It can, but it doesn't have to! The skin you expose by exfoliating is delicate and easy to dry out, so it's not the exfoliating itself that makes your skin feel parched, per se. The most important thing is to give your face extra hydration after you use any kind of scrub or peel.
Over-exfoliation can make your skin lifeless
Swelling and puffiness are other symptoms of overdoing exfoliation. That makes it bad for the skin. When the exfoliating substance works a little too deep, it can damage your skin's so-called lipid barrier. When this happens, our skin becomes rosy, puffy, or a bit swollen.
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You can test this yourself with a well formulated exfoliant: at night, apply your AHA or BHA as usual after cleansing and toning, and do a "split-test." Wait 20 minutes before applying your serum and/or moisturizer to one side, but the other side of your face, apply those next steps immediately.
For example, Palm warns against using an exfoliant more than once per week for folks with a balanced skin type (and recommends using only physical exfoliants that have a very fine and gentle texture). Those who have combination or oily skin can exfoliate “up to three times weekly,” according to Marchbein.
Most experts advise that you exfoliate two to three times per week — as long as your skin can handle it. Chemical exfoliants tend to be fine to use more regularly. Physical methods, on the other hand, may be too abrasive to use multiple times a week.
After applying an active exfoliant to the skin, it loosens up the congestion deep within pores and pushes it toward the surface of the skin -- causing what looks like a breakout but is actually just your skin going through a cycle.
While some people believe that this improves the appearance of their skin, it's not for everyone. If not done properly, it could do more harm than good. If you choose to exfoliate, it's important to do so safely so that it does not damage your skin or lead to increased redness or acne breakouts.
Lack of exfoliation leads to build up of dead skin cells, and could result into dry, dull, patchy, flaky skin, clogged pores, with uneven skin tone.
For most skin types, Corey L. Hartman, MD, FAAD, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology in Birmingham, AL recommends daily chemical exfoliation, and then incorporating mechanical exfoliation into your regimen about once a week.
After exfoliating, make sure you thoroughly rinse away the product and any dead skin cells and then pat your skin dry with a clean towel. ”Apply a moisturizer or shea butter following your [exfoliating] and shower/soak to help your skin retain moisture and look radiant,” advises Burns.
Overdoing exfoliation, or mixing different physically-based with chemical exfoliants can cause over-exfoliation, leaving your skin sore, bruised, red and irritated. Signs of over-exfoliation include excessive smoothness and shine of your skin, redness, peeling and flaking, and sometimes even an acne inflammation.
BHA is ideal for oily, blemish-prone skin skin because it exfoliates inside pores and helps prevent breakouts. AHA is recommended for sun-damaged and normal to dry skin because it exfoliates the skin's surface while helping it hold onto more moisture.
After four to six weeks, you should hopefully start to see signs of your skin improving. The symptoms of over-exfoliation should begin to die down, and your skin will slowly take on a healthier and brighter appearance. At this point, you can start to consider introducing exfoliation back into your skin care routine.
However, over-exfoliating your skin can cause irritation and make dry skin worse. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, it's best to tailor the type and frequency of exfoliation to better suit your unique skin type and condition.
If an area feels dry and/or rough, it might be time to exfoliate. Important: if this same patch of skin is also irritated, red or itchy, that is a sure sign not to exfoliate.
Exfoliants break down dry and dead skin while smoothing texture, which means the skin appears to look more uniform over time. Try Dermalogica's Daily Resurfacer.
Apply Moisturizers
While one exfoliation won't completely strip your skin of all of its oil, it will remove most of it, leaving the surface dry. Therefore, exfoliating without applying a good moisturizer is guaranteed to leave the face drier than it was before exfoliation.
When it comes to morning versus night exfoliation, you're going to reap the best benefits from exfoliating in the morning time. This is due to the oils your skin produces overnight. You'll be able to more smoothly remove all impurities, dead skin, and oils, when you exfoliate in the morning, rather than at night.
Regardless of the formula, apply your toner or serum after cleansing, preferably at night, since exfoliating can make your complexion sun-sensitive. Stick with gel or foaming cleansers rather than oils and balms, which leave a residue that can prevent toners from absorbing, says Mattioli.
What age should I start exfoliating? You can start exfoliating your skin as early as your teen years, from 14 onwards. During this time you may find your skin to become imbalanced and a lot more oily than it was before. This excess oil can lead to some problems, like breakouts, blackheads and spots.
Start by washing your face with your regular cleanser. Then, take a quarter-size amount of your face scrub and apply it to your face in circular motions, avoiding the eye area. Gently massage the scrub onto the skin for as long as your specific product recommends, usually from 30 seconds to a full minute.