What is Exfoliation?

Exfoliation is a technique often practiced in spas, although you probably do it at home too. So even if you’re unfamiliar with the word “exfoliate,” you likely know all about the practice. What is exfoliation? It’s the process of removing the outer layer of dead skin on your body. When you exfoliate, the dead skin cells are scrubbed or peeled away, revealing younger, healthier-looking skin underneath.

Exfoliation can be practiced in varying degrees, from mild botanical scrubs and acne treatments to harsher chemical peels. Choosing the kind of exfoliating treatment that's right for you depends on your age, your skin type, and how often you've exfoliated in the past. Read on to learn more about exfoliating practices and how to choose the product or treatment that will deliver the results you want.

What is exfoliation?

Exfoliation is removing unnecessary dead skin to reveal more luminous, newer skin underneath. Our skin is made up of layers of cells, and only the bottommost section, or dermis, is actually living. The top layers of skin are made up of cells that have been dead for awhile. We need some dead cells to provide our bodies with protection from the elements, but there is such a thing as too many. An abundance of dead cells can cause discoloration, clogged pores, and skin that looks aged.

Our bodies naturally shed millions of skin cells every day; new cells travel up to the surface as old ones flake off. We can help this process along with exfoliation. When done correctly, exfoliation is a healthy way to make the most of your skin. It can make you look younger, help clear up acne, and give you an overall more radiant look.

What Happens When You Exfoliate?

Exfoliation sloughs off the outer layer of dead skin cells that build up all over our bodies. Our skin is made up of many microscopic layers of cells, but only the deepest level, called the dermis, contains living cells. The cells that make up the outermost layer of our skin have been dead for at least a month! Our skin is constantly regenerating; skin cells die and migrate to the surface layer, and as they do so, the outer dead skin flakes off.

As the skin cells die and travel to the surface, they develop internal matrices of keratin, a protective substance that makes our skin water resistant and help makes it stronger. Keratin can become more prevalent in cells that undergo frequent rubbing or other stress; that's how we develop thick calluses on parts of our body that are prone to trauma. But although keratin-filled cells help protect us against the elements, they can give our skin a ruddy look if they aren't removed. That's where exfoliating comes in - exfoliation helps remove the outer layer of cells that would eventually fall off anyway, revealing younger skin underneath.

Who Should Exfoliate Skin?

A gentle exfoliating treatment is helpful for almost all people, but post-menopausal women stand to benefit the most. After menopause, the process of skin erosion becomes more uneven in women, so exfoliating is more important. Young people flake off dead skin easily, but older people's skin tends to regenerate less quickly. What's more, keratin-filled dead cells begin to build up unevenly once we reach middle age, which is true regardless of sex. Exfoliation can help even out skin tone and make skin look healthier and younger.

Exfoliating products can be used on oily and normal skin, but people with dry skin should steer clear of all but the gentlest kinds. Dry skin can dry out even more with exfoliation, which can lead to irritation and even wrinkles. Note that there are different products for use on the body and the face; the face is the part of your body with the most sensitive skin, so it's not good to exfoliate it too harshly or too often.

Two Types of Exfoliation

There are two basic types of exfoliating products - those that contain abrasives and are rubbed on the skin and those with chemicals that cause the skin to peel off. Exfoliating products in the first group fall into the mechanical class of products, while those in the second group are known as chemical exfoliates. Mechanical exfoliates tend to be much gentler than chemical kinds; this group includes natural products like apricot kernels, pumice stone, sugar, and salt. Many mechanical exfoliates are available over the counter for at-home use; in fact, lots of shower gels contain exfoliating beads or crystals, so you may be using one now. In spas, mechanical exfoliates can be found in sugar or salt scrub treatments and in some facials.

Chemical exfoliates are harsher than their mechanical counterparts in general, but there are some mild chemical exfoliates, like pineapple juice, that are suitable for everyone. You can buy acne products containing chemical exfoliates over the counter; usually, however, strong chemical products must be used at a spa or doctor's office. Examples of chemically exfoliating treatments at spas include chemical peels, microderm abrasion, and facials, which usually contain a mild chemical exfoliate segment. These treatments contain alpha-hydroxy acids, beta-hydroxy acids, or other enzymes. It's fine to get a more astringent chemical exfoliating treatment occasionally, but beware of having multiple peels around the same time; too many chemical exfoliating treatments can peel away all the dead skin on your face, revealing living skin underneath that will appear red and burned. This is especially true of older spa goers, who already have thinner skin and may have a harder time regenerating lost skin cells.

