Those craters left behind by aggressive acne can be minimized with dermaplaning. It’s just one of the many benefits of shaving your face.
Dermaplaning uses a 10-guage scalpel to remove the outer most layer of your skin, which usually consists of dead skin cells, and to remove fine vellus hair to give your face a glowing, youthful look.
The procedure is well known for its gentle exfoliation and ability to re-texture your skin. But that’s not all this popular procedure can do. One of the more surprising ailments it treats is acne scarring. In fact, it’s something that has garnered the treatment attention from John Hopkins Medicine.
First, however, let’s look at how acne causes scars.
How Acne Scars Happen
A clogged pore that becomes infected with bacteria and then gets inflamed is what usually causes pimples. Typically, those pimples rupture near the skin surface. When that happens, the rupture is minor and heals quickly.
But sometimes, the infected pore causes a deep break inside the skin and the bacteria spills out and comes into contact with healthy skin, damaging it. When the skin cells are damaged, collagen goes into repair it but not in a healthy way. The collagen that forms after damage is fibrous and haphazard — creating an acne scar.
How Dermaplaning Treats Acne Scars
Dermaplaning treats deep acne scars by “skimming” the surface layers of skin that surround the craters.
This is a non-surgical treatment that is gentle and effective with zero downtime.
That said, it’s not a 100-percent treatment for acne scars, but it definitely helps minimize their look. For best results, I recommend pairing this treatment with microdermabrasion or, better yet, Ultherapy.
If you are actively battling acne, this is likely not the treatment for you. Make sure you talk with your skin care professional to get the best treatment advice.
About Jennifer
Jennifer Curtin is a medical aesthetician, who is nationally recognized for her expertise in medical skin care. With more than 20 years of experience in medical aesthetics, she is dedicated to the aesthetic industry and has received awards of merit including the International CIDESCO Certification, Assistant Cosmetic Laser Practitioner and National Leadership Award. Jennifer is also an expert in dermaplaning and the president of Skintherapy, which is located in the Buckhead section of Atlanta. To schedule a complimentary appointment with Jennifer, call 404-358-2961 or click here to submit a consult request online.
