How often should you deeply exfoliate? (2023)

How often should you fully exfoliate your body?

For most people, body exfoliation 2–3 times each week is enough to keep your skin in top condition. To exfoliate properly, make sure the water in your shower is warm—this will help open your pores. Then, gently scrub your exfoliating body scrub in circles over your skin.

Did you know you can—and should—exfoliate daily? “There are a number of reasons why it's so beneficial to do it every day,” says Clinique Derm Pro Dr. Michelle Henry, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. Read on for her top five.

To sum it up, physical exfoliants and most of the chemical exfoliants should be used two to three times per week. The only exception to the rule would be BHAs which can be used every day.

Exfoliating too often can strip the skin on your face of its natural oils and lead to breakouts. Too much scrubbing may also cause your skin to become irritated. Most skin care experts agree that exfoliating your face once or twice a week is best for most skin types.

Over-exfoliation can lead to rough, dehydrated, patchy, and flaky skin. This usually means your over-exfoliated skin has lost its ability to absorb or retain moisture. When this happens, the effects of your beauty routine and skin care products will severely diminish.

How often to exfoliate legs. Generally speaking, you shouldn't exfoliate more than once or twice a week. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends allowing time between exfoliation sessions, especially if you have dry or sensitive skin. If you have oily skin, you may be able to exfoliate more frequently.

When it comes to morning versus night exfoliation, you're going to reap the best benefits from exfoliating in the morning time. This is due to the oils your skin produces overnight. You'll be able to more smoothly remove all impurities, dead skin, and oils, when you exfoliate in the morning, rather than at night.

Should you exfoliate before or after shower? Same rules apply here as they do for washing your face. It's way better to exfoliate after you've finished using haircare or other shower products and when you can use cool water.

Exfoliating is actually a must for an anti-aging skincare routine. By exfoliating away dead, dull skin cells, you're revealing brighter, newer skin underneath and also increasing cellular turnover, softening and preventing fine lines and wrinkles.

“If it stings when you wash your face or apply products, you may be overdoing it.” This goes for both physical exfoliants (like face scrubs) and chemical exfoliants (such as toners and peels containing hydroxy acids).

How long do you have to exfoliate to see results?

How long should it take to see results after exfoliation? This has a double answer. After just 10 minutes you should see an improvement in your complexion if done properly. However, for the real long term and highly noticeable results, it can take 6-8 weeks.

Most experts advise that you exfoliate two to three times per week — as long as your skin can handle it. Chemical exfoliants tend to be fine to use more regularly. Physical methods, on the other hand, may be too abrasive to use multiple times a week.

But if you ask dermatologists, they'll tell you that not only is exfoliation usually an unnecessary step, many people overdo it. “Our skin cells naturally exfoliate on their own,” said Chicago-based dermatologist Caroline Robinson.

Poor exfoliation is a leading cause of blackheads and whiteheads, some of the most common signs of acne. You can also develop “undergrowth” without regular exfoliation. This is comprised of not only dead skin cells but also trapped dirt and oil, which can lead to ingrown hairs.

Apply Moisturizers

if you just finished exfoliating your face, or any other body part, the most important thing to remember is to stay moisturized. While one exfoliation won't completely strip your skin of all of its oil, it will remove most of it, leaving the surface dry.

By removing dead skin cells, facial scrubs allow oil, dirt, bacteria, etc. that were trapped deep within pores to come to the surface. The blemish that results is actually the body's way of expelling toxins completely. Breakouts that occur anywhere from two to four weeks after a gentle scrub are normal.

Typically, exfoliating does not cause acne. In fact, in most cases, exfoliating can help minimize acne when performed properly as part of an acne treatment program. Beware though, if exfoliating is done improperly or too often, it can bring on problems. If you use a scrub, use as directed and be gentle.

You can exfoliate wet skin, as many people do with a loofah or a scrub in the shower, but the friction level is different when the skin cells are moist, Karen said. The dry method will help you to more effectively exfoliate, plus it's less messy, Gohara noted.

