Do you exfoliate your skin more than twice a week? If so, you are definitely doing more harm than good to your skin.There is no doubt that scrubbing the dead skin cells off is absolutely essential to have a healthy glow and radiant skin, but scrubbing your skin a little too much can harm your skin.
Exfoliating is one of the mistakes people make in their skin care regimen. Whether you use physical or chemical exfoliation, excessive exfoliation can lead to dry skin, rough spots, and breakouts, which are common indicators of excessive exfoliation.
In this article, we will discuss why excessive exfoliation is dangerous for your skin and how you can treat it. Also, to notice the signs your skin gives when over scrubbing is being done such as-
– Skin irritation & inflammation
– Redness
– Skin Rash
– Unhealthy glow on the skin
– Rough Spots
What happens when you exfoliate much?
1. Extra shiny skin
Exfoliation improves skin texture. Smoothens the surface of your skin and gives you shine. But excessive exfoliation adds an unhealthy glow and facial skin, especially the T-zone, looks very shiny like plastic. This is not a good sign because very shiny skin indicates that the top layer of the skin has been affected due to excessive exfoliation.
2. Skin Peeling
Sometimes excessive exfoliation can also cause the skin to become dry and flaky. You may experience some scaly patches that flake off into small pieces. Excessive exfoliation removes a good amount of the skin’s lipid barrier, causing lack of moisture. Your skin becomes sensitive to the sun or any aggressive external element. As a result, it begins to dry out and peel off.
3. Swelling
Excessive exfoliation can also cause swelling. When you rub your skin, exfoliants damage your skin and damage the lipid barrier. Your skin begins to swell and appears red. However, the problem runs much deeper than it appears from the outside. When the outer layer of your skin is compromised, it becomes vulnerable to external threats like pollutants, allergens, etc.
4. Acne breakout
Excessive exfoliation can also lead to breakouts. At first, excessive peeling leads to inflammation of the skin’s surface. Slowly, the inflammation turns into breakouts. Therefore, if your skin shows signs of acne after peeling, this indicates that you are not doing it right.
5. Dehydrated skin
The layers of your skin are made up of collagen and elastin, which are two very important components in giving your skin a youthful appearance. When the layers are damaged by excessive exfoliation, the elasticity of your skin is also damaged. It makes your skin unusually tight and dull. You may feel uncomfortable with the stiffness of your skin.
How is excessive peeling skin treated?
1. Stop exfoliating your skin immediately if signs of excessive peeling like redness, acnes etc start to appear on your skin.
2. Cold pack application on inflamed skin can bring some relief.
3. Avoid using products such as foaming cleansers, retinol, or anti-aging and acne creams, as they can further damage the skin.
4. By applying moisturizer-rich creams or gels, you can soothe your inflamed skin. Use mild moisturizer and chemical-free products on your skin.
5. It is also suggested applying aloe vera extract to reduce redness and irritation. You can get aloe vera gel from the market or take aloe vera extract directly from the plant.
6. Vitamin C in the skin is a good start to the healing process after excessive exfoliation. You can also add a vitamin C serum or use lemon juice on your face.
7. Stay away from makeup until inflammation subsides.
8. All the products you use should not contain artificial fragrances. These fragrances often trigger allergic reactions and are best avoided.
9. Too much exfoliation makes your skin super sensitive. That is why you should apply sunscreen every time your skin is exposed to the sun. Otherwise, sunburn and heat rash may occur.
10. You should focus on rebuilding your skin’s lipid barrier. Try using products with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, squalene, shea butter, etc.
How long does excessive peeling take to heal?
The timing of recovery after excessive exfoliation depends on the severity of the skin damage. Check if your skin has recovered from obvious signs like irritation, redness, inflammation, etc. If so, then your skin is ready to return to its natural skincare regimen. But take it easy and safe after recovery.
How much exfoliation should do?
The maximum amount of exfoliation you can choose from is twice a week. For those who have recently experienced skin damage, the ideal would be to exfoliate once a week. Be extremely gentle and gentle on your skin while cleaning. In case you experience a severe reaction due to excessive exfoliation, consult a dermatologist for advice. Try using homemade exfoliators if readymade products do not suit you.
What is the difference between physical and chemical peels?
Physical scrubs are unrefined and have a grainy texture, usually due to the small particles you can feel if you rub the product on your hands. On the other hand, chemical scrubs are mild and generally contain acids in liquid form, or they hide inside a cream or serum. Chemical scrubs stimulate dead skin on their own. Physical scrubs and chemical scrubs can be used interchangeably
