The warning signs of OVER-Exfoliating
When done correctly, exfoliation will remove the layer of dead skin and leave your skin glowing. If you exfoliate too much, you end up removing too many layers of natural protection, which causes problems for your skin.
Here are some of the warning signs of over-exfoliated skin
Skin Irritation and Redness. Skin irritation and Redness are one of the earliest signs of over-exfoliation. It’s normal for your skin to turn slightly red after exfoliation but, if your skin remains red for hours or days after you exfoliate, you’re probably over doing it.
Flaky Skin. Over-exfoliation can lead to flaky, dehydrated skin. This usually means your over-exfoliated skin has lost its ability to absorb or retain moisture.
Dehydrated skin is a sign of over-exfoliating. If you have rough, flaky skin, use a hydrating moisturizer after you exfoliate and reduce the number of times you exfoliate.
Increased Oil Production. Your skin might produce excess oil as a way of compensating for lost oils due to over-exfoliation. It does this to hydrate and protect itself.
Every skin type is prone to damage if its natural oils are lost. Be sure to hydrate after exfoliation to prevent the loss of these oils.
Skin Acne. Regular exfoliation (2-3/week) will clear the debris from your pores and prevent pimples. However, when you over-exfoliate, you weaken the skin and damage its defense. This makes it easy for acne-causing bacteria to get into the skin and cause pimples to breed.
Over-exfoliating active acne spreads the bacteria to the rest of the face, causing stubborn acne that lasts a long time. Over-exfoliation also causes inflammation, which keeps the existing acne from healing and triggers the formation of even more acne. If you develop breakouts, you need to reduce the amount of exfoliation to prevent your acne from worsening.
Tight and Dry Skin. Once your skin is stripped of its natural oils, it might lose its natural lubrication. Over-exfoliating will make your skin feel tight and dry.
Shiny Skin. If you have shiny, translucent skin after exfoliating, it may mean you have done some damage. The shininess shows after your skin has been stripped of its original texture. It also means that the skin barrier has been weakened, making its appearance seem unnatural.
Exfoliating 2-3/per week is best for most skins. It's important to find the right product and the right balance in your exfoliating routine.
Sloughing off dead skin build-up will keep skin clear and healthy BUT only if you do it correctly. For some Exfoliating DO's and DON'Ts that will ensure you're getting the best results possible, click here