How to Exfoliate Skin: Tips to Keep it Healthy and Supple

You may have heard people talk about the numerous ways to exfoliate skin using apricot seeds and other homemade ingredients or using skincare scrubs. But does the idea of exfoliation make you cringe? Even though the concept of exfoliation is linked to the removal of dead skin, it is a skin-friendly process and can be performed easily by following a few simple steps. And no, exfoliation doesn’t hurt! Read on to know how to exfoliate skin in the right way.

Men and women of all age groups can exfoliate the skin, but you shouldn’t overdo it. In fact, normal, dry, oily, and combination skin require exfoliation, as does sensitive skin. The only thing you should be careful of when you have sensitive skin is to be gentle when you exfoliate the skin. This is important to keep in mind as research shows that more than 26% of men and 36% of women in India have sensitive skin [1].

Considering Indian weather and the problem of acne, Indians need to exfoliate skin cells more often to keep their skin feeling fresh and supple. However, just using a scrub is not enough when you plan to exfoliate skin cells. Instead, you should select products appropriate for your skin type and per the area that you want to exfoliate.

When exfoliating your face, you may have to use a milder product, which does not harm tender face tissues. On the other hand, when you exfoliate skin cells of your elbow region, you need a thicker and more granulated exfoliating agent which penetrates deep into the skin. Here’s everything you need to understand to be able to select the best exfoliator for your face and body.

Why do you need to exfoliate your skin?

Your skin may get damaged by being exposed to varied external environmental factors such as harmful UV rays and pollution. To promote better skin quality and tone, you can regularly exfoliate it. Exfoliation re-energizes your skin, keeping it feeling fresh for longer hours. It also prevents skin aging and restricts the symptoms of skin aging from showing [2]. When you exfoliate skin on an everyday basis, you allow the skin to breathe by helping keep its pores open.

What technique can you use to exfoliate skin cells gently?

You can employ varied methods to exfoliate your skin. Primarily, there are two types of processes that you can use to exfoliate skin cells. When you use scrubs and brushes to exfoliate, this method is known as physical exfoliation, and you can carry this out at home by yourself. On the other hand, if you want to undergo exfoliation that is far more deep-rooted, a chemical exfoliation using acids and skin peels may be used.

Normally, alpha-hydroxy acids are used for chemical exfoliation. They work by disintegrating skin bonds resulting in the elimination of dull and dead skin cells from your skin’s surface. The acids work from within and trigger the skin to shed dead units. On the other hand, you can use a simple face exfoliator cream, powder, or scrub and use a manual or electric brush, a loofah, or your hands to gently scrub and exfoliate the skin. The simple rubbing effect that you employ here will help create a lather that gets rid of dead skin cells from the surface of the skin.

What is the best exfoliator for the face and body?

For quick skincare solutions, many depend on chemical peels to exfoliate skin cells. However, you may want to stay away from the harsh chemicals and choose natural exfoliators instead. Oatmeal has been proven to be an excellent exfoliating agent, courtesy of its active properties, and is capable of clarifying the skin and refreshing it by allowing it to shed dead cells. Apart from this, sugar, especially sugarcane juice, which contains glycolic acid, is known to be an excellent exfoliator. Ground orange peel, walnuts, and apricots are also commonly used in India as DIT exfoliating ingredients. The best part about them is that they are easy to find and affordable. These are well-suited to be used at home, without any assistance.

While you can exfoliate skin daily to keep a lot of skin problems at bay, you may still experience skin conditions linked to your gut or those that signal a deep-rooted problem. When you spot such signs or symptoms, talk to a doctor to get the right skin care tips and medication. Whether you are seeking monsoon skin tips or want to get help regarding winter skin care, you can get in touch with a dermatologist in minutes on Bajaj Finserv Health.

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