dry feeling, go for something richer.
Apply Sunscreen Religiously
Regularly applying sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or greater is essential. Choose broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher and apply it every day – yes, even on cloudy days. Healthy mineral sunscreens containing zinc oxide are gentle, effective and block both UVA and UVB rays.
Reapply every two hours—more often if you’re swimming or sweating. That’s because sun protection not only prevents newly healed scars from darkening, but it protects the skin from premature aging.
Simplify Your Skincare Routine
Take a few steps back. Make it three steps: only use cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen. Skip toners, peels, and other treatments for the time being.
Give your skin room to breathe and heal with just the essentials. Review your routine regularly and replace products as your skin evolves.
Lifestyle Tips for Best Healing
Creating healthy lifestyle habits assists your skin’s natural healing process after dermaplaning for acne scars. Your everyday lifestyle decisions are the most important factor in your healing journey. That’s everything from your diet to how you sleep to what you’re using on your skin.
A little tender loving care goes a long way. This holds particularly true in marginalized urban environments, where communities experience higher levels of environmental toxins and chronic life stressors.
Nourish Skin From Within
Eating right can speed up healing. Nutrient-dense foods further your skin’s healing by providing it the building blocks it requires. Some foods to focus on include leafy greens, fatty fish, berries, sweet potatoes, nuts and seeds, avocados, and eggs.
Drinking plenty of water will help your skin stay hydrated, supple and elastic. Many individuals find benefits to skin health from omega-3 supplementation, but consult with your physician before beginning any new supplements.
When you better understand how food relates to skin health, you can make more informed decisions.
Prioritize Restful Sleep
Sleep is one of the best tools to help your skin heal. Maintain a regular sleep pattern and establish pre-bedtime habits that signal your body it’s time to relax—such as reading or soft tunes.
Keep a record of your sleep to ensure you are getting adequate sleep. Sleep is a necessity for your overall health, energy levels, skin, and ability to heal.
Dodge Skin Irritants
Immediately following dermaplaning, your skin will be extremely sensitive. Skip the scrubs for two or three days. Avoid chlorinated pools and exercise or extreme heat for 24 hours.
Apply mild, fragrance-free cleanser and SPF 30 broad-spectrum sunscreen every day. Keep an eye out for increased redness or itching—increase in these symptoms warrants a call to your physician.
Easing Back to Normal Skincare
Once you dermaplane, your skin requires an extensive amount of recovery time. This is particularly crucial for patients managing acne scarring, prior to resuming normal activities. The first week is the most critical—skin is going to feel more sensitive, so it’s essential to be gentle.
Most experts agree that waiting at least 24 hours before using cosmetics lowers the risk of clogged pores and irritation. Here are some steps to help ease back into your normal skincare plan:
- Plan to wear sunscreen every day, though start with gentle cleansers and moisturizers during the initial days.
- After 2-3 days, avoid manual exfoliants and retinoids to minimize irritation.
- By two weeks in, you can start implementing mild chemical exfoliants, such as lactic or glycolic acid, 2 to 3 times a week.
- By the third week, if you were previously used to exfoliants, you can go back to daily use, but read your skin!
- Pay attention to how your skin responds, and be ready to skip steps as necessary.
- For personalized recommendations that best suit your skin, consult a licensed skin care professional.
Reintroducing Actives Gradually
Go with one active at a time. Reintroduce actives one by one, starting with gentler options such as niacinamide or hyaluronic acid. Continue to watch for redness, stinging, or swelling.
If your skin is still feeling soothed, then you can start using the product in greater frequency. Give new actives a few days’ separation, and educate yourself on the best practices for safely reintroducing them.
Applying Makeup Post-Healing
Allow skin to fully heal, ideally two weeks, before applying makeup. Opt for breathable, non-comedogenic makeup. Consider makeup-free days and low-maintenance beauty.
Focus on low coverage rather than full glam. If you start to develop irritation or little pimples, discontinue use or try a different product and give it more time.
Plan Your Next Session
Plan your next dermaplaning session with your provider. Monitor your skin’s response and schedule additional treatments only when the skin is back to normal.
Understand the importance of maintenance treatments for optimal long-term effects.
