How to save your skin from over exfoliation?

Let us learn what exfoliation is in brief. Exfoliation is gentler way of removing dead skin cells from the upper layer of our skin. Exfoliation helps with blackheads, pigmentation, hydration, smoothing out of the skin, acne, damaged skin barrier etc. There are two types of exfoliation – physical and chemical. Physical exfoliation includes scrubbing which is not gentle on your skin. Chemical exfoliation is gentle way of exfoliation where we use AHAs, BHAs to remove the dead cells.

Exfoliation has so many benefits for your skin, right? But those benefits also come with some disadvantages if you do not use this the right way. When you are newly introduced to exfoliation and you start to see results, it is easier to get carried away and we start using too much. We should be more careful with exfoliation because less is more.

How over exfoliation happens?

Exfoliation removes dead skin cells, when we exfoliate too much our skin sheds all the dead skin cells and also destroys the new cells that the skin generates. There are few mistakes in your skincare routine that you are possibly making to cause over-exfoliation.

• Using two to three exfoliating ingredients together- Using exfoliating agent in every step of your skincare can be the reason for over exfoliation. Suppose, you are using a cleanser that has BHA in it. Then you apply your AHA based serums and then apply a moisturizer which also has AHA or BHA in it. This can be too much for the skin to tolerate.
• Exfoliate regularly-  If you are exfoliating regularly it can irritate your skin.
• Using both physical and chemical exfoliation together- when you use scrubs on your skin it gets irritated and using any AHA or BHA based products after that also can damage your skin barrier.

How to know if you have over exfoliated?

The skin will show signs when you over exfoliate your skin. Some of the symptoms that is common are :

• Skin becomes red, irritated, itchy.
• Small red bumps on the skin appear.
• Skin losses more water which is called trans-epidermal water loss and because of that skin becomes dry.
• Fine lines and wrinkles are more visible.
• Sometimes skin becomes waxy and when you apply any serum or moisturizer, irritation occurs.

What do if you have over-exfoliated and how to prevent it further?

• Stop using any exfoliating product immediately. Give the skin some break for atleast one to two weeks. When your skin gets back to normal then only start using exfoliating products. Also read : https://demystiifyingbeauty.com/7-skincare-products-you-dont-need/
• When your skin goes back to normal. Use only one exfoliating ingredient once a week and then slowly working through it. 4 nights a week is enough.
• Avoid using AHAs or BHAs in daytime. If you are using it in daytime wear sunscreen with it.
• Whenever you are exfoliating, apply moisturizer over it. It will give your skin some moisture and prevent it from over-exfoliation.
• Use moisturizer which has only moisturizing agent in it.
• Use sunscreen in the daytime and reapply in every 2-3 hours. Don’t skip your sunscreen because sun can irritate your skin more if you have over exfoliated it. So, SPF during the day is important.
• Include hydrating ingredient in your skincare routine.
• Do not go for any treatment recommended by parlours. Consult with your dermatologist first.
• If your skin is still irritated after one week, go to any dermatologist or any skin expert of that sort. It is best to consult your dermatologist.