Dermaplaning Aftercare Made Simple: What to Do Next (and What to Avoid)

That fresh, smooth feeling after dermaplaning is so satisfying… until you start wondering what you can actually do next without messing up your skin.

The tricky part is that right after dermaplaning your skin can be a bit more “open” than usual, so products can hit harder, and small mistakes (like using acids too soon or overheating your face) can lead to redness, dryness, or breakouts.

This guide keeps things simple. I’ll walk you through what to do straight away, what to avoid, and which products are usually the safest bet, plus clear answers on makeup, exercise, swimming, sun, and popular treatments like red light therapy, Botox, and microneedling.

The short version

• Keep your routine gentle for 24–48 hours.
• Moisturiser + SPF are the priority.
• Pause acids and retinoids for a few days.
• Avoid heat, heavy sweating, and tanning right after.
• If it stings, stop and simplify.

Why aftercare matters (in plain English)

Your skin barrier needs a breather

Dermaplaning takes off a thin “protective” layer on the surface of your skin. That’s why your face can feel extra smooth, but also a bit more sensitive right after.

In one lab study, dermaplaning noticeably reduced the skin’s barrier resistance and made it easier for substances to pass through the skin. In real life, that can translate to one simple thing: products can feel stronger than usual.

When the barrier is a little disrupted, skin can also lose moisture faster. Scientists often measure this as transepidermal water loss (TEWL), which basically means “how much water escapes through your skin.” Higher TEWL = a more stressed barrier.

What you might notice (and it’s usually temporary):

• Tightness or dryness
• Mild redness
• Stinging when you use strong products (especially acids and retinoids)

What to do right after dermaplaning

Right after dermaplaning, the goal is simple: keep your skin calm and protected.

• Don’t touch or pick. Even light rubbing can trigger redness when your skin is feeling a bit more sensitive.
• Keep things clean. Wash your hands before skincare, and if you’re prone to breakouts, swap to a fresh pillowcase that night.
• Moisturise first. A simple, fragrance-free moisturiser is ideal.
• Finish with SPF (if it’s daytime). Sun protection matters more than usual after dermaplaning, even if you’re only popping outside.

Washing your face and showering

Cleansing your face

Washing your face straight after dermaplaning is very tempting, but it’s not always the best move. Your skin can be a little more vulnerable right after the treatment, so giving it a short break first is often kinder.

You can cleanse on the same day, but ideally wait a few hours. Some clinics suggest waiting around 4 hours, but for most people, anything in that “few hours” range is fine as long as you keep it gentle.

When you do cleanse:

• Use lukewarm water
• Choose a mild, non-foaming cleanser
• Cleanse with your fingertips only
• Pat your skin dry (don’t rub)

For now, skip anything that adds friction: washcloths, cleansing brushes, exfoliating cloths, or anything that encourages scrubbing.

Oil cleansing

If oil cleansing normally suits your skin, it’s usually fine to keep doing it. Just don’t do it straight after dermaplaning. Wait a few hours, keep the massage light, and avoid strongly scented oils or essential-oil-heavy blends while your skin is in that “extra sensitive” window.

If you’re dermaplaning at home and prefer using oil for extra slip, see my guide to dermaplaning with oil and the best oils to use.

Showering

Showers are fine. Just keep the water warm rather than hot, and try not to let a strong, hot stream hit your face for ages.

What to put on your skin now

Right after dermaplaning, think hydrate and protect. This isn’t the time to “treat” your skin with lots of extras.

Keep it simple for the first day or two:

• A gentle cleanser
• A simple moisturiser (fragrance-free if possible)
• Broad-spectrum SPF every morning (even if you’re just out and about)

Cleveland Clinic’s Dr. Piliang puts it plainly: dermaplaning can lightly disrupt your barrier, so moisturise well and keep wearing sunscreen.

Hydration add-ons (only if they feel good)

If your skin feels totally fine, you can add one calming hydrator:

• Hyaluronic acid
• Niacinamide
• Aloe vera (plain formulas that don’t sting)

If any of these tingle or sting, pause and go back to moisturiser only.

What about oils (like jojoba or castor oil)?

If your skin loves oils, jojoba is usually the safer, lighter option. Castor oil is thicker and can feel heavy on some skin, so I’d treat it as a “later” product rather than day-one aftercare. Either way, use a tiny amount and stop if you notice stinging or congestion.

Can you use Vaseline?

Yes. A thin layer on dry patches or tiny nicks can really help, because petroleum jelly protects the area and helps it stay moist while it settles.

If you’re acne-prone, keep it as a spot fix rather than slathering it all over, since some people find it can feel too heavy and trigger congestion.

Toner and extra steps

You don’t need toner after dermaplaning. If you love using one, keep it boring and hydrating. If it tingles, it’s not the one for today.

What not to put on your skin after dermaplaning

For the next few days, avoid anything that exfoliates, tingles, or puts extra stress on your skin. This is where most redness and stinging comes from.

Put these on hold

• Scrubs and gritty cleansers (anything labelled “polishing” or “smoothing”)
• Exfoliating acids and peel-style products (glycolic, lactic, salicylic/BHA, peel pads)
• Retinoids (retinol, tretinoin, adapalene)
• Strong vitamin C serums (they can sting on freshly treated skin)
• Stronger brighteners that can irritate (like kojic acid)
• “Active” toners that sting or feel drying (alcohol-heavy, heavily fragranced, or labelled “clarifying,” “resurfacing,” or “exfoliating”)
• Exfoliating tools like cleansing brushes, rough cloths, or exfoliating gloves

Dermatologists commonly recommend avoiding exfoliation for several days after dermaplaning, including products like tretinoin and salicylic acid.

