August 29, 2022 5 min read

HOW TO KNOW WHEN (AND WHEN NOT) TO EXFOLIATE

What is exfoliating the skin? What are the creams used to exfoliate the skin? Herein is about knowing when to exfoliate the skin, including; signs to show when to exfoliate, when to stop, and acne levels.

Many have the habit of over-exfoliating, while others tend to under-exfoliate. People should not be confused about how frequently they should exfoliate their skin. A person needs to know the appropriate time to exfoliate your skin to give you energetic, shiny, glowing, and young-like skin. Ensure you don't experience drawbacks such as the burning and stinging effects or skin redness after exfoliating the skin. A person only needs to be keen and know when to exfoliate and when not to.

Signs That You Should Exfoliate Your Skin

If Not Using Retinoid

It is wise to use retinoids since it has Vitamin A that enhances the ramped cell turnover, and boosts collagen production in the skin. The cells divide faster and don't find time to accumulate on the skin because of the faster turnover if you take retinoids. The ideal way to smoothen your skin is to use a retinoid that prevents collagen build-up, decreasing the risks of getting wrinkles on your face. However, if you are not using a retinoid, you may need to exfoliate your skin to remove dead skin cells and make it brighter and younger.

When Don't Products Get Absorbed?

Sometimes a person may feel that the skincare products they use do not get absorbed into their skin but remain. It is a great sign that a person should exfoliate to open pores and allow skincare products to get absorbed easily into their skin.

When You Spend Much Time Busking

According to Reiter (2000), busking is an indication that you need to exfoliate when the summer ends since exposure to the sun contributes to the thickening of the skin. Some little exfoliation will help things work for a person experiencing sunburns.

Dull Skin

The top reason why exfoliation would be recommended for a person is when the skin's quality is dull with no light reflection. When your complexion becomes less luminous, it might indicate that you should exfoliate to make it smooth.

When You Feel Your Skin Is Clogged

A person can wash their face and feel that it's not enough. Exfoliation is what a person needs. The skin may be oily while wearing a mask and also feel like it is blocked. According to Dauvergne (2018), wearing lots of makeup makes a person feel like they have debris accumulated in their calls for exfoliation. People need to take care and keep themselves clean, safe, and healthy if they are not prone to pigments and redness.

When Experiencing Scaly Patches and Bumpy Skin

Yin et al. (2019) suggested that dry skin can cause peels of patches, scales, and cracks. It can also make the skin feel tight, accompanied by painful, painful sores that do not heal easily. A person can also notice skin texture changes as it becomes rough. It is a sign that a person should exfoliate their skin to restore its texture and make it moisturized.

Signs that You Should Stop Exfoliation

Exfoliation is a great thing for the skin. Benge (2012) noted that perfect scrubbing sessions remove the dirt and excess oils and further boo circulation, leaving you with a silky and smooth face. However, too much of this is also dangerous to your skin. Here are signs that you should not exfoliate.

When Your Face is Extremely Shiny

When the face becomes too shiny, know that a person should take a break from exfoliation. For over-exfoliated skins, light is reflected away since the skin's natural texture is over-smoothened.

When Your Breakouts Worsen

When you exfoliate excessively, the skin gets stripped off from the natural moisture, promoting the sebaceous glands to produce extra oil for compensation, especially if hydration is lost. Additionally, aggressively scrubbing your skin often disrupts the skin's lipid barrier, thus exposing the beneath layers to free radicals and bacteria.

When You Feel that Your Skin Was Sunburned

Itchiness, redness, and puffiness are responses produced by the skin when it is in distress. The top epidermal skim shields the skin against pollutants, allergens, and irritants. The skin becomes even more susceptible to environmental damages and irritants.

When Your Skin Has a Crepe Paper-like Feeling

When a person over-exfoliates the skin, the healthier lipids, and cells that help the skin retain the natural hydration level get stripped off. For flaky and fine-lined skin which becomes visible, this is a real sign that you should exfoliate to make the skin gain enough moisture.

When Your Skin Dries Up Easily

Over-exfoliation causes the skin to dry and peel off. When you experience dry patches, especially with limited moisture on your skin, this clearly shows you should exfoliate. However, when the skin peels off, it indicates that a person shouldn't proceed with exfoliation since it will worsen the situation.

High Acne Levels

A person can develop acne when you over-exfoliate your skin. Enough exfoliation greatly benefits your skin by preventing pimples as it keeps the pores clear for efficient circulation. The skin grows weaker because it can't protect itself from bacteria when a person exfoliates by rubbing.

Tighter Skin

People may feel their skin is tighter than usual whenever they wash their face. Over-exfoliation makes the skin tighter, and it is possible to notice this when making a facial gesture. Tighter skin is uncomfortable and might cause other skin disorders such as cracking and dry skin.

Conclusion

People can exfoliate their skin chemically or mechanically, depending on what works best for them. Mechanical exfoliation involves using brushes and scrubs to apply the exfoliating products to the body. Exfoliating chemically involves using hydroxy acids such as glycolic acid and salicylic to break the tight bonds between the cells and smoothen the skin. Other products may come down to personal preferences and what the skin handles. Excessive exfoliation can cause skin irritation, leading to tenderness and redness. Don't go for physical exfoliators if you have sensitive skin. Instead, use chemical exfoliators that need no rubbing, unlike the physical ones. Chemical exfoliators also work deep to give a person better results.

References

Benge, S. (2014). Asian Secrets Of Health, Beauty, And Relaxation. Tuttle Publishing.

Dauvergne, P. (2018). The Power Of Environmental Norms: Marine Plastic Pollution And The Politics Of Microbeads. Environmental Politics, 27(4), 579-597.

Reiter, D. P. (2002). Kiss And Tell. Interactive Publications.

Yin, M., Xiao, L., Liu, Q., Kwon, S. Y., Zhang, Y., Sharma, P. R., ... & Xu, B. (2019). 3D Printed Microheater Sensor‐Integrated, Drug‐Encapsulated Microneedle Patch System For Pain Management. Advanced Healthcare Materials, 8(23), 1901170.