What is the secret to fresh, glowing, more porcelain-like skin? Well there’s more than one, actually, but the one we’ll be discussing here is exfoliation - the process of scrubbing away the outer layer of dry and dull skin, to reveal fresher, newer skin underneath. Exfoliation reveals softer skin, smaller pores, evens skin tone, and reduces the appearance of sunspots and fine lines. The methods, intensity, and frequency of exfoliation vary according to skin type, but the desired result is the same.

Exfoliation, on the most basic level, consists of over-the-counter or department store versions that contain small, ground products such as crystals or seeds. These exfoliating scrubs are usually applied in a cream base and immediately rinsed from the skin. Also available over-the-counter is the method of scrubbing the skin with an exfoliating cloth, buff, or pad, administered on both a daily or weekly skin-care routine. And perhaps the most popular method of exfoliation, alpha and beta hydroxy acids, which are products that contain lactic acid, salicylic acid, and glycolic acid. All of these exfoliating methods can be purchased easily at a local drugstore and are recommended for weekly use. Since exfoliation activates and encourages new skin growth by increasing the production of sebum, individuals with oily skin may want to exfoliate less frequently. People with dry skin, however, may choose to exfoliate 2 to 3 times per week since their skin cycles more frequently.

Exfoliation can be more intense and in-depth than the drugstore and over-the-counter versions. Today, there is microdermabrasion (administered through over-the-counter products or salon treatments), salon “mini-peels”, and more intense chemical peels administered by aestheticians, doctors, and dermatologists.

Exfoliation products administered over-the-counter contain no more than ten-percent of the exfoliating acid, so many people choose to pay for the salon methods of exfoliation that give more notable results. The salon “mini-peel” is typically administered every 8 to 10 weeks and the more intense chemical peels are only recommended for annual use.

All methods of exfoliation result in temporary redness and irritation of the skin, the length and intensity of which depends on the depth of the exfoliation. Typically, mini peels and at-home exfoliating treatments will heal within 48 hours, and the intense chemical peels can take up to a month to completely recover. The result is fresher, smoother, and more even skin tone, and let’s face it, when we feel better, we look better!

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