You’ve probably heard of exfoliating or you’ve tried exfoliating as a part of your skincare routine. But do you know why exfoliating is important?

Well, as we age, our body’s skin renewal process slows down and sometimes, skin cells get trapped and build up on the skin’s surface. This can lead to:

● Clogged pores
● Rough skin
● Dryness
● Dullness
● Dark spots
● Wrinkles

As such, exfoliation can be good to get rid of all these. It unclogs pores, soothes acne, and improves cell turnover and allows your skincare products to work better and penetrate deeper. But sometimes, too much exfoliation can also be a bad thing.

So now, the question is: how do you know if you’re over exfoliating?

Signs of Over Exfoliating

● Skin irritation such as stinging or burning
● Inflammation such as swelling or red patches
● Tight, waxy-looking skin
● Increase in skin dryness such as flaking or peeling
● Breakouts or clusters of small pimples

Dermatologists Recommend Exfoliating 1-2 Times Per Week Maximum

It’s best to exfoliate once a week, and only twice if your skin can tolerate it, but no more than that. Another major skincare tip: exfoliating before you sleep can be super beneficial as this leaves your skin more time to recover overnight, and also prevent exposure to sun afterward.

Never Skip Sunscreen

We all know how important using sunscreen daily is as it’s essential to protect your sensitive skin from harmful UV rays. And this is even more so when you use exfoliants, especially because sun exposure can exacerbate skin sensitivity after exfoliation.

So, if you’ve over exfoliated your skin, now what?


Solutions for Over Exfoliated Skin

● Stop exfoliating your skin right now! (This is the easiest part)
● Start a simple skincare routine that’s specifically formulated for sensitive skin
● If your skin is super irritated, you can also do some spot treatment to protect and help your skin heal fast

Don’t worry. Your skin has better days because our skin is great at rejuvenating. Depending on your age, skin cells renew every 24-80 days. So, just keep using products that will boost your healing process.