HOW TO EXFOLIATE DULL SKIN THE RIGHT WAY

Skin Exfoliants range from physical scrubs with fine to grainy texture (rice, flaxseed walnut, etc), to chemical ones with natural acids (glycolic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, AHAs, BHA, PHAs, etc) with varying strengths. Care should be taken to select the right one for your skin and concern-type. It is advisable to start with small strengths and gradually increase based on tolerance.

So you have been doing it all you picked out the best cleansers, toners, moisturizers, toners, and serums for your skin. To top it all, you have religiously bought the best spot treatments for acne/ pigmentation/anti-aging and followed a strict regime of skincare for both day and night times. So why don’t these products seem potent enough? Why do you fail to see a fresh rejuvenated face? Are there days you feel like just giving up on it all as the incremental benefit seems to come at truly exorbitant costs? What have you missed? The right exfoliant for your skin!!

 You probably thought that it is a step that could be ignored as you don’t particularly have dry, flaky skin. Or that this was too intense a step that was advised for people by dermatologists and you would like to treat your skin gently. Let us break the myth here. Skin Exfoliants range from physical scrubs with fine to the grainy texture (rice, flaxseed walnut, etc), to chemical ones with natural acids (glycolic acid, salicylic acid,lactic acid, AHAs, BHA, PHAs, etc) with varying strengths. Care should be taken to select the right one for your skin and concern-type. It is advisable to start with small strengths and gradually increase based on tolerance.

ACNE-PRONE SKIN

The root cause of acne in dry skin is the congestion of dead cells that are a regular part of our body’s cell regeneration. The epidermis is regularly shedding old cells to replace them with new ones. The old cells are not necessarily washed away by a facewash and can congest the pores, causing acne. In oily skin, the pores contain excess sebum. Any dirt particles or dead cells can sit in these open pores and infect the same. A suitable exfoliant clears the skin of such impurities and allows the pores to breathe better. The circulation of clear blood in the epidermis helps in keeping the skin healthy. It also allows for the better absorption of any skincare and treatment products, the effects of which will now be amplified. However, while a mild physical scrub is good for even acne-prone skin, too much of it can exacerbate the problem of acne. 

BLEMISHES/PIGMENTED SKIN

SKIN EXFOLIANTS, due to their very nature of speeding up cell renewal, help to routinely remove marks from the skin like post-acne blemishes and scars, fade-out pigmented patches, and, in general, smoothen out the texture of the skin. So now, any products like spot treatments will be able to get better absorbed into the skin. However, care should be taken to use only suitable products for the particular skin type and at a certain frequency. Too strong or too frequent can interfere with cell regeneration and sensitize the skin. Exfoliants with Kojic acid are particularly advised for pigmentation problems as it inhibits the production of melanin.

MATURE/AGING SKIN 

The best help for fine lines and wrinkles is found in exfoliation. While speeding up skin renewal, exfoliants also stimulate collagen production. Thereby, providing relief from dullness, with younger, firmer, and fresher skin. A moisturizer or serum infused with retinol or hyaluronic acid applied immediately after a peeling process can provide immediate nourishment to the skin and further help in plumping up the skin.

SENSITIVE SKIN 

There are peels available for sensitive skin as well, but these must be tried with caution. Usually, these contain PHAs (Poly Hydroxy Acids) which are not as easily absorbed by the skin as AHAs or BHAs, so they are a great alternative for sensitive skin types.Beyond chemical skin exfoliants, there are chemical peels available that are a stronger version of these chemical exfoliants. There are also exfoliating tools in the market today that can be used alone or in combination with some of these products. However, while increasing the strength of exfoliation, care should be taken to not overdo it as it can lead to another set of problems like permanent pigmentation, scarring, or sensitivity. A good sunscreen should always be used over recently exposed skin, to avoid any sun damage. To start a new regime today that includes some form of exfoliant to see more results out of your current skincare products. While you get rejuvenated skin, also tackle some spot issues along the way.