Exfoliation is one of those things that can be overdone. Exfoliating regularly is a good thing, but too much of it can cause irritation. Exfoliating too much can cause irritation and redness. It may also leave your skin in a worse condition than when you began.
Exfoliation is the best way to achieve clearer and brighter skin. Our Skin Health Experts Clinic, recommends that our clients exfoliate between two and three times per week. After you have a base of clean, unclogged skin, you can reduce the frequency of exfoliation to one or two times a week.
The skin produces oils to keep it hydrated and healthy. Over-exfoliation may strip the skin of essential oils that are needed to maintain a healthy complexion. Exfoliating too much with the wrong kind of product can be irritating or aggressive for your skin. It’s understandable that you want to have softer, cleaner skin. But, it is important to follow the right steps.
Find out how to exfoliate your skin using a face scrub. Also, learn about the different types and our favorite tips for giving your face that TLC it deserves, without over-exfoliating.
Over-Exfoliation – How much is too much?
You can categorize your skin into three categories: combination, oily or dry. The skin type you have will determine how often to exfoliate.
Oily skin is characterized by a shinier skin tone, particularly in the t zone, and larger pores. The excess sebum, or oily secretion leads to an accumulation of impurities which clogs the pores more often. Normal exfoliation is recommended two to three days a week to balance the skin, and to keep it healthy and vibrant.
Dry skin feels tight because of the reduced amount of lipids that are needed to keep the skin moist. This can lead to flaky skin, dullness and uneven skin tone. Since your skin is lacking in natural oils, exfoliation will be less frequent. Once or twice a week, you can add it to your routine.
Combination skin is characterized by an oily T zone and dryness in other areas of the face. As it is in the middle, you can start by exfoliating two to three days a week and then adjust the frequency as necessary, depending on whether your skin tends to be more oily or dryer. If you have combination skin, exfoliate only the areas of the face that need it. For example, the forehead or bridge of the nose.
Exfoliation is important for your skin.
- Redness that persists
- Irritation
- Inflammation
- Acne breakouts
If your skin is very sensitive, you may also feel pain. Over-exfoliation can strip healthy skin cells and oils, leaving the skin exposed and raw. Your skin could crack, peel or lose its elasticity. If your skin becomes overly sensitive and irritated, try soothing your skin with a skin cream for sensitive skin if it becomes oversensitive and irritated.
If you have acne and oily skin, exfoliating daily may cause irritation. If you have dry skin, but notice small bumps and blackheads around your nose or hairline due to excessive sweating, you might want to increase the frequency of exfoliation. Stick to a routine that works for you.
Diet, age, hormonal changes, genetics and environmental factors all affect your skin’s type and its transformation over the years. Sleep and water consumption are other factors that affect the tone and texture of your skin. Your face might feel oilier or drier than normal on some days. Your skincare regimen should change as your skin changes.
Chemical Exfoliation or Mechanical Exfoliation: Which is better?
Exfoliation can be done in two ways. Chemical exfoliation is the first method. As the name implies, it uses acids or chemicals to dissolve impurities in your pores. It is especially popular for those with oily or acne-prone complexions. The beta and alpha hydroxy acid can help improve the cell turnover and smooth out the outer layer.
Chemical exfoliation can help acne, and it also fights bacteria. This helps to prevent skin breakouts. These chemicals can “purge” your pores and leave you with a clearer complexion. They are also gentler than mechanical exfoliation or manual scrubs.
Mechanical exfoliation, also called physical exfoliation, uses tools to remove dead skin cells. It also helps remove dirt that has gotten into the pores. Washcloths, exfoliating brushes, and facial scrubs with natural beads like Silicone can be used to remove the uppermost layer of skin and the impurities it contains. If the scrub or tool is too abrasive, or if you apply too much pressure, this can cause microtears. These can cause inflammation and an infection.
Use scrubs with exfoliating ingredients and soothing ingredients. You can easily make a facial scrub at home using brown sugar, honey or coconut oil. Honey and brown sugar work together to soften the skin.
Intensive Treatment offers you the best of both. It contains alpha-hydroxy acids like lactic to exfoliate skin “chemically”. The formula also contains silica, which acts as a mechanical tool or physical bead to exfoliate the skin. Vitamins A, C and E are antioxidants that also help unclog the pores. Fruit enzymes enhance exfoliation.
Tips for Exfoliating the Skin
Skin is under a lot of stress during the day. Makeup, sweat and bacteria can all get into your pores, causing blackheads and whiteheads. The combination of UV rays and harsh winds can cause havoc to your skin.
Fortunately, skin is resilient and can handle pressure. It does, however, deserve extra TLC to maintain its health and restore its natural beauty. Exfoliation can help you achieve this.
Take care when approaching
Exfoliators are not for thicker skin. Use circular motions instead to apply the product and remove the surface of the skin at the same. It is important to remove the dead skin cells, dirt and grime from your face that can get deep inside your pores. It is important to note that gentle exfoliation can be used.
Double up on one day? No problem
If you haven’t done it in a long time, you may think that the more the better, but the truth is, there’s really no need to exfoliate more than once per day. Keep a skin-type-specific schedule. If you have oily or combination skin, exfoliating every other day might be required. If you have dry skin, you might only need to exfoliate your skin twice or once a week.
Exfoliation should be a regular part in your skincare regimen, and not just an occasional one
Some people only exfoliate when their skin is inflamed. You can avoid impurities clogging your pores by using it regularly. You will also notice a smoother texture. In the shower, you can use a Body Exfoliator to achieve a similar result on your arms and legs.
Use the tools that you already have
You only need a washcloth or exfoliating brush for mechanical exfoliation. These tools can be used alone or in conjunction with an exfoliating cleaner. Chemical exfoliation relies on enzymes and chemical ingredients to do the job. Intensive treatment is a great product to have on hand. It cleans and nourishes the skin while cleaning out your pores.
You’ll notice a difference the first time you exfoliate. As you become more regular, your skin’s condition will improve. Over-exfoliation reverses the progress made. What’s right for you depends on your skin type, your current skin condition and the best way to exfoliate.
This post was written by a professional at RevivaMask. RevivaMask is manufactured using high-quality umbilical cord-derived ingredients specifically designed for skin rejuvenation. The RevivaMask’s solution captures a mixture of ingredients in extracellular vesicles including a high concentration of exosomes, growth factors, cytokines, proteins, and interleukins which can help restore damaged tissue, maintain skin elasticity, and speed treatment recovery time for an unmatched experience in skin rejuvenation. Contact RevivaMask to rejuvenate your skin today.
