Zap that facial hair!

Ever noticed how the peach fuzz hair stand out even more underneath your foundation and face cream? While we discuss a lot of things from bikini waxes to bedroom problems, facial hair in women is one topic that's always kept firmly under the wraps. Women have facial hair for all sorts of reasons. It could be an overdose of testosterone in you, polycystic ovaries or even some genetic disposition. No matter what the reason is, facial hair has always been the ultimate beauty taboo.

While you are hell-bent on trying out all possible methods to get rid of this hair, celebrities like Reese Witherspoon or Carrie Underwood seem to have a simpler and  smarter take on it.An excellent method for exfoliation and hair removal,  dermaplaning is one treatment that is popular among most of the Hollywood A-listers. Recommended by dermatologists and aestheticians across the world, dermaplaning is a physical or mechanical exfoliating method that uses a sterile blade at a 45-degree angle to gently scrape the top layer of dead skin cells for a smoother, more luminous complexion.

Dermaplaning is done using a surgical blade by well-trained physicians in a sterile setting. The dermaplaning razor will remove all the little hair on your face thus letting your makeup go on super smoothly.

Essentially, dermaplaning should be done once a month to treat unevenness of the skin and to get rid of fine facial hair. It allows newer healthier skin cells to replace the older cells. Once the treatment is  done, the skin will start to feel smoother and your skincare products will also start to be more effective. Dermaplaning is much more effective than laser treatment as it works on fine hair too.

This procedure is effective for those with dry or rough skin texture and helps to minimise superficial acne scarring or uneven skin tone. The treatment will benefit people with mature skin too because dead cells tend to build up in them as cellular turnover slows down with age. Unlike chemical peels, dermaplaning is totally safe for pregnant or lactating women also. But people with very oily skin or active acne and those with thick, dark facial hair should avoid this procedure.

The procedure costs can vary between Rs 5,000 - Rs 10,000. It is a common misconception that removing hair causes it to grow back thicker, coarser, and darker. Nothing more than an old wives’ tale, the same hair will re-grow at the same rate and with the same texture as before. Unlike shaving, dermaplaning is performed freehand with a surgical scalpel on tautly stretched skin. Apart from a light redness for a few minutes, there is no downtime and there will be no pain or bleeding.

The writer is a cosmetic surgeon.

(Disclaimer: Always check with an expert before going ahead with such treatment.)