Did you know that our skin sheds dead cells every 30 days (about 4 and a half weeks)? While your skin is shedding, new, healthy skin cells are being created. If these cells are left to accumulate, pores can become clogged, leading to the development of acne. Exfoliation is an essential skin care step that helps promote clear, healthy skin.
What is exfoliation?
Exfoliating is the process of removing dead skin cells from the surface of the skin, making the skin appear more youthful and brighter. This process removes dirt and impurities to prevent common break outs and inflammation. Removing the outer layer of the skin increases skin radiance, skin clarity and helps other products penetrate more deeply. When incorporating exfoliation (physical or chemical) always start off gently to prevent over exfoliating which can cause dryness and irritation.
How to exfoliate based on skin type:
For normal to oily skin, it is most healthy to start exfoliating 3 times a week or less. If your skin is more dry, flaky, or sensitive it is best to start off exfoliating 1 time a week. Starting slow is essential for exfoliating because everyone’s skin is different and not everyone will react the same. It takes time to learn your skin’s specific needs. It is important to use an exfoliator that is best for your specific skin type and concern, and if you’re unsure about which exfoliator may be right for you, feel free to stop in to SKN BAR Rx for a Complimentary Consultation for a licensed aesthetician to help guide your purchasing decision!
The Difference Between Physical & Chemical Exfoliation:
Physical and chemical exfoliation methods strive for the same clean finish, but both work differently. Physical exfoliation is any method that manually removes dirt and dead skin. It is best for more oily skin types. This process includes washcloths, loofahs, sponges, brushes- anything that involves small particles or rubbing of the skin. Unlike physical exfoliation, chemical exfoliation uses acids or enzymes to loosen up dead skin cells. There are many ways to incorporate exfoliation into your at-home skincare routine or in your treatment room routine. Here at Sknbar Rx, we offer high-end, medical grade skincare products to help you achieve your skincare goals.
physical exfoliation
Let us introduce you to the Exfoliating Polish by ZO Skin Health, a top seller-for good reason. This physical exfoliant has a satisfying texture created by ultra fine magnesium oxide crystals that work to gently slough away dead skin cells for smoother and softer skin, while improving overall skin radiance. It also contains a stable vitamin C, which helps to simultaneously brighten the skin. Incorporate this exfoliating product to the second step in your skin regimen, after your cleanser and before serums or moisturizers.
Chemical Exfoliation
Our AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser by SkinMedica is an amazing product that gently exfoliates helping to brighten skin pigmentation, enhance skin texture and improves tone. It contains Lactic, Glycolic, Citric, and Malic acid to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and pore texture. This chemical exfoliant is great for all skin types, especially acne prone skin, and can be used as the first step in any skincare regimen leaving the skin clean and dirt free and increasing the penetration of the following products.
BEST TREATMENTS FOR EXFOLIATING DEAD SKIN:
Exfoliation isn’t just for your at-home care! We offer many aesthetic treatments that incorporate exfoliation to ensure deeper product penetration and to make sure you leave our spa glowing. Dermaplaning is a great non-invasive add-on that uses a sharp blade to exfoliate and remove dirt, dead skin and vellus hair (peach fuzz) from your skin, while also allowing serums and moisturizers to penetrate deeper into the skin. Dermaplaning can be added on to just about any skin treatment, including Chemical Peels, HydraFacial, Microneedling and laser facials. After dermaplaning, you will notice your skin will looking cleaner, rejuvenated, and more radiant. Another great exfoliating treatment that is recommended is our HydraFacial, which includes deep cleansing, exfoliating and extractions while infusing nourishing ingredients to hydrate the skin. Not only does this treatment pull out impurities, but also puts in healthy ingredients into the skin.
AVOIDING OVER EXFOLIATING:
Although exfoliating can be extremely rewarding and beneficial, it is especially important to be cautious about how much to it is done to prevent over exfoliating. Over-exfoliation happens when the products are too harsh for the skin or if it is being done too often. It causes the skin to be rough, dehydrated, flaky and patchy. Signs of over-exfoliation consist of irritation, burning, peeling, redness, and increased sensitivity. This is especially bad for acne-prone skin because the skin’s barrier function becomes compromised and damaged causing inflammation. This inflammation could lead to acne breakouts. If you notice that your skin is reacting negatively to the exfoliation process or exfoliating products, avoid any harsh products or active ingredients and opt for a gentle, calming routine. Adding a rich emollient will help to quickly treat redness and dryness, while speeding up the healing process of your skin.
