How Often Do Facial Exfoliation Needs To Be Done To Produce Glowing Skin? This Is An Expert Opinion

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JAKARTA - Exfoliation is an important part of every skin care routine. Raising dead skin cells can help refresh skin texture, unlock pores, and facilitate the absorption of skin care products, such as moisturizers, explains Alexander Witkowski, MD, Ph.D., certified dermatologists. Exfoliation also encourages cell change, when the body produces new skin cells to replace old cells, said Toral Vaidya, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and Prose skin care expert, cited from Prevention, Wednesday, August 20.

However, understanding how often you need to exfoliate your face is very important to get the best results.

One of the most common mistakes people make when exfoliating their faces? "Do it too often," said Purvisha Patel, MD, a doubly certified dermatologist. The three other dermatologists agree. Too often exfoliating or using products that are too harsh, will not provide any benefit to the skin. This can make the face feel dry, fast, and itchy, it can even cause acne, said Brooke Jeffy, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Plexus Worldwide.

The key is to build a routine that suits your skin texture, find the right frequencies and products to remove dead skin cells without stressing your skin. To help you achieve this right balance, a dermatologist recommends when, how, and how often you need to exfoliate your face so that your skin remains strong and healthy.

A dermatologist recommends exfoliating the face between one and three times a week. However, back again on your skin type. Oily skin may be better if exfoliated more often, while dry skin will stress if exfoliated too often.

Dry or sensitive skin

Exfoliation: 1-2 times a week (or less).

If you have dry or sensitive skin, you are very susceptible to irritation. So, you need to exfoliate gently. Experts recommend facial exfoliation once or twice a week and twice a week in some cases, according to Dr. Jeffy and Dr. Witkowski.

If the skin is very sensitive or is experiencing active irritation, you may not have to exfoliate at all, added Dr. Vaidya. And if you have acne, eczema, or rosacea, you should consult a dermatologist before adding an exfoliator to your skincare routine, according to Dr. Witkowski.

Oily or acne skin

Exfoliation: 2-3 times a week (or more).

If you have oily or acne skin, a natural oily substance that hydrates the skin can accumulate and clog pores, according to Dr. Witkowski and Dr. Vaidya. So, you need to exfoliate enough to get rid of excess oil and prevent acne.

Exfoliation two or three times a week is a good practical rule, experts say. However, if the product used is not too harsh, you can consider exfoliating more often, according to Dr. Jeffy and Dr. Patel.

Combinatorial skin

Exfoliation: 1-2 times a week.

If you have oilier combination skin or skin in some parts and dryer in other parts, you need to balance between exfoliation and moisturizer. Experts recommend exfoliating once or twice a week. "And adjust the frequency based on your appearance and skin taste," says Dr. Vaidya.

You can also treat a variety of face areas differently, by exfoliating oily areas more often than dry areas, according to Dr. Jeffy and Dr. Witkowski.

Adult skin

Exfoliation: 1-2 times a week.

As you age, cell turnover slows down. So, exfoliation can make your skin look smoother and brighter, according to Dr. Jeffy and Dr. Witkowski. At the same time, your skin is getting thinner so excessive exfoliation can make it thinner and drier, according to Dr. Patel and Dr. Witkowski.

Therefore, experts agree that exfoliation once or twice a week is the best choice, and the key is to keep it soft. Choose a light exfoliator, consult a dermatologist, and reduce its use if the skin looks irritated.