A Few Take-Away Lessons of Exfoliation Treatment

Exfoliating is a healthy way to make your skin look more radiant, but don't overdo it or you could do more harm than good. Here are a few guidelines about exfoliating that everyone should take to heart:

1.) Facial exfoliation and body exfoliation are two completely different things. Your face is very delicate; never apply body exfoliating products, like salt scrubs, to your face.

2.) Unless your doctor or esthetician has advised you otherwise, limit harsh chemical exfoliation treatments to once per month. Any more than that and you run the risk of damaging your skin.

3.) More mild treatments can be used regularly. If you can buy an exfoliating product over the counter, chances are it is safe for daily use. Still, it's best to use abrasive body products, like sugar scrubs, no more than twice each week to prevent dry skin. If you have oily skin, you can use exfoliates more often.

4.) Waxing, shaving, and chemical hair removal treatments act as exfoliates too. Keep this in mind when you use other exfoliating products. It's a good idea to wait a few days after a wax or other hair removal treatment before exfoliating again.

At-Home Exfoliating Methods

You don’t have to spend a fortune to take advantage of exfoliation. All of the products listed here are inexpensive, easy to use, and won’t take much of your time.

1.) Scrubs

There are tons of scrubbing products available for the face and body; they’re simple, cheap, and are, typically, very gentle on the skin. Any product with tiny beads, seeds, sugar particles, or other small abrasives qualifies as an exfoliating scrub. Use these kinds of exfoliates once every few days on your skin and body before washing with soap.

2.) Masks

Mask products come in many forms, but they all tend to be mild chemical exfoliates. Read the labels on masks in the store to find one that works with your skin type. Apply a mask to your face after rinsing it with warm water. Let the product harden and rinse it off, following up with a mild cleansing segment. A mask shouldn’t be used more than once a week.

3.) Exfoliating Gloves

These are rough gloves that you wear while washing your face and body to gently remove dead skin. Exfoliating gloves are a mild mechanical method of buffing the skin and can be used daily.

4.) Loofah

A loofah is a coarse sponge that you can use on your body for exfoliation. The advantage of a loofah is it can be lathered with soap, so you can combine exfoliating and cleansing into one quick step. Most loofahs aren’t suitable for use on the face, so if you use this method, you’ll need to combine it with another technique.

Spa Treatments that Exfoliate

Exfoliation can be luxurious if you want it to be. Whether used as a special treat or for regular skin service, spa exfoliating treatments will get your skin looking fabulous.

1.) Salt Glows

A salt glow is a scrub made from sea salt, natural oils, and botanicals. It’s applied to your skin by a therapist and followed up with a moisturizing rubdown. Salt glows leave skin soft and nicely scented.

2.) Body Wraps

Body wraps sometimes are combined with salt glows for extra exfoliation, but they exfoliate the skin on their own too. Usually, a mild chemical exfoliate is added to the products that are slathered all over the body before wrapping begins.

3.) Facials

All facials contain an exfoliating segment; in fact, many contain two--a mild liquid exfoliate and a mask. Facials are the perfect treatment for the gentle skin on your face. If you’re unsure about buffing your face at home or have very sensitive skin, a facial is the way to go.

4.) Chemical Peels

Chemical peels can be received at medical spas or doctor’s offices. They come in varying levels of intensity; some are very gentle and only remove the outermost layers of skin, but others penetrate deep into skin, peeling away multiple layers. Chemical peels can help eliminate wrinkles, sun damage, and discoloration if performed correctly.

5.) Microdermabrasion

Another treatment available at medical spas, microdermabrasion is a mechanical technique that buffs away skin with a crystal-lined wand. It removes more dead skin than simple mechanical exfoliates, like scrubs, but isn’t as strong as a chemical peel.