Watch for These Warning Signs
Whether you’re using dermaplaning to treat acne scars or other skin concerns, it’s always a good idea to monitor your skin’s behavior. Even with expert treatment, anyone can experience complications. Here are some warning signs to look for:
- Persistent redness or swelling that doesn’t resolve within 48 hours.
- Presence of pus, yellow crust, or weeping from the site of treatment.
- Raised bumps, deep scratches or red marks that never heal.
- Tenderness, warmth, or pain that gets worse.
- Fever or feeling unwell after treatment.
Severe sunburn and active breakouts as well as those with extremely sensitive skin should stay away from dermaplaning. Avoid this procedure if you’ve taken Accutane in the past six months. The same is true for people with eczema, rosacea, spider veins, cystic acne, hirsutism or viral infections.
This includes mild diseases such as chicken pox or shingles. Dermaplaning isn’t suitable for people who develop keloids or are currently undergoing cancer treatments.
Spotting Irritation or Infection
It’s not unusual to see some redness immediately after treatment. If you do notice swelling, stinging, or painful areas, take warning. Pus, yellow crusts or scales could indicate a bacterial infection.
Deep scratches or cuts are more likely, especially when using at-home tools or inadequate technique. These signs require immediate medical attention to prevent more extensive scarring.
Unusual Breakouts Post-Treatment
Others may experience unusual breakouts following a dermaplaning treatment. This might be due to bacteria infecting or the overuse of irritating products.
Monitor these breakouts and reevaluate your routine—avoid products with potent acids or fragrances for several days to see if the problem diminishes. Seek professional advice from a skincare professional if you experience unusual breakouts post-treatment.
Consult Your Specialist Promptly
If the symptoms don’t go away, consult your provider for further guidance. Report your observations and heed their advice. Quick action equals better outcomes and decreased likelihood of chronic issues.
Conclusion
In order to maintain smooth and clear skin following a dermaplaning treatment, avoid abrasive exfoliants, hot water showers, and heavy cosmetics. Avoid abrasive exfoliators and harsh face scrubs. Stay away from any aggressive or high-abrasive exfoliators. A quality sunscreen will keep you from developing sun spots and redness, particularly in the strong San Francisco sun. Give skin time to heal, and wait to hit the gym or pool for several days. If you suddenly find your face burning, swelling up or breaking out, contact your dermatologist immediately. Everyone is different, but most people find great benefits by doing this. Go light on the area and see what happens. Visit the rest of my blog for more no-nonsense advice that cuts through the scientific jargon! Have a burning question we didn’t cover here. Your skin deserves more than a one-size-fits-all approach.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I wear makeup after dermaplaning for acne scars?
Don’t wear makeup for at least a day. Your skin will be sensitive because it requires time to heal. Wearing makeup immediately after dermaplaning can potentially lead to irritation or pore clogging.
2. Is sun exposure safe after dermaplaning?
Is sun exposure allowed after dermaplaning? Your skin will be much more sensitive and susceptible to sunburn and subsequent discoloration. You should wear a broad-spectrum SPF of at least 30 anytime you do go outdoors.
3. Should I use exfoliating products after dermaplaning?
Avoid exfoliants such as scrubs, retinol, or acids for a minimum of five days. These can lead to inflammation and redness on your delicate new skin.
4. Can I exercise right after dermaplaning?
Can I exercise right after dermaplaning? Sweat, heat, and friction can cause unnecessary irritation of your freshly dermaplane skin, potentially leading to breakouts or a red appearance.
5. How soon can I moisturize after dermaplaning?
How soon can I moisturize after dermaplaning? Choose a mild, unscented skin care product to help retain moisture and calm irritated skin.
6. Is it safe to touch my face after dermaplaning?
So, don’t touch your face if it can be avoided. Your skin is super sensitive after treatment, and touching can cause bacteria to be transferred which can lead to breakouts.
7. What should I do if I notice redness or swelling after dermaplaning?
While mild redness is expected, should you experience profound swelling or pain, reach out to your skincare professional immediately. Stay away from irritating products and follow a gentle regimen of cleansing and moisturizing your skin.
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!
