Exfoliating Do's and Don'ts

As a qualified skin therapist, I frequently see people either exfoliate too much or don't exfoliating enough. This skin blog is here as a guide to exfoliating do's and don'ts, to simplify this important part of your skincare routine and ensure you get the benefits from a proper exfoliating routine.

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WHY IS EXFOLIATING IMPORTANT

Exfoliating the skin is important as it assists the removal of dead skin cells from the surface of the skin. Skin cells are constantly renewing and a typical skin cell cycle is 28 days. As new skin cells are formed at the base of the epidermis, the skin cell naturally works it's way through to the surface of the skin where it dies and naturally flakes off the surface. Exfoliating helps to assist this natural process called desquamation.

BENEFITS OF EXFOLIATING

• Assists the removal of dead skin cells

• Aids the absorption of products and active ingredients by removing dead skin cells that can cause a barrier blocking product absorption

• Increases skin cell renewal. As we age, our skin cell renewal slows. Exfoliating assists the removal of dead skin cells, triggering a response from the skin to create new skin cells speeding up skin cell renewal

• Assists skin cell renewal helping to remove damaged skin cells such as scarring, pigmentation and helps to smooth uneven skin tone

• Assists with congestion removing excess dirt, debris and excess oil build up on the surface of the skin

• Creates a smooth, soft skin surface

TYPES OF EXFOLIANTS

Type of Exfoliant	Physical	Chemical	Enzymatic
Characteristic	Object or ingredient used to mechanically exfoliate	Contains AHA's or BHA's	Natural ingredients such as bromelain, papain and Bacillus bacteria
Form	Scrubs, body brushes, exfoliating mitts	Cleansers, peels, spot treatments	Lotions, creams, masks
Skin type suitability	Intact, combination, oily, normal, mature	Intact, dry, combination, oily, normal, mature	Impaired, dry, sensitive, combination, normal, mature

EXFOLIATING DO's

Exfoliate 1-3 times per week

It is recommend to exfoliate between 1-3 times per week depending on your skin type and the skincare product your using. As we beginning to exfoliate on a regular basis we can gauge when our skin needs to be exfoliated as we can feel build up on the skin. Best advice, find what works for your skin and create a regular routine.

Use the correct exfoliant for your skin type

There are different types of exfoliants and using the right exfoliant for your skin type will ensure the product your using is doing its job correctly, properly assisting the skin to remove dead skin cells without being harmful to the skin.

Use a sunscreen everyday

As we begin to incorporate exfoliating into our skincare routine, we are removing the dead protective skin barrier from the surface of the skin that sometimes further assists to protect the skin from the sun. A sunscreen should be used everyday.

See related: Sunscreen - Why it's SO Important!

EXFOLIATING DONT's

Exfoliate too much

If we exfoliate too much, we are not leaving enough time for the skin cells to naturally die. In the process, we start to exfoliate into the new skin cells which can cause micro tears to the skin resulting in an impaired skin barrier. This creates open pathways in the skin enabling bacteria, dirt, debris and excess oil to enter the skin. The skin is usually breakout prone, sensitive, dry and can have inflammation present.

Use the wrong exfoliant for your skin type

There are different types of exfoliants and using the wrong exfoliant for your skin type can be harmful to the skin. The wrong exfoliant for your skin type can cause dryness, sensitivity or irritation to the skin. On the other side, using the wrong exfoliant can also mean it isn't doing its job correctly, meaning it can be ineffective in assisting the skin to remove dead skin cells.

WHEN SHOULD EXFOLIATING BE AVOIDED

• Sun burnt skin

• Impaired skin barriers

• Red, inflamed skin

• On open wounds, blisters and burns

• For up to 1 week post certain skin treatments

• On new cosmetic facial tattooing

• Around the eye area

• Chronic skin conditions such as Eczema and Psoriasis

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