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.
If you have dry skin to begin with, overuse of acids can again lead to breaking down your skin's natural moisture barrier or even causing your skin to go into exfoliation overload, resulting in excessive flaking and peeling as dead skin is broken down.
"In fact, over-exfoliating can cause peeling skin as well. It's unfortunately one of the most common causes of an inflamed and damaged skin barrier that I see in the clinic."
Dry brushing involves using soft bristles to brush dead skin cells away. Use a small brush with natural bristles, like this one, and gently brush damp skin in small circles for up to 30 seconds. You should only use this method on skin that's free of any small cuts or irritation.
Try using lukewarm water and a soft washcloth or shower mitt to gently rub the skin on your face and loosen any skin that's flaking. Don't ever peel your skin, especially when it's wet. Applying a topical anti-inflammatory agent, such as aloe vera, could help your skin to heal.
If you moisturize your skin regularly but still notice lingering dryness, you may want to check your moisturizer for potentially dehydrating ingredients, such as isopropyl alcohol or sulfates. You may get better results with products containing ingredients like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, or ceramides.
Dryness and Flakiness
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. If you start to notice patches or flakes after exfoliating, cut things back.
DON'T rinse off a chemical exfoliant
After exfoliating, don't wash it off right away - the active ingredients take time to absorb into your skin and work their magic! Leave your exfoliant on for about 15-30 minutes to ensure the ingredients dissolve and remove all dead skin cells.
Exfoliation won't totally deplete your skin of moisture, but repeatedly exfoliating the skin without following up with a good moisturizer can leave your skin parched and overly-sensitive (especially if you are someone who enjoys taking hot showers). We recommend products containing ultra-hydrating oils and humectants.
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.
Your skin needs moisture, especially after you exfoliate. Using a super-hydrating facial moisturizer after you exfoliate helps replenish any moisture loss from exfoliating. Apply sunscreen.
If you have peeling skin, it's a sign that your skin is healing from some type of damage. Sunburns, allergies and skin diseases cause skin to peel. Treatments for cancer, acne and aging can also cause peeling skin. Picking at peeling skin can lead to infection.
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.
You're not cleansing before exfoliating.
Some face exfoliators also act like cleansers so you can multitask. But, if your exfoliator isn't meant to also be used as a face wash, it's important to take the extra step of cleansing your face before you exfoliate so you can start with a clean slate.
You don't need to wait for the BHA or AHA to absorb or dry; you can apply any other product in your routine - moisturiser, serum, eye cream, or sunscreen - immediately afterwards.
Whether you use your exfoliator in the morning or evening make sure you apply a moisturizer after exfoliating to perfectly prep your skin for makeup or the day ahead, or feed your skin effective, plump-effect, moisturizing ingredients overnight!
Skin purging is a temporary skin reaction to specific ingredients that may cause breakouts, skin dryness, flaking, and peeling. It typically occurs when trying a new skin care product or certain facial treatments.
Skincare products containing harsh chemicals are often at the root of dry or flaky skin on your face. This is especially true for some alcohol-based products, like aggressive toners or astringents, that can strip your skin of natural oils and result in increased dehydration or irritation.
Take an ordinary washcloth and moisten with warm water, then use this to rub the skin gently in small circles. Cleansing the face before exfoliating may also be beneficial as this opens up the skin's pores. A natural sponge can work well to get rid of dead skin cells on the face.
Dry skin on the face may be a symptom of skin conditions such as eczema, or other factors, including changes in temperature or humidity and using soaps with harsh chemicals. In most cases, people can get rid of dry skin using home remedies and over-the-counter (OTC) treatments.
When the skin loses too much water, it becomes dehydrated. The symptoms of dehydrated and dry skin are often similar and may include roughness or a loss of elasticity. However, while dry skin is a specific skin type, dehydrated skin can affect anyone—even those with naturally oily skin.
Dry skin, also known as xerosis or xeroderma, has many causes, including cold or dry weather, sun damage, harsh soaps, and overbathing.
Once peeling starts, it can last for several days. In general, peeling will stop when the skin is fully healed. For a mild to moderate burn, that should be within seven days, but small amounts of peeling can occur for several weeks. Drink plenty of water to help your skin heal more quickly.