When can you restart them?

Wait until your skin feels completely normal again (no tightness, no warmth, no stinging), then reintroduce products slowly. For many people that’s around 3–7 days, but if you’re easily irritated, give it longer.

A safe way to do it:

• Bring back one thing at a time
• Start every other night
• If your skin stings or feels tight and dry, pause again and stick with the basics a bit longer

What about face masks after dermaplaning?

After you’ve just hit pause on acids and retinoids, it’s normal to wonder if a mask is a “safe” way to treat your skin. The good news is you don’t have to skip masks completely, you just need to pick the right type.

Hydrating and soothing masks are usually fine, especially if your skin feels a little tight or dry. That includes most simple sheet masks and collagen masks, as long as they don’t tingle or contain strong “active” ingredients.

Better later:

• Clay masks (they can over-dry and leave skin feeling tight)
• Enzyme masks (they can act like exfoliation)
• Anything that tingles or feels “active”

If you’re not sure, keep it simple: moisturiser is often the best “mask” for the first day or two.

Makeup after dermaplaning

You can wear makeup after dermaplaning, but it’s usually best to wait until the next day (roughly 24 hours) to lower the risk of irritation or breakouts. That’s because your skin is a little more exposed right after dermaplaning, so makeup can feel heavier and certain ingredients can bother you more than usual.

When you do apply it, keep it simple:

• Use clean brushes or sponges
• Go lighter than usual and avoid heavy, drying matte formulas at first
• If your skin feels irritated, skip makeup and stick with moisturiser + SPF until everything calms down

If you want the full step-by-step, see my guide on makeup after dermaplaning.

Exercise and sweating

It’s fine to get moving after dermaplaning, you just don’t want to heat your face up too much too soon.

Light exercise is usually fine after about 24 hours. If you flush easily, it’s smarter to avoid really intense workouts for 48 hours.

Hot yoga, HIIT, long runs, and anything that leaves you drenched can trigger redness and stinging when your skin is still settling. If you do work out, rinse your face soon after, then reapply moisturiser (and SPF if you’re heading out).

Swimming and water exposure

If you can, wait a couple of days before swimming.

Chlorine, salt water, and even lake water can sting or irritate freshly treated skin. If you do swim, rinse your face as soon as you can afterwards and follow up with moisturiser.

Heat, steam, and sauna

For the first couple of days, try to avoid anything that’s basically “face heat on purpose.”

That means hot baths, steam rooms, saunas, and even steam facials. They’re more likely to bring out redness while your skin is still a bit reactive.

Sun and tanning

Going outside is fine. Trying to tan is the part to avoid.

SPF every day is non-negotiable after dermaplaning, and it’s worth avoiding long stretches of direct sun for the first few days.

Sunbeds

Avoid sunbeds for at least a week, and longer if you’re prone to pigmentation.

Fake tan

Wait until your skin feels calm and normal again, then patch test first. Also, try not to use strong actives around fake tan days, because they can make the tan go patchy and uneven.

Other treatments after dermaplaning

A simple rule: don’t stack too much at once. If your skin is already a little more reactive, piling on extra treatments can be the thing that tips it into redness or irritation.

• Botox and fillers: Often fine, but timing varies by clinic. If you’re booking them close together (or on the same day), ask your injector what they prefer.
• Red light therapy: Usually gentle and well tolerated. Keep the device clean, start with a shorter session, and stop if you notice extra redness or stinging.
• Waxing: Best to give your skin time to settle first. If you’re feeling any tenderness or dryness, wait.
• Microneedling, laser treatments (including laser hair removal) and peels: These are more intense treatments, so it’s best to space them out rather than stacking them back-to-back. A common approach is to leave around 2 weeks between dermaplaning and treatments like microneedling or laser (the exact timing depends on the treatment and your skin). Always follow your practitioner’s schedule, especially if you’re sensitive or prone to pigmentation.

If you messed up, do this

It happens. The fix is usually the same: stop “treating” your skin and go back to basics until it calms down.

If your skin burns or stings

• Stop all actives (acids, retinoids, strong vitamin C, anything that tingles)
• Stick to a gentle cleanser, a simple moisturiser, and SPF
• Avoid heat and heavy sweating for a day or two while it settles

If you broke out

• Simplify your routine for a few days
• If you’re acne-prone, avoid heavy oils and thick layers that can feel cloggy
• Don’t scrub to “clean it out” as that usually makes it worse

If breakouts are a recurring issue for you, I go deeper into the causes and prevention tips in my dermaplaning and acne post.

If you’re dry and flaky

• Switch to a richer moisturiser for a few nights
• Dab a thin layer of Vaseline on dry patches at night
• Skip exfoliation until your skin feels normal again

When to get help

If you notice swelling, blistering, severe pain, or irritation that keeps getting worse, get medical advice.

When to skip dermaplaning next time

Dermaplaning is not a good idea if your skin is already stressed.

Skip it if you have:

• Sunburn, irritation, an eczema flare, or any kind of infection
• Active, inflamed acne spots
• A pattern of reacting badly every time (it may simply not be the right treatment for your skin)

Wrap-up: keep it calm, then build back up

Dermaplaning aftercare is mostly about timing. Support your skin first, then go back to your normal routine once it feels steady again.

A simple way to avoid problems is to follow two rules:

• If it tingles, it’s too soon.
• Add back one thing at a time, with a day or two in between so you know what your skin is reacting to.

If your skin stays red, sore, or gets worse instead of better, don’t push through it. Stick with gentle basics and get advice if you’re worried.