Use your scrubbing tool to gently move along your bikini line in a small circular motion to remove dead skin cells that may be clogging up the pores. Be sure to cover the entire surface of the area. Allow the exfoliate to sit on your skin for up to 3 minutes. Rinse the area well.

Once you're done exfoliating your legs, follow up by moisturizing them. Physical exfoliation can cause immediate shedding of the outer layer of your skin. This speeds up water loss in your skin. Ingredients used in lotions and creams help your outer layer of skin absorb water better and smooth the skin.

When should I not exfoliate?

DON'T exfoliate if it causes irritation

If your skin feels sensitive, stings, becomes red or flakey after exfoliating, stop immediately! Give your skin a break for a week or so, then attempt exfoliating again, but make sure you do your research to ensure you're using the right products and method for your skin type.

If you've ever wondered what comes first, cleansing or exfoliating, know that the confusion is understandable: though the two go hand in hand—you should always cleanse before exfoliating.

Both are beneficial as well as essential for your skin. A cleanser cleans your skin, removing impurities and dust. On the other hand, an exfoliator removes the dead cells trapped on your skin's surface to reveal younger and healthier inner skin layer.

“It is important to leave a 10-20 minute wait time before applying the next product.

“The alleged risk is that hot water dehydrates the skin, the heat from hot water and steam may dilate and burst sensitive blood vessels in the skin, and that the bacteria in the bathroom can increase the risk of infection.

Should you exfoliate before or after shaving? The answer is yes, to both. One of the most important parts of your pre-shave prep is exfoliation, which helps to buff and prepare your skin.

As we've already mentioned, mature skin can be extra sensitive, so make sure you use a gentle, organic face scrub and massage it gently over the skin with circular movements. You only need to use a scrub every ten days or so.

Exfoliate

Your tightening skincare routine would not be complete without exfoliation. Exfoliating the outer layer of your skin gets rid of dead skin cells, revealing a smoother, radiant complexion that will look a lot less wrinkled.

It's a great practice to use in your regular routine, but too much exfoliation or scrubbing too hard with an exfoliator can, in fact, cause inflammation that might cause wrinkles down the line. If you don't over-exfoliate, you shouldn't have any issues with wrinkles down the line.

If you use a scrub or chemical exfoliator, apply the product gently using small, circular motions. Do this for about 30 seconds, and then rinse off with lukewarm — not hot — water. If you use a brush or sponge, use short light strokes. Never exfoliate if you have open cuts or wounds or if your skin is sunburned.

Why is my skin peeling after exfoliating?

Areas of peeling skin or visible flaking are the ultimate sign of over-exfoliation. Flaking and peeling are caused by the same thing as dryness: loss of your skin's natural barrier. But when dryness becomes excessive, it progresses to the next stage, which is a visible loss of skin.

Too much exfoliation can sweep away natural oil layer. This can lead to dry skin and open pores, which will absorb dust from its surroundings and become even larger.

“The term 'skin purging' refers to a reaction to an active ingredient that is increasing skin cell turnover rate,” Dr. Deanne Mraz Robinson, a board-certified dermatologist, tells Healthline. As skin cell turnover speeds up, the skin starts shedding dead skin cells faster than normal.

Most of the barrier damage comes from stripping your skin of its natural oils with harsh cleansers, acne medication, and acids. Scrubbing too hard, waxing, and using DIY ingredients like lemon and baking soda, and on some skin types, alcohol and fragrance are also common culprits for damage.

Exfoliating dead skin on your face helps you to have clearer, brighter skin, but extreme over exfoliation will cause pimples and acne that is an unwanted result.

If you use a scrub or chemical exfoliator, apply the product gently using small, circular motions. Do this for about 30 seconds, and then rinse off with lukewarm — not hot — water. If you use a brush or sponge, use short light strokes. Never exfoliate if you have open cuts or wounds or if your skin is sunburned.

The bottom line: Plan to commit to a new skin-care regimen anywhere from six to 12 weeks to see if it really works—which is a budget-savvy strategy either way since that's about how long it takes to use up a bottle.

