The Truth About Dermaplaning: Why Your Smooth Skin Today Might Be a Nightmare Tomorrow

Dermaplaning has become one of the latest beauty crazes, celebrated for its ability to remove peach fuzz and give skin a smooth, makeup-ready finish. Beauty influencers and even some professionals tout it as a quick, harmless way to exfoliate and enhance your skin’s glow.

But as someone dedicated to helping people achieve healthy, long-term results for their skin and hair removal needs, I can’t stress this enough: dermaplaning is not the solution it’s made out to be. In fact, it can lead to serious long-term damage, making you wish you’d never started it.

What Is Dermaplaning, and Why Is It Problematic?

Dermaplaning involves using a surgical scalpel to scrape off dead skin cells and fine vellus hairs (commonly called peach fuzz). While the immediate result may look smooth and polished, what’s really happening underneath the surface is far from ideal.

It Damages Your Skin’s Natural Barrier

Your skin’s outermost layer, called the stratum corneum, is your first line of defense against environmental pollutants, bacteria, and moisture loss. Dermaplaning scrapes away this protective layer, leaving your skin more exposed to irritation, dehydration, and long-term damage.

This treatment also disrupts the skin’s natural microbiome—the ecosystem of healthy bacteria that helps keep harmful microorganisms at bay. Once that balance is thrown off, you may find yourself dealing with unexpected breakouts, redness, or even premature aging.

Vellus Hair Serves a Purpose

The fine, soft hairs you’re removing during dermaplaning might seem unnecessary, but they’re there for a reason. Vellus hair plays a protective role by shielding your skin from bacteria and environmental debris. Removing it repeatedly not only leaves your skin vulnerable but can also send the wrong signals to your hair follicles.

How Dermaplaning Can Trigger Unwanted Hair Growth

Here’s the part most beauty gurus won’t tell you: dermaplaning doesn’t just remove peach fuzz—it can stimulate your hair follicles into overdrive.

'I got dermaplaning not too long ago,' says Molly, 'and it's something that I wish I didn't do,' Molly told Grazia. 'You get told "oh, you need to get dermaplaning, the hair won't grow back" but it's like anything, once you start shaving your legs, the hair grows back thicker, and then you have to do it all the time. A bit of advice I would give, is think about it before you start it, because it's something you have to really keep up with.'

When you repeatedly remove vellus hair, it can cause a phenomenon called hypertrichosis, where the body responds by growing more hair. This risk is amplified if you experience hormonal imbalances, such as during perimenopause, menopause or with conditions like PCOS. Hormones can cause peach fuzz (vellus hair) to transition into terminal hair (coarser, thicker, darker hair). So, while you may enjoy smooth skin now, in a few years, you could end up with a fuller beard due to long-term damage to your hair follicles.

Imagine opting for dermaplaning to maintain a smooth face, only to notice a fuller beard developing months or years down the line. Hormonal shifts combined with the repeated disruption of your hair’s natural growth cycle could lead to a situation where you’ve traded a minor cosmetic concern for a much more challenging problem.

The Risks of Using a Surgical Blade on Your Skin

The idea of shaving your face with a surgical scalpel may seem cutting-edge (pun intended), but there’s a reason these tools are designed for medical procedures—not for regular beauty treatments. Unlike controlled exfoliation methods that target dead skin cells, dermaplaning can remove living, healthy tissue, causing microscopic tears in the skin.

These micro-injuries may not be immediately visible, but over time, they weaken your skin’s ability to repair itself, leading to long-term issues like:

• Thinner, more fragile skin.
• Increased sensitivity.
• A greater risk of infection.

When you add it all up—disrupted hair growth, microbiome imbalance, and damage to your skin’s natural defenses—it’s clear that dermaplaning isn’t the harmless trend it’s marketed to be.

Why the Long-Term Effects Aren’t Worth It

While dermaplaning might offer a short-term glow, the long-term consequences far outweigh the temporary benefits. By compromising your skin’s natural defenses and potentially altering your hair growth patterns, you’re setting yourself up for regret years down the road.

If you’re looking for real, lasting improvements to your skin or hair removal concerns, choose methods that work with your body’s natural processes—not against them. Your future self will thank you.

Peach Fuzz is Normal!

Peach fuzz is completely normal and serves a natural purpose in protecting your skin. However, if you have concerns about your facial hair and you're looking for a permanent solution, electrolysis is the answer. Unlike dermaplaning or other temporary methods, electrolysis is the only FDA-approved treatment for permanent hair removal. At Razor Free Electrolysis, we specialize in helping you achieve smooth, hair-free skin without compromising your skin’s health or natural defenses. Don’t settle for temporary; invest in lasting results. Book your free 30-minute consultation today and take the first step toward confidence that lasts a lifetime. 

Ready to take the next step? Book your free 30-minute consultation today and discover how Razor Free Electrolysis can help you feel your best.