Dermaplaning is one of the simplest treatments we offer in terms of recovery. There is no real downtime, no wound to manage, and no complicated multi-step protocol to follow afterward. Most patients leave the treatment room and go straight back to their day.
That said, you have just had the outermost layer of dead skin cells removed from your face with a surgical blade. The skin underneath is fresh, newly exposed, and temporarily more reactive than usual. The aftercare is minimal, but the few things that do matter are worth understanding — not just as a checklist of rules, but in terms of why they matter and what actually happens to your skin in the days following treatment.
What Is Actually Happening to Your Skin After Dermaplaning
Understanding what dermaplaning does — and does not do — to your skin makes the aftercare guidelines make sense instead of feeling like arbitrary rules.
Dermaplaning removes two things: the layer of dead skin cells (the stratum corneum) and vellus hair (peach fuzz). That dead cell layer serves as a low-grade barrier — it traps dirt and dulls your complexion, but it also provides a thin buffer between your living skin cells and the outside world. When that buffer is removed, the fresh skin underneath is temporarily more permeable and more sensitive to environmental exposure.
This is actually the reason dermaplaning works so well. The smoother texture, the improved glow, the better product absorption — all of those benefits exist precisely because that barrier is gone. But that same increased permeability means your skin is also more responsive to irritants, UV exposure, and active ingredients for a short window after treatment.
The good news is that this window is short. Your skin begins rebuilding that protective layer almost immediately, and within 24 to 48 hours, the heightened sensitivity has largely resolved. The aftercare is designed to protect your skin during that brief transition — nothing more.
The First 24 Hours
The first day after dermaplaning is when your skin is at its most reactive. Here is what to do and what to avoid during this window.
Wear sunscreen. This is the single most important aftercare step — more important than anything else on this list. With the dead cell layer removed, your skin has less natural UV protection than usual. A broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher is non-negotiable for at least the first several days, and ideally every day regardless of treatment (but especially now). A mineral sunscreen with zinc oxide is the gentlest option if your skin feels sensitive. If you take one thing from this entire post, make it this.
Skip makeup for the first day if possible. Your skin does not need makeup-free “recovery time” in the way that more aggressive treatments do — dermaplaning is not creating a wound. But freshly exfoliated skin is more permeable, and applying makeup immediately means those ingredients (including pigments, preservatives, and fragrance) absorb more deeply than usual. If you can go bare-faced for 24 hours, your skin will thank you. If you need to wear makeup the same day, use a clean brush or sponge and choose a mineral-based formula — it sits on the surface rather than being absorbed.
Cleanse gently. Use a mild, non-foaming cleanser that evening. Avoid anything with scrubbing beads, physical exfoliants, or strong surfactants. Your skin has already been exfoliated — adding more exfoliation on top of that creates unnecessary irritation. A gentle cream or gel cleanser is all you need.
Moisturize. Your skin may feel slightly drier than usual in the first day or two, which is completely normal — you have removed the layer that was holding surface moisture in place. A simple, fragrance-free moisturizer helps your skin stay hydrated while it rebuilds. Hyaluronic acid serums work well here because they attract and hold moisture without introducing potentially irritating active ingredients.
Do not use retinoids, AHAs, BHAs, or vitamin C serums. These are all active ingredients that work by penetrating the skin, and on freshly dermaplaaned skin, they will penetrate more deeply and aggressively than intended. Retinol, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and high-concentration vitamin C should all be paused for 48 hours after treatment. This is not because they are dangerous — it is because they are more likely to cause redness, stinging, or irritation on sensitized skin. After 48 hours, resume your normal routine.
Avoid direct, prolonged sun exposure. This is different from wearing sunscreen (which you should do regardless). For the first 24 to 48 hours, avoid extended time in direct sunlight — prolonged UV exposure on freshly exfoliated skin significantly increases your risk of hyperpigmentation, especially if you have a medium to darker skin tone. If you are spending time outdoors, reapply sunscreen every two hours.
The First 48 Hours
By day two, your skin has already started rebuilding its protective barrier. The heightened sensitivity from the first 24 hours is diminishing, and most patients feel completely back to normal.
Continue wearing sunscreen daily. This should already be part of your routine, but it is especially important in the first week after dermaplaning.
Resume active skincare products after 48 hours. Retinoids, AHAs, vitamin C — you can bring them all back at the 48-hour mark. If your skin still feels sensitive at that point (which is uncommon but possible), give it one more day. There is no benefit to keeping actives paused longer than necessary — these products support cell turnover and skin health, and your freshly exfoliated skin is in an excellent position to benefit from them.
Avoid physical exfoliation for at least a week. No scrubs, no brushes, no at-home dermarollers, no additional dermaplaning. Your skin has already been thoroughly exfoliated — adding more physical exfoliation before the surface has fully renewed creates irritation without additional benefit. Chemical exfoliants (AHAs, BHAs) can resume at 48 hours because they work differently, but physical scrubbing should wait.
What About Exercise, Swimming, and Saunas?
You will find conflicting advice about this online. Some sources say to avoid all exercise for 24 to 48 hours after dermaplaning. Here is the reality.
Light to moderate exercise is fine the same day. Dermaplaning is not a wound-healing treatment. You have not had needles in your skin, you have not had a chemical applied, and there is no open tissue. Sweating on freshly exfoliated skin may cause mild stinging or temporary redness, but it is not harmful. If you are comfortable, you can exercise the same day.
Swimming pools, hot tubs, and saunas are worth avoiding for 24 hours. Chlorinated water and extreme heat can irritate sensitized skin. This is not a major risk — it is a comfort issue. If you swim or sauna the same day, the worst likely outcome is temporary redness or dryness, not an actual complication. But if you can wait a day, it is the more comfortable choice.
