Why Do We Need To Exfoliate?
If you’ve ever wanted soft, smooth, and deeply cleansed skin, you might want to consider dermaplaning. The Philadelphia area’s Cross Medical Group often recommends this treatment for the removal of unwanted fine hair on the face, but it also takes off excess oils and layers of the oldest dead skin cells that accumulate on the surface of the skin. Another major benefit of the procedure is that makeup will usually glide on more smoothly after the dirt and hair have been removed.
Dermaplaning is essentially a deep exfoliation procedure. It’s likely that you may have heard about exfoliation from skincare experts before, but might be wondering why exactly regular exfoliation is so good for your skin—and why we even need it in the first place. Here’s what you should know about this important skin care technique and some tips to help you get started:
In basic terms, exfoliation is the practice of scrubbing away or dissolving the oldest skin cells that collect on the upper layers of the skin. As part of your skin cell turnover process, your skin naturally gets rid of some old cells roughly every 30 days so that new, healthier cells can take their place. The reason why babies have such glowing, supple-looking skin is because their skin cell turnover process is so fast as they’re growing—almost twice as fast as a normal adult’s skin cell renewal.
As we get older, our rate of skin cell turnover gets slower, and the dead skin cells don’t completely shed. This leads to common skin issues such as rough texture, discoloration, and blocked pores. During exfoliation, a chemical solution, tool, or granular substance is used to remove the dead skin.
Exfoliation has several major benefits for your skin. It improves the absorption and effectiveness of topical products, reduces acne breakouts by preventing dead skin and dirt from becoming trapped in the pores, makes lines and wrinkles less noticeable, allows the release of the skin’s natural oils, and fades discoloration to make your complexion look clearer and more luminous. As mentioned above, it also allows makeup products to glide on more easily instead of applying them to flaky, uneven skin.
Our skin is more likely to become oily and dull if we don’t exfoliate. Consistent exfoliation has long-term benefits such as stimulating increased production of collagen and elastin to reduce wrinkles and sagging. The youthful, healthier skin we yearn for is under the layer of damaged or dead cells on the surface.
Wondering which type of exfoliant is most suitable for you? The best option for you depends on your skin type and the other products you’re using in your routine. If you’re planning to start an exfoliating routine, choosing the right products can seem slightly overwhelming at first because of all the options that are available. The important thing to remember is that there are two main options: chemical exfoliation that involves acids or enzymes applied to break down the dead skin and manual exfoliation that involves the use of hard substances applied directly to the surface to clear away the dead skin. Manual exfoliation may be too harsh for some skin types—especially acne-prone or sensitive skin—and lead to irritation.
Be careful to avoid using scrubs that are designed for the body on your face as they are too abrasive for the fragile skin there. Stick to using one type of exfoliating product at a time—and definitely avoid using more than one type on the same day, since using too many could be damaging for your skin. Remember also to switch products up if your skin needs change.
Learn everything you need to know about cosmetic skin rejuvenation procedures like dermaplaning from the Philadelphia area-based Cross Medical Group if you’re searching for ways to get clearer, smoother skin. Contact them at (215) 561-9100 or submit a contact form to schedule an appointment and find out if this procedure is the best option for you.