I’m sure you have been told to exfoliate our face at least twice a week. Although this may be common knowledge, most probably don’t know why. I wanted to share the benefits, as well as the proper way, to achieve better looking skin. Here is a quick lesson on the do’s and don’ts of exfoliating.
Benefits
Your skin is constantly producing new cells in the dermis, which create dead skin cells. As we age our skin turnover decreases and leaving unevenness and dry patches. Exfoliating is a method of getting rid of those dead skin cells. This helps reduce appearance of lines and wrinkles. As soon as I turned 30, I noticed my skin lost a little bit of my youthful glow. That is why exfoliating should be done on a regular basis to reveal a fresher brighter skin. Also by removing the dead cells it will help cleansers, serums, and moisturizers penetrate the skin better.
Here are few tips to keep in mind:
Do’s
- exfoliate your face and body 2-3 times a week
- test if manual or chemical exfoliation is better for your skin
- use alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), if using chemical, which breaks the bonds of upper layer dead cells
- use a circle motion when exfoliating, but keep a light hand to not irritate your skin
- exfoliate in warm, not hot, to open up pores
- try dry brushing to exfoliate your body
- test exfoliation wash on a small patch in inner arm to see if it irritates before using
Don’ts:
- just use any store bought exfoliation, some can contain beads that are to rough for the skin
- use AHA in the morning, only at night with less exposure
- over-exfoliate your skin, especially as you get older skin gets more thinner
- assume all exfoliates will work, gauge your tolerance and skin sensitivity
Please contact your dermatologist before using any exfoliating method