Acne as a Teen? Try Dermaplaning
As if being a teen wasn’t hard enough, you now have to deal with the stress of acne. Looking in the mirror and seeing a vicious breakout can be truly disheartening, but what many teens do not realize is that it doesn’t have to be this way. There is one cosmetic dermatology treatment in particular that can help teens not only treat mild acne, but help get rid of old acne scars and even prevent future breakouts. Here’s everything you need to know about dermaplaning and teen acne.
What to Know About Dermaplaning
What Is Dermaplaning?
Dermaplaning, also known as manual exfoliation, is a cosmetic dermatology treatment that relies on the use of a special tool to scrape away the impurities that usually accumulate on the face. This razor-like tool, when handled expertly by a licensed physician, rids your skin of superficial dirt, oil, grime, and even peach fuzz. More importantly, it’s great for treating mild acne, acne scars, blackheads, and whiteheads.
How Does It Work?
While dermaplaning shaves away the top layer of gunk, there’s also quite a bit of science happening underneath.
You see, dermaplaning creates what dermatologists call “micro-injuries.” Micro-injuries occur when there is intentional damage to the skin cells. When skin cells become damaged, they send a signal to the rest of the body, telling it to begin producing an abundance of collagen. Collagen is the building block of protein and is present almost everywhere in the human body. It floods damaged areas and begins to rebuild the skin by repairing damaged cells and promoting the creation of new ones.
Collagen production isn’t the only thing at work either. Removing excess oil, dirt, and grime clears the skin enough to give your pores breathing room. When your pores can breathe, they’re less likely to become clogged with sebum (the body’s natural oil). It’s this trapped sebum along with bacteria that causes acne to develop.
It’s important to note that dermaplaning is not ideal for individuals with large cysts and severe acne. Dermaplaning could actually worsen already severe acne and cause inflammation.
What Results Can I Expect?
Immediately after a dermaplaning treatment session, your skin will look brighter and smoother thanks to the “shaving.” However, the real results will appear several days later. After your treatment, your collagen has been called into action. As it floods the treated area, it takes several days to rebuild the skin cells, but once the cells are fully repaired, the skin is more even-toned, has fewer wrinkles, less blackheads and acne, and has an overall refreshed look.
Some individuals may experience minor redness, but when done correctly, dermaplaning is considered safe with few to no side effects. Over the next few days, your skin may be sensitive to sunlight, so it’s important for you to be diligent in wearing your sunscreen every time you step out. Your dermatologist will be sure to apply an SPF moisturizer at the end of your treatment to get you started off on the right foot.
So if you’re a teen who suffers from mild acne and you live in Cincinnati, Ohio, our experts at The Dermatology Group can offer you dermaplaning treatment along with advice and other resources. Give us a call today!