| For the millions of acne sufferers spread across | | | | The idea is that the process removes damaged |
| the globe, clear skin is the ultimate goal. | | | | and scarred skin, allowing new, healthy, and |
| Unfortunately, however, clear skin is not always | | | | smooth skin to grow in its place. Although it may |
| perfect skin; acne often leaves behind visible | | | | sound kind of scary, it is actually a very simple |
| scarring. Acne scars form when the deep | | | | and said to be relatively painless; in fact, reports |
| connective tissue layer of the skin, called the | | | | suggest that there is usually no redness at all |
| dermis, is injured or damaged in some way. This | | | | from the procedure! Other positive aspects of |
| damage triggers the body to start producing | | | | dermaplaning include the lack of chemicals, the |
| collagen, a tough, fibrous protein meant to hold | | | | short treatment time, immediate results, and the |
| the wound together while it heals. Sometimes | | | | incidental effects of treatment, such as the |
| collagen is overproduced, creating a hypertrophic | | | | removal of wrinkles and unwanted hairs...always a |
| scar, or not properly taken apart once the wound | | | | nice bonus! |
| has healed, creating a depressed-type scar. Both | | | | Despite all these good points, some people still |
| types of acne scars can be more obvious than | | | | have reservations about using dermaplaning to |
| one might like, mainly because they aren't at the | | | | remove acne scars, the first of which is that it's |
| same level as the surrounding skin, either too high | | | | too gentle. Given the recovery times of other |
| or too low. | | | | forms of cosmetic surgery, gentleness seems like |
| While scars do fade, this process can take several | | | | a good thing, but it has been suggested that |
| years, and for some people that can be too long | | | | similar results can be accomplished by at-home |
| a wait. Topical treatments are useful for | | | | exfoliators. Another more obvious criticism is that |
| superficial scars, but those with deeper scarring | | | | the face could so easily be nicked during the |
| generally look for cosmetic surgery as a more | | | | procedure. There are limited reviews of |
| effective form of acne scar treatment. Laser skin | | | | dermaplaning, and I was not able to find any |
| resurfacing is a particularly popular procedure, | | | | complaints to this effect. |
| partly because the physician is able to see the | | | | Dermaplaning is very inexpensive, particulary |
| effects of the treatment as it progresses, | | | | compared to other methods of surgical acne scar |
| allowing them to provide a more personally | | | | treatment, and there are many positive aspects |
| tailored procedure. It is also thought to allow the | | | | to recommend this procedure. The biggest |
| greatest amount of precision in treating acne | | | | complaint seems to be its gentleness, and in my |
| scars. So rather than a laser, what about allowing | | | | mind, it is better to start out being too gentle |
| a surgeon to use a hand-held knife to resurface | | | | with your skin than too rough. If you're |
| the face? The image may make us cringe, but | | | | interested, be sure to book a consultation with a |
| dermaplaning is one of the least invasive surgical | | | | professional; dermaplaning must be performed by |
| scar treatments, and often has excellent results. | | | | a doctor, who would be able to advise you |
| Dermaplaning, similar in concept to dermabrasion, | | | | before-hand whether or not the procedure will |
| uses a small, sharp handheld instrument called a | | | | satisfy the changes you desire. |
| dermatome to gently scrape off layers of skin. | | | | |