Is your skin looking ultra-shiny and almost too glowy? It can be a sign that you've over-exfoliated your skin, and while it may masquerade as a radiant glow for a while, it can start to degenerate into dry skin, rough patches and rashes.
Telltale signs that you are over-exfoliating your skin
These include irritation, redness, inflamed skin, plus your complexion can become dry and flaky. You may develop a rash like texture, leading to uneven tones like patchy, red blotches. Breakouts are another common reaction, especially small, rough, bumpy pimples.
Too much of a good thing really can happen, especially when it comes to exfoliation. While getting rid of skin impurities on a regular basis is good, doing it too much can aggravate the skin. Over-exfoliation can lead to redness, irritation, and may leave the skin inworse condition than what you started with.
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, it's important to keep in mind that there is no set time for your skin to return back to normal. You may find that some people will see results after a month of following a strict routine, while others can take up to two months.
Conclusion. In the end, exfoliation is essential for achieving visually appealing skin, but failing to hydrate the surface can cause painful irritations and dryness that leave your skin feeling worse than before you exfoliated.
Generally speaking, board-certified dermatologist Lian A. Mack, MD, says exfoliating daily isn't recommended for many skin types as it will strip skin of its natural oils, leaving it feeling overly dry, which can then result in irritation and inflammation.
Exfoliating too often can strip the skin on your face of its natural oils and lead to breakouts. Too much scrubbing may also cause your skin to become irritated. Most skin care experts agree that exfoliating your face once or twice a week is best for most skin types.
Exfoliation is all about removing the build-up of excess dead skin cells on the very top layer of skin, the stratum corneum. By exfoliating our skin, we are preventing clogging of pores by clearing away the dead cells.
Ceramic Slip. “Applying moisturizer will help skin recover and strengthen its barrier from the damage,” says Mirwalla. “It would be best to use mild, non-harsh ingredients when treating over-exfoliated skin to avoid further damage.”
Be patient for one skin cycle, or about 28 days
Generally speaking, dermatologists say purging should be over within four to six weeks of starting a new skin care regimen. If your purge lasts longer than six weeks, consult your dermatologist.
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.
Don't panic, the damage isn't permanent, and you can still save your skin! The first step in over-exfoliation recovery is to put your exfoliator to one side and give your skin a chance to repair. If you instantly feel irritation and burning after overuse, then try using a cold compress to start to ease the sensation.
Some of the signs of over-exfoliated skin include dehydration, flaking, and dryness. Over exfoliating can lead result in dry skin leading to flakiness. And if you already have dry skin, the worst thing you can do is to exfoliate every day as this will only irritate (and therefore dry out) your skin more.
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.
Poor exfoliation is a leading cause of blackheads and whiteheads, some of the most common signs of acne. You can also develop “undergrowth” without regular exfoliation. This is comprised of not only dead skin cells but also trapped dirt and oil, which can lead to ingrown hairs.
How often you exfoliate your face can depend on your skin type. For oily skin types, two to three times a week may work best for your skin. On the other hand, if you have normal or combination skin, exfoliating once a week may be best.
The tape test. This test is for your face and it's very simple. Press a piece of scotch tape to your forehead. Remove it and check its surface—if it's covered with flakes, it's definitely time to exfoliate!
Over-scrubbing leaves skin dry and flaky. It takes off natural essential oil from the skin and leave it dry and flaky. If your face has dry patches after exfoliation, it means you need to slow down or space out your exfoliation sessions. If your skin is prone to breakouts or acne, over exfoliation can make it worse.
You can exfoliate wet skin, as many people do with a loofah or a scrub in the shower, but the friction level is different when the skin cells are moist, Karen said. The dry method will help you to more effectively exfoliate, plus it's less messy, Gohara noted.
If you've gone too fast and too hard, you'll have to stop and re-look at your routine until your skin goes back to its baseline texture. “Leave your skin alone. It will heal all by itself, but it needs time and proper care, which in this case means not doing much to it,” says Dr Gupta.
In most cases, purging looks like tiny red bumps that are painful to touch. You may even notice blackheads or whiteheads, which is why many people confuse it with a traditional acne breakout. Skin purging can also cause your skin to be flaky.
Over-exfoliation causes microscopic tears and abrades the skin, especially if a scrub contains granules with irregular edges (crushed walnut shells or apricot pits), has a high pH, or if too much pressure is used. This can lead to severe hyperpigmentation with any method of exfoliation, friction or scrubbing action.