Exfoliation Advice

Will Exfoliation help the health of my skin?

The fast answer is yes – exfoliation will help the health of your skin!

Skin exfoliation improves the quality and tone of skin by assisting in the removal of dead skin cells from the surface (the human skin produces about one million skin cells per minute, which equates to over five billion skin cells per day). As our skin cells renew, old surface cells harden and lose moisture, and eventually detach from skin to allow for new cells to come through (this process is called desquamation).

Desquamation also eliminates damaged and contaminated cells that carry pollutants and micro-organisms from the environment. These dead skin cells don’t always effectively fall from our skin, meaning they can dry and dull the skin’s surface, and cause clogging and congestion. Through professional and at-home exfoliation, these dulling skin cells are effectively removed, and newer cells are revealed for a fresher, healthier appearance.

When Not to exfoliate

If skin is sensitised, exfoliation may not be for you, as it may further compromise your skin’s natural protective barriers. It is important to always follow the direction of your skin therapist when exfoliation is a part of your at-home regimen and professional skin treatments.

What is an exfoliant?

An exfoliant is any agent that removes dead skin cells from the skin’s surface to reveal newer, smoother skin that’s underneath. When we exfoliate, we automatically cause skin renewal because new cells are stimulated to push towards the surface to replace the newly removed dead cells.

Exfoliants can be physical or chemical, and their usage is dependent upon each individual’s skin care needs.

Physical exfoliants use friction to remove dead skin cells, either through the use of a tool (such as a brush or sponge) or a gentle abrasive (such as Corn Cob Meal, Rice Bran or Oatmeal). Depending on the amount of friction and the nature of the abrasive used, results will vary. You can find Corn Cob Meal in Dermalogica Skin Prep Scrub and Rice Bran in Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant.

Unlike physical exfoliants that remove debris through gentle abrasion, chemical exfoliants smooth skin by dissolving the intercellular “glue” that attaches cells to the surface. Hydroxy acids, Retinol, and enzymes (proteins that initiate a chemical reaction to break the chemical bonds of older cells and “digest” them) are a few examples of chemical exfoliants.

Exfoliation and solar defence

Hydroxy acids increase sensitivity to sun as little as 13% and up to 50%. Because of this, the FCA (federal Drug Administration) requires that sunscreen must be applied after any hydroxy acid exfoliation treatment – good advice for your at-home regimen as well.

Research shows sunscreens formulated with antioxidant vitamins provide enhanced protection against damaging UV light and free radicals. With this increased protection from antioxidant vitamins, there is no need to add more potentially-irritating sunscreen chemicals to create a higher spf level.

Dermalogica’s Solar Defence System delivers this antioxidant technology through UV Smart Booster Technology, a microcapsule containing antioxidant vitamins that bursts upon contact with UV light, releasing the antioxidants onto skin, providing protection when it’s needed most.

Buy Dermalogica Products for exfoliation here