Wondering how often you should exfoliate your body? It depends on your skin type and method. Generally, exfoliating 1-2 times a week is a good start. Learn the best practices to achieve smooth, glowing skin without irritation.
Tempted to dip your toes in a tub full of hungry fish to get rid all of your dead skin cells? Don’t worry, you can leave the fish alone. Exfoliating at home is easy! From DIY sugar scrubs to special products, there are plenty of options to choose from. Here’s how and when to do it to get the best results.
How often should you exfoliate your body?
This depends mainly on your skin type and what method you use. Typically, exfoliatingonce or twice a weekis a good guideline, as long as you don’t see any signs of irritation. Remember, the goal isglowingskin, notgrumpyskin!
Exfoliating your body 101
Exfoliating involves removing the outer layer of dead skin cells from your bod. That might sound intense, but it’s something your skin does naturally. Your skin’s sloughing off dead skin cells all the time, but the turnover rate slows down as you age. An occasionalgentle scrubcan make you feel smooth and fresh again.
If you are a devoted (but gentle) exfoliator, your skin will repay you with a sublime glow.Exfoliationcan help you:
The way your skin reflects light depends on how smooth its surface is, andradianceis a sign of youth. (Have you ever seen a dull baby? Didn’t think so.) The layers of aging skin don’t renew as quickly, so dead skin cells start to build up. This can make the surface of your skin appear rough, dry, and less dewy.
Exfoliation removes skin cell buildup and exposes fresh skin cells. Sometimes that means physically scrubbing the dead skin cells away. Other times, you might use products with exfoliating acids (likesalicylic acid) that prompt the skin to renew itself.
How often should you exfoliate?
Ifexfoliationmakes you look so fine, why not do it every day? Too much of a good thing can leave your skin red or discolored, dry, and irritated.
Instead, find the best schedule for your skin. If you’re using more harsh methods (like stronger chemicals or rough exfoliating tools) you should do it less often. If your skin is red, discolored, or irritated, cut back to less frequent scrub sessions.
Products with a very low concentration of chemical exfoliant may claim they’re OK for daily use, but don’t jump right into a daily regimen. In general, exfoliating one to two times a week is a good place to start. You can increase it to three times a week if your skin seems happy.
How often to exfoliate your body
Treat your exfoliation routine like a weekly ritual. Maybe some weeks it feels so nice you do it twice. The key is that exfoliation should not be punishing. You want to end up feeling bright and dewy, not discolored or irritated. Here are a few things to consider about exfoliating different zones of your body.
How often to exfoliate your face
When consideringskin treatmentsfor your face, don’t forget about your neck and chest, too. All of that delicate skin needs an equally delicate touch.
There are plenty of products and tools forexfoliating your face, and they will come with instructions to use daily, weekly, or somewhere in between. The best approach is to start with once a week and only use an exfoliating product more often once you know you can tolerate it.
How to exfoliate
Should you just grab a handful of scrub and go to town? For the love of epidermis, no!
Keep these three points in mind for safe exfoliation.
Steps to exfoliate your body
Steps to exfoliate your face
Types of exfoliators (and how to choose)
There are two broad categories of exfoliants: chemical and mechanical. A chemical exfoliator uses acids to dissolve the dead skin layer, and mechanical exfoliators use friction to slough off skin. Here are some of your options.
Mechanical exfoliators
Chemical exfoliators
What type of exfoliation you choose depends on yourskin typeand what your skin goals are. For dry, sensitive, or acne-prone skin, stick with a washcloth and a mild chemical exfoliator. Salicylic acid is commonly used to treat acne. Mandelic acid is gentle forsensitive skin.
Normal and oily skin can probably tolerate a stronger chemical exfoliator or a mechanical option. If you have darker skin or dark spots, only use mild chemical exfoliation. Stronger methods may cause dark spots. Your dermatologist can prescribe higher concentrations of active ingredients if needed.
Considerations
Exfoliating is relatively easy and inexpensive to do at home, but it’s possible to overdo it. You could irritate or injure your skin.
Take it easy on exfoliating if you use products that make your skin more sensitive or prone to peeling, like retinoid creams, retinol, or benzoyl peroxide.
Don’t exfoliate if you have open wounds or a sunburn. Keep in mind that salicylic acid and glycolic acid (chemical exfoliants) can increase sun sensitivity. You should always use sunscreen if you’re using one of these products.
Talk with your doctor or dermatologist if you’re not sure.
Who doesn’t want to emerge from the shower with luminescent skin, a closer shave, and fewer bumps? You may see improvement by exfoliating one to two times a week with a scrubbing tool or a product containing exfoliating chemicals. Just remember to be gentle and moisturize every time.