When mechanically exfoliating, it's important to be gentle on your skin. You can make small, circular motions using your finger to apply a scrub or use your exfoliating tool of choice. If you use a brush, make short, light strokes. Exfoliate for about 30 seconds and then rinse off with lukewarm — not hot — water.

Exfoliation. The right age to start exfoliating your skin, especially the facial skin is in your late teens which is around the age of 17.

“All skin types can and should exfoliate,” explains Dr. Magovern—but there may be some differences in how. “If you have dry or sensitive skin, I would start with a fruit enzyme product or lactic or mandelic acid, rather than glycolic acid. If you're acne prone, salicylic and mandelic acid are my favorites.

Does exfoliation increase collagen production?

Long-term exfoliating can increase collagen production. Collagen is key to glowing, vibrant skin. The protein also promotes skin elasticity, minimizing the appearance of fine lines and related sagging.

Generally speaking, board-certified dermatologist Lian A. Mack, MD, says exfoliating daily isn't recommended for many skin types as it will strip skin of its natural oils, leaving it feeling overly dry, which can then result in irritation and inflammation.

What is ichthyosis vulgaris? Ichthyosis vulgaris is an inherited or acquired skin condition that occurs when the skin doesn't shed its dead skin cells. This causes dry, dead skin cells to accumulate in patches on the surface of the skin.

It's good to exfoliate your whole body, not just the face.

The problem is that sometimes those dead skin cells don't fall off -- they just build up and clog pores or make skin feel rough. That's why it's important to exfoliate your entire body instead of just your face.

Most skin types do best with one or two exfoliations a week. Let your skin tell you whether it's time to exfoliate. If you notice irritation or have any open cuts or sores, even a gentle exfoliant can exacerbate these problems.

If you use a scrub or chemical exfoliator, apply the product gently using small, circular motions. Do this for about 30 seconds, and then rinse off with lukewarm — not hot — water. If you use a brush or sponge, use short light strokes. Never exfoliate if you have open cuts or wounds or if your skin is sunburned.

Those who don't regularly exfoliate can have skin that looks dull and patchy. You might notice this as you get older because aging, sun damage, and shifts in hormone levels can reduce the growth rate of new skin cells.

If you use a scrub or chemical exfoliator, apply the product gently using small, circular motions. Do this for about 30 seconds, and then rinse off with lukewarm — not hot — water. If you use a brush or sponge, use short light strokes. Never exfoliate if you have open cuts or wounds or if your skin is sunburned.

After exfoliating your face or body, it's important to always follow up with a moisturizer, said Zeichner, who usually pairs exfoliating products with moisturizers that have skin-repairing ingredients such as niacinamide, ceramides and/or oatmeal.

When it comes to morning versus night exfoliation, you're going to reap the best benefits from exfoliating in the morning time. This is due to the oils your skin produces overnight. You'll be able to more smoothly remove all impurities, dead skin, and oils, when you exfoliate in the morning, rather than at night.

What do dermatologists recommend exfoliating?

Cleansing the face before exfoliation will allow chemical exfoliants to penetrate deep into the skin and prevent makeup or dirt from pushing deeper, especially if also using mechanical exfoliation.

Try to exfoliate your body at least once every 10 days, but we recommend one to two times a week if you have sensitive skin, and three to four if your chest and back are on the oily side.

You can exfoliate wet skin, as many people do with a loofah or a scrub in the shower, but the friction level is different when the skin cells are moist, Karen said. The dry method will help you to more effectively exfoliate, plus it's less messy, Gohara noted.

Conclusion. In the end, exfoliation is essential for achieving visually appealing skin, but failing to hydrate the surface can cause painful irritations and dryness that leave your skin feeling worse than before you exfoliated.

It's normal. It's dead skin cells mixed with your natural oils and what ever else sticks to your skin throughout the day. Some people make more skin cells and oils than other people. You need to “exfoaliate" or wash this stuff off but it takes a while for water to soften and loosen everything up.

Just water. Water does a fine job of rinsing away dirt without stripping vital oils from your skin. Also, avoid those luxurious long, hot showers. Just a few minutes under the spray is enough to rinse away a day's accumulation of dirt, and any longer might dry your skin.