Exfoliation

When you exfoliate, you are removing the oldest dead skin cells that can cling to the skin's outermost surface. When done correctly, exfoliation leaves the skin feeling smoother and fresher looking. Exfoliation also makes penetration easier for expensive facial products like serums.

There are two forms of exfoliation:

1. Mechanical Exfoliation. The dead skin cells are physically rubbed off with an abrasive. Examples of mechanical exfoliation include a salt glow, a body scrub that might use sugar or coffee grounds, r oatmeal, or skin brushing.
2. Chemical Exfoliation. Enzymes and special acids (alphahydroxy acids [AHAs] or betahydroxy acids [BHAS], for example) loosen the glue-like substance that holds the cells together, allowing them to fall away. Facial peels are a form of chemical exfoliation. They can either be very gentle or very aggressive, depending on how strong the product is.

When Is Exfoliation Important?

Generally, exfoliation is more important for people over the age of 40.

The skin constantly generates new skin cells at the lower layer (the dermis) and sends them to the surface (the epidermis). As the cells rise to the surface they gradually die and become filled with keratin. These keratinized skin cells are essential because they give our skin its protective quality. But they are constantly sloughing off to make way for younger cells.

As we age the cell turnover process slows down. Cells start to pile up unevenly on the skin's surface, giving it a dry, rough, dull appearance. Exfoliation is beneficial because it removes those cells that are clinging on, revealing the fresher, younger skin cells below.

Facial Exfoliation Basic Cautions:

• First decide whether you really need to exfoliate or not.
• Research any exfoliation product before you use it- you may even consider talking to a dermatologist, depending on your age and skin type.
• Never use a body scrub on the face. They're very rough and could do more harm than good.
• With peels, never have two done in a row. You may end up exposing the dermis and then end up with scabbing or scarring.
• Never wax after recently having a peel. As with having two peels one after the other, waxing after a peel will expose raw, living skin, which will have to scab over to heal.

Body Exfoliation:

• Using a body scrub once or twice a week will pose no threat.
• A gentle way to exfoliate the body - and wake up! - is by brushing the body in the morning.

Most experts contest that except for people with extremely oily skin, daily exfoliation is never a good idea. Remember, your goal is to remove the dead cells from the skin surface. As it takes at least a few days for a sizeable amount of dead cells to accumulate, once or twice a week is sufficient for anybody who decided to exfoliate. If you exfoliate more often than that, you may be removing too many living cells, increasing the chance of irritation and skin damage.

To determine optimal frequency, look to your skin type, the strength of the exfoliates you use, and the application technique. If you develop increased sensitivity, irritation or dryness, you are probably exfoliating too much.