PT Health Life – Exfoliation brings many benefits to the skin, helping to clean, unclog pores and brighten and smooth the skin. However, if not exfoliated properly, it can damage the skin.
1. Benefits of exfoliation
Every day the body can create billions of new cells to replace lost cells. Part of the dead cells will be washed away with the water we bathe and use daily facial cleanser. While some of those excess dead cells cannot be completely washed away if you do not use exfoliants regularly.
Exfoliating helps remove dead skin cells, so it brings the following benefits:
- Clog pores and avoid folliculitis , back acne and dry feeling.
- Helps nutrients penetrate deep into the skin and promote better effectiveness.
- Helps skin become brighter, smoother and more evenly colored.
2. How often should you exfoliate your skin?
Exfoliation is good, but if done incorrectly or too much, it can damage the skin. According to Dr. Debra Jaliman, a dermatologist in New York, the appropriate exfoliation frequency will depend on your skin type.
For sensitive skin , you should exfoliate once a week. Normal and oily skin can do it 2-3 times a week if you have time.
Before exfoliating, take a warm bath to remove dirt and help open pores. Exfoliate in a direction from the soles of your feet up the length of your body, using circular motions to massage the skin. Then shower again with shower gel. Note that every step needs to be done gently to avoid causing damage to the skin.
The skin after exfoliating can be dry, so you should apply moisturizer immediately after exfoliating to lock in moisture and limit damage to the skin.
3. Exfoliation methods
3.1 Mechanical
Mechanically exfoliate using gloves, a sponge or an exfoliating brush. This method is used to exfoliate the whole body, especially large areas such as the arms and legs.
With the mechanical exfoliation method, the advantage is that it is very convenient and brings a pleasant feeling throughout the body. You should choose tools with soft materials and appropriate designs to avoid damaging the skin when used.
3.2 Chemical
Compared to physical exfoliation, chemical exfoliation may be more effective. However, chemical exfoliation can also cause skin irritation if not done properly.
Some common chemical products used include:
- Alpha hydroxy acid
- Beta hydroxy acid (BHA) is an oil-soluble product that goes deep into hair follicles to dry excess oil and remove dead cells, helping pores clear and clean of bacteria.
- Retinoids are derived from vitamin A, which helps reduce signs of aging, soothe sun-damaged skin and treat acne.
4. When should you not exfoliate?
When your skin shows signs of irritation, such as sunburn or rash, you should not exfoliate by any method. Because this can cause more skin irritation and make the skin healing process take longer.
In such situations, it is best to only clean with shower gel and combine with body lotion to help the skin recover from damage.
