Dermaplaning vs microdermabrasion: which suits your skin?

How do dermaplaning and microdermabrasion differ?

Florida definitions from rule 61G5-18.00015, F.A.C. Prices vary by provider and city.

Dermaplaning, in plain terms

It is a close shave for the face, done to exfoliate. The blade lifts the dull top layer of dead cells and the soft vellus hair with it, which is why makeup often sits more smoothly afterward.

The myth worth clearing up: the hair does not grow back thicker or darker. Cleveland Clinic explains that new peach fuzz only looks coarser while its blunt tip pushes through the skin, and it feels softer again as it grows.

Where it goes wrong is during a breakout. Cleveland Clinic's dermatology advice is to wait out active acne or an eczema flare, because the blade can spread bacteria and cause new breakouts.

Microdermabrasion, in plain terms

The Florida rule describes it as mechanical exfoliation: a closed vacuum shoots fine crystals at the skin and pulls the loosened dead cells back up. Diamond-tip devices do the same job with an abrasive tip instead of loose crystals.

Cleveland Clinic lists age spots, enlarged pores, fine lines, mild acne scars, uneven tone and sun damage among the things it can make less noticeable. It only reaches the top layer. For deeper scars or wrinkles, dermatologists turn to stronger treatments.

The AAD says most people need a series, often 5 to 16 treatments, and that there is no real recovery period.

Which one suits your skin?

A first sort. A good provider will look at your skin before choosing.

Darker skin tones: what to watch

The AAD states that microdermabrasion is safe for all skin colors. It also notes that people who tend to get dark spots after acne or small injuries can get new dark spots from it, a risk it calls minor in a dermatologist's hands.

That pattern applies to any exfoliation on melanin-rich skin. Irritation is a trigger for post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, the flat brown or gray marks the AAD says can take 6 to 12 months to fade. A nick from a blade, or a session that leaves skin raw, can trade one concern for another.

So go gently: fewer passes, longer gaps between visits, and a tinted sunscreen with iron oxide afterward, which the AAD recommends because it also blocks visible light.

What Karisma offers

At Karisma Esthetics, both live inside the Advanced Glow Facial, $225: Kay picks dermaplaning, microdermabrasion, a light peel or an enzyme for your skin that day. Neither is sold on its own. That price covers a full facial, so weigh it against facial prices rather than a single 30-minute session. The microdermabrasion page sets out how it works at the studio.

If you are new to the studio or your skin reacts easily, the Signature Facial at $125 starts gentler and includes a consultation, so Kay Woodson can tell you whether exfoliation suits your skin at all.