Will exfoliation help the health of my skin?
The fast answer is yes – exfoliation will help the health of your skin!
Skin exfoliation improves the quality and tone of skin by assisting in the removal of dead skin cells from the surface (the human skin produces about one million skin cells per minute, which equates to over five billion skin cells per day). As our skin cells renew, old surface cells harden and lose moisture, and eventually detach from skin to allow for new cells to come through (this process is called desquamation).
Desquamation also eliminates damaged and contaminated cells that carry pollutants and micro-organisms from the environment. These dead skin cells don’t always effectively fall from our skin, meaning they can dry and dull the skin’s surface, and cause clogging and congestion. Through professional and at-home exfoliation, these dulling skin cells are effectively removed, and newer cells are revealed for a fresher, healthier appearance.
When not to exfoliate
If skin is sensitized, exfoliation may not be for you, as it may further compromise your skin’s natural protective barriers. It is important to always follow the direction of your skin therapist when exfoliation is a part of your at-home regimen and professional skin treatments.what is an exfoliant?
An exfoliant is any agent that removes dead skin cells from the skin’s surface to reveal newer, smoother skin that’s underneath. When we exfoliate, we automatically cause skin renewal because new cells are stimulated to push towards the surface to replace the newly removed dead cells.
Exfoliants can be physical or chemical, and their usage is dependent upon each individual’s skin care needs.
Physical exfoliants use friction to remove dead skin cells, either through the use of a tool (such as a brush or sponge) or a gentle abrasive (such as Corn Cob Meal, Rice Bran or Oatmeal). Depending on the amount of friction and the nature of the abrasive used, results will vary. You can find Corn Cob Meal in Dermalogica Skin Prep Scrub and Rice Bran in Daily Microfoliant®.
Unlike physical exfoliants that remove debris through gentle abrasion, chemical exfoliants smooth skin by dissolving the intercellular “glue” that attaches cells to the surface. Hydroxy acids, Retinol, and enzymes (proteins that initiate a chemical reaction to break the chemical bonds of older cells and “digest” them) are a few examples of chemical exfoliants.
