Benefits of Exfoliation

You've probably heard us talk about exfoliation before. Maybe you exfoliate your face and body regularly, or just get a facial once in a while. Maybe you've never exfoliated at all! This week, we're shedding some light on why it's important to shed that dead skin on your face and body.

What is exfoliation? But first: What is exfoliation? Exfoliation is the process of removing dead skin cells from your skin's surface, whether through chemical or physical exfoliation.

• Chemical exfoliation uses acids (AHAs for the surface and BHAs to penetrate the pores) to dissolve the bonds between dead skin cells. Chemical exfoliants are favored by dermatologists because they provide controlled, even exfoliation without the risk of micro-tearing the skin, particularly the face. There are plenty of chemical exfoliants that come in the form of masks for the face and shower gels, sprays, and lotions for the body.

• Physical exfoliation uses granular textures or tools like mitts, brushes, loofahs, and scrubs to mechanically buff away dead skin cells. When using physical exfoliants on the face, it's important to be gentle so as not to irritate the skin.

How often should I exfoliate?

• Face: Aim to exfoliate your face 1-3 times per week, depending on your skin type. You can alternate between chemical and physical exfoliants, but it's best to use physical exfoliants no more than once or twice per week to keep the skin barrier safe. (What's the skin barrier? Learn more here.)

• Body: As with the face, exfoliate no more than 1-3 times per week, and limit using physical exfoliants to no more than once or twice a week so as not to irritate your skin.

What are the benefits of exfoliation?

• Unclogs pores: Getting rid of those built-up dead skin cells helps prevent pores from getting blocked with sebum and debris, which reduces the formation of acne, whiteheads, and blackheads. Using a chemical exfoliator with BHAs on the face has the added benefit of removing excess oil and dirt.

• Improves product absorption: Removing the barrier of dead, flaky skin allows your skincare products like anti-aging serums and moisturizers to penetrate more deeply and work more efficiently. Exfoliating, particularly with physical exfoliants, also helps boost circulation and reduce inflammation.

• Brightens skin tone: Exfoliation speeds up natural cell turnover, revealing newer, healthy cells. This improves your skin's natural radiance and helps fade hyperpigmentation or dark marks caused by sun damage and acne.

• Reduces signs of aging: Consistently exfoliating stimulates collagen synthesis, which keeps the skin looking plump, tight, and firm, minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

• Prevents ingrown hairs: Removing dead skin on the body helps prevent hair follicles from getting trapped under the surface, making shaving and waxing much smoother.

• Smoother skin: This is probably a no-brainer, but exfoliation reveals smoother skin. On the body, chemical exfoliation helps to clear up body bumps (keratosis pilaris or "chicken skin"), unclogs pores, and helps fight body acne. Your skin, whether you choose to chemically or physically exfoliate, will be softer and smoother.

How do I choose an exfoliator?

Good question! It depends on your skin type, but overall, chemical exfoliators are easiest on the face. It's easy to scrub your face too hard and wind up with micro-tears, damaging your skin barrier. If you like physical exfoliants, aim to use them only once a week, and avoid ones with harsh, big chunks with jagged pieces. Instead, choose products with soft, round beads, and avoid physical exfoliators if you have acne, rosacea, or very raw, sensitive skin. AHAs like glycolic acid or lactic acid are the chemical exfoliators responsible for evening out skin tone, fading dark spots, and smoothing out those rough areas. BHAs like salicylic acid are great if you're acne-prone, because they dissolve oil, calm redness, and help stop breakouts. PHAs are very gentle for those who have sensitive or dry skin, and exfoliate while deeply hydrating, offering skin barrier support, and better product absorption.

For the body, physical exfoliants are fine a couple of times a week. If you have skin issues you'd like to target (acne or keratosis pilaris, for example), you may want to check out chemical body exfoliators.

Basic tips for exfoliation

• Cleanse, then exfoliate. Follow the directions on your product labels to get the best results. Follow up by rinsing your exfoliator and continuing with the rest of your skincare routine.

• The same goes for the body: Let your skin soften in the warm water for a few minutes while you cleanse, then exfoliate and rinse. Finish your shower or bath, towel off, and follow up with body lotion.

• Start slow. If exfoliation is a new addition to your routine, don't overdo it. Your skin isn't used to it, so try it once a week for a few weeks until you know your skin is handling it well, then bump it up to twice per week.

• Add sun protection. Chemical exfoliants can make your skin more sensitive to the sun, so make sure you're using your sunscreen. (Read up on sunscreen here.)

• Don't exfoliate on the same day you use a retinoid. You can use your retinol the next night, but you could irritate your skin if you exfoliate and use retinol on the same day.

Looking for deep exfoliation? Check out Salon Patrice's custom facials to deeply exfoliate, treat problem areas, and hydrate the skin. Find our facial services here or call (815) 223-8643 for more information.