When we find something that gives good results, we just try to keep on doing it until the results turn bad. It’s not about doing but the overdoing. As you go on in life, you will realize that nothing extreme is actually good- whether it is food, exercise or hygiene.
Well. It is great that we put in so much effort to keep our face clean and look better- but putting too much pressure on it is not that great either. In fact, what we do to clean our face is exfoliate it. So, let’s discover how often should you exfoliate your face?
Apparently, humans, especially women like their skin to be smooth and fresh. In order to achieve that we do everything we can. We may have four parties a week and that is what it is- four days to experiment on our skin to make it look better. Inner beauty takes time but instant beauty is right on the face. So, why not take care of it to make it look better.
What is Exfoliation?
You can look at it as a process that deals with the dead. In fact, it deals with your dead skin cells or skin cells that are better off alone and not on you. To understand the process of exfoliation, you need to understand how your skin works.
The skin of your face actually has five layers and the layer at the bottom is the new skin layer- fresh and smooth. And, the layer at the top that we all can see and tough is something like the protective layer. The primary function of the protective layer is to capture the dirt and oil that tries to go in.
The layer right behind it holds the moisture and keeps your skin smooth. However, you look darker and rougher when the topmost layer of your skin has done its job, caught the dirt and gone dead. As a result, you need to remove the skin to feel cleaner, smoother, and prettier. This process of removing the dead skin cells is called exfoliation.
How do you exfoliate?
Apparently, there are two basic ways of exfoliation- chemical and manual. The manual, as you can imagine requires you to use your hands. You can use scrubs like apricot, sugar, etc to massage on your face so that the dead skin cells and the dirt come out by force.
On the other hand, chemical exfoliation requires chemicals- especially acids like salicylic acid, alpha-hydroxy acids, beta hydroxy acids, etc. All you have to do is wipe them on your face to do away with the trouble.
Can Exfoliation be a problem?
Well, it actually is a part of a periodic skincare routine so it does more good than bad. However, overdoing it can. Think of a piece of cloth. The more you wash it, the rougher it gets and the color fades as well. The same is the case with exfoliation and skin.
You do not want to be so rough on your skin that it gets more damaged and loses its appeal. What can happen when you exfoliate it too often is it can clean away even the layer that keeps the moisture in. As a result, your skin instead of looking better will look duller. Furthermore, it will feel dry and rough as well.
Therefore, it is necessary that you only exfoliate to the extent that it does not damage your skin.
How often should you exfoliate?
There are some guidelines when it comes to the rate of exfoliation per week. Let’s see them.
Not more than three times:
The first one is that you can exfoliate your skin up to three times the highest in a single week. Mind the term highest as it is better to stay below this number. If you go above it- your skin will naturally get damaged no matter what kind of skin it is.
Who suggests so
- New York based Dr. Joshua Zeichner, MD, Director of Cosmetic and Clinical Research in Dermatology at the Mount Sinai Hospital.
- New York based Dove dermatologist and Beauty Expert Dr. Mona Gohara, MD
- NewYork based Dr. Michelle Henry, Dermatologist, and Dermatologic Surgeon, Clinical Instructor of Dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College.
- California based Emily C. Newsom, MD, a board-certified in dermatologist, and specializes in skin cancer, dermatologic surgery, and cosmetic dermatology, Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
Once a week strategy:
If you have skin with sensitivity and redness or irritation, go slow and apply it preferably once and at best twice a week.
Who suggests so
- Dr. Elizabeth Tanzi, a board-certified dermatologist in Washington D.C. and founder of Capital Laser & Skin Care.
- Kansas based Dr. Hannah Vargas, MD, F.A.C.S. who runs the Center for Facial Plastic Surgery and Vargas Face and Skin Center.
Everyday application:
Dr. Michelle Henry suggests for the readers of Seventeen to apply this art of exfoliation every day for the beauty aspirants with acne-prone skin. This is not for normal skin, keep in mind.
Only when it needs it:
So, you may exfoliate up to three times a week but when? What should be the interval? Well, the answer is to listen to your skin itself. You will feel the dead cells when they are ready to be removed. Exfoliate based on that.
Do not set a certain day or time of the day like morning to do it- do it when your skin asks for it. If you go to the office, stay there all day and come back at night- check your skin and see if it is rougher than usual. Then you can just relax a bit while you exfoliate your face.
It is also wise to have expert opinions by the certified dermatologist for the application of beauty products and services. You are required to visit specialists at least when you are experiencing some changes and problems in your face. After all, the face is a very sensitive and special priority part of the body. Besides, try to apply the soft brushes and gentle materials for this beauty game.
A Few Tips
Be Gentle: Whatever skin type you have, the skin of your face is softer than the rest of your body. As a result, you have to be gentle with it only then will it feel gentle to you. It is best if you do not scrub your face too hard even when you are doing it. Dermalogists , Dr. Zampella , for example give importance on this issue a lot.
Do it softly so that your pores do not become bigger. Because this is a problem many women face for going too hard on their skin.
Use Gentler chemicals: Even though wiping your face to exfoliate with chemicals seems gentle- it can be quite harsh. Especially when you consider the type of chemical. Therefore, make sure you use a light and gentle chemical that does no harm. Or else, the chemical can do way more damage than what a natural scrub can do.
Explore the easy and fast makeup looks here.
Listen to your Type: Everyone has their own type of skin and not all of them need care in the same frequency or the level. Therefore, study your nature first, is your skin oily or dry? Does it have clogged pores too often? Based on that find out the perfect exfoliation routine for you. Make sure that you are not overdoing it.
In Conclusion
You need to take care of your body because everybody is beautiful by birth- what makes you more attractive is how well you take care of yourself. Therefore, exfoliate your skin enough to make people appreciate the smoothness and glow of your face. But, keep a limit- the limit is your skin’s wellbeing.
Leave a Reply