Steam rooms follow the same logic. Hot steam on freshly exfoliated skin can cause flushing and sensitivity. Wait 24 hours if possible, but do not panic if you forget.
The point here is proportionality. Dermaplaning is a surface-level exfoliation — the aftercare should match the treatment’s actual intensity. You do not need bed rest or a recovery day. You need sunscreen and 48 hours of simplified skincare.
Aftercare When Dermaplaning Is Paired With Other Treatments
This is where aftercare can become slightly more involved — not because of the dermaplaning itself, but because of the treatment it was paired with.
At ELLEMES, dermaplaning is frequently added as an enhancement to HydraFacials, chemical peels, and custom facials. When dermaplaning is performed first, it removes the dead cell barrier so the subsequent treatment can penetrate more effectively. That is the entire reason for the pairing — better absorption, better results.
But better absorption also means the aftercare guidelines for the paired treatment become more important, not less. If you have dermaplaning followed by a VI Peel, for example, the aftercare you follow is the VI Peel aftercare — which involves specific instructions about when to begin peeling, what to apply, and what to avoid. The dermaplaning portion does not add additional aftercare on top of that; it simply makes the peel’s aftercare the governing protocol.
Your provider will give you specific aftercare instructions for whatever combination you receive. If your treatment was dermaplaning only, the guidelines in this post are all you need. If dermaplaning was an add-on, follow the aftercare for the primary treatment.
What Is Normal vs. What Is Not
Because dermaplaning is so gentle, the recovery experience is minimal. But knowing what is expected helps avoid unnecessary worry.
Normal: Slight pinkness immediately after treatment that resolves within one to two hours. Skin that feels smoother than usual (that is the point). Mild dryness or tightness in the first day, easily managed with moisturizer. A “glow” or increased luminosity — this is simply the result of removing the dull surface layer.
Also normal: Your skin may feel slightly more sensitive to products you use regularly for the first day or two. A serum that normally feels fine might tingle briefly. This resolves quickly and is not a sign that something went wrong.
Not normal: Persistent redness, swelling, or tenderness beyond 24 hours. Any signs of broken skin, cuts, or nicks that are still irritated the next day. Bumps, rash, or widespread breakout developing within 48 hours of treatment. If you experience any of these, contact your provider — they may indicate a reaction to a product applied after treatment or, rarely, a technique issue that needs to be evaluated.
These complications are uncommon when dermaplaning is performed by a licensed professional using sterile instruments. The risk increases significantly with at-home dermaplaning tools, which is one of the reasons we recommend having this treatment done in a clinical setting.
The Myth About Hair Growing Back Thicker
This is the most common concern patients raise about dermaplaning, and it comes up so frequently that it deserves a clear answer in any aftercare discussion — because the anxiety about it affects how patients care for their skin afterward.
Dermaplaning does not change your hair. It does not make it grow back thicker, darker, or coarser. This is biologically impossible — dermaplaning cuts hair at the skin’s surface, and surface cutting does not alter the follicle, the growth cycle, or the hair structure in any way.
What patients sometimes notice is that regrowth feels slightly different at the tip. A hair that has grown naturally has a tapered, fine end. A hair that has been cut has a blunt end. That blunt end can feel slightly more noticeable to the touch as it regrows, which creates the perception of thicker hair — but the hair itself is identical in diameter, color, and texture. Within a few millimeters of growth, the difference is undetectable.
This is the same principle as shaving — and the “shaving makes hair thicker” myth has been thoroughly debunked. If you are considering dermaplaning but have been holding back because of this concern, it should not be a factor in your decision.
Building a Post-Dermaplaning Skincare Routine
Your skin is in an ideal state to absorb products after dermaplaning. Once you are past the 48-hour window where actives should be paused, this is an excellent time to get the most out of your skincare routine.
Medical-grade skincare lines like Revision Skincare and SkinBetter Science are formulated with higher concentrations of active ingredients than drugstore products, and those ingredients perform best when they can actually reach the skin. Dermaplaning removes the barrier that was limiting their penetration, so the two to three weeks following a dermaplaning session is when you will get the most value out of your serums, retinoids, and treatment products.
If you are not currently using medical-grade skincare and want guidance on what would work best for your skin, your provider can recommend products during your appointment or at any follow-up. We carry both Revision and SkinBetter at the practice and can help you build a routine that aligns with your specific concerns — whether that is brightening, anti-aging, hydration, or acne management.
How Often to Schedule Dermaplaning
Dermaplaning results last about four to six weeks, which aligns with the skin’s natural cell turnover cycle. As new dead cells accumulate and vellus hair regrows, the smooth texture gradually returns to its pre-treatment state.
For most patients, a dermaplaning session every four to six weeks maintains consistent results. Some patients schedule it as a standalone treatment; others add it as an enhancement to their regular HydraFacial or chemical peel appointments, which keeps the cadence natural without adding extra visits.
There is no harm in going longer between sessions — dermaplaning is a maintenance treatment, not a progressive one. Skipping a month or two does not undo previous results; it just means the buildup returns and the next session resets you back to that smooth baseline.
Dermaplaning Aftercare at ELLEMES
At ELLEMES Medical Spa, your provider — Lauren Siso, Jaycee Zotti, or Christian Carter — will walk you through aftercare instructions specific to your treatment before you leave the office. If your dermaplaning was paired with another service, you will receive aftercare guidance for the full treatment, not just the dermaplaning component.
If you have questions after your appointment — about a product you are unsure about using, a reaction you are concerned about, or anything else — reach out. That is what we are here for.
Learn more about dermaplaning at ELLEMES →
ELLEMES Medical Spa is located at 5505 Peachtree Dunwoody Road in Sandy Springs, GA — serving patients from Buckhead, Brookhaven, Dunwoody, and greater Atlanta.