Never exfoliate if you have open cuts or wounds or if your skin is sunburned. Follow with moisturizer. Exfoliating can be drying to the skin.
And don't use exfoliants if you have acne, open sores or a sunburn. “Your skin is already injured, and exfoliation may lead to further irritation, darkening or lightening of the skin, and even scarring,” he says.
Possible Reason: Dry or sensitive skin
If you have especially reactive, dry or sensitive skin, you may want to limit how often you exfoliate your face or avoid it altogether. Sensitive skin is easily irritated, and exfoliating can cause further irritation.
Don't mix: Retinol should not be mixed with exfoliating ingredients such as AHAs and BHAs. Additionally, retinol should not be used with vitamin C or Benzoyl peroxide products as this can cause irritation.
Below are dermatologist-recommended and NBC Select staff-favorite products that contain exfoliating ingredients like AHAs and BHAs and are in line with experts' guidance. Although some of these products may be safe for daily use, experts recommend exfoliating one to three times a week.
Over-exfoliation may have the opposite effect of beautifying your skin. This can come from either exfoliating too often or scrubbing too hard. This can remove too much skin, causing dryness or irritation. Exfoliating creams should be kept away from children.
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.
It depends on the product you're using and the ingredients. Generally, chemical exfoliants are applied to dry skin and then washed off with warm or cold water. If you're using a physical exfoliant on your body in the shower, exfoliating wet skin is much easier.
For instance, Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs), such as Lactic Acid and Glycolic Acid, and Synthetic Retinol are a pair that can easily cause irritation.
There are three main types of exfoliators: physical exfoliators, which use scrubs, brushes, or sponges to manually remove dead skin; chemical exfoliators, which rely on AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids) or BHAs (beta hydroxy acids) to dissolve dead skin cells; and enzymatic exfoliators, which use natural fruit enzymes to ...
Esthetician Taylor Worden adds there are other signs your skin is over-exfoliated, including redness, dryness, burning, peeling, rashes, breakouts, inflammation, tenderness, and stinging.
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.
If you use a scrub or chemical exfoliator, apply the product gently using small, circular motions. Do this for about 30 seconds, and then rinse off with lukewarm — not hot — water. If you use a brush or sponge, use short light strokes. Never exfoliate if you have open cuts or wounds or if your skin is sunburned.
The “black stuff” when you rub your skin is nothing but dead cells, dirt and surface grime. It comes off due to friction caused by rubbing your skin.
Follow with moisturizer.
Exfoliating can be drying to the skin. Apply moisturizer immediately after exfoliating to keep your skin healthy and hydrated.
“The best practice is to avoid over-scrubbing because you want to maintain a healthy and intact skin barrier,” Dr. Khalifian notes. Going too hard can leave your skin red and irritated. Use it after cleansing, and always follow with moisturizer to lock in hydration.
Indeed, retinol is excellent for treating acne and imperfections, while hyaluronic acid is ideal for dehydrated skin. And it is also possible to combine them in your beauty routine to benefit from their full effectiveness. This moisturizing cream, to be used daily, has many advantages!
However, people who have a history of severe allergic reactions, such as anaphylaxis, should be cautious when using hyaluronic acid. Its effects during pregnancy and while breastfeeding remain unknown, so women may want to avoid taking hyaluronic acid supplements during these times.
For exfoliation, a body scrub is the go-to option. Exfoliation is its sole purpose, sloughing off dead skin cells for incredibly soft and smooth skin. A dry brush, on the other hand, does exfoliate your skin a bit but its real magic lies in its benefits for your circulation.
Dry, sensitive skin
For people with dry or sensitive skin, exfoliating twice a week is the maximum frequency dermatologists recommend. You may want to exfoliate only once a week or even every other week if you use products that can cause dryness and irritation, such as retinoids.
Sensitive skin is more likely to become irritated or inflamed by any exfoliant. And overdoing it — whether by rubbing too hard or using a product with higher concentrations of acid — can trigger irritant contact dermatitis, which can look red, angry, and chapped.
The best method for exfoliation is buffing your product into damp skin in small, circular motions or using an exfoliating tool in short, light strokes. You should never exfoliate immediately after shaving, especially if you have an open cut or sunburn.
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.