Did you know that with a total area of about 20 square feet, your skin is your largest organ? Your skin covers the body and acts as a physical barrier that protects underlying tissues from physical damage, ultraviolet rays, germs, and pathogenic invasion. And because your skin has such essential functions, it is crucial to protect it and care for it. Glowing skin is typically considered a telltale of great health and vitality. And one of the best ways to get great skin is to exfoliate.
Exfoliating refers to the very specific process of removing dead skin cells from the surface of your skin. This can be done by using a chemical, granular substance, or an exfoliation tool. It can be done with abrasive materials for manual exfoliation, including: cleansing scrubs, exfoliating mitts, dry brushes, loofahs. Make sure to use exfoliation techniques and tools that are adapted to your skin type and condition. It is estimated that your skin sheds dead skin cells to promote new ones every 30 days. However, all dead skin don’t shed completely, and this can be visible when you have dry or flaky areas on your skin. If you have oily skin, you can exfoliate daily. However, any other skin type should limit the at-home exfoliation regimen to once a week to avoid damaging the skin barrier.
Exfoliating can benefits your skin in a number of ways:
- Unclogging pores and preventing acne: Acne appears when tiny holes in the skin become Sebaceous glands are tiny glands found near the surface of your skin. These glands are attached to the small holes in your skin that an individual hair grows out of. Their function is to lubricate the hair and the skin and to stop it from drying out through the production of an oily substance called sebum. Acne appears when these glands begin to produce too much sebum. This excess of sebum then merges with dead skin cells and forms a plug in the follicle which causes inflammation, bacteria proliferation and eventually, acne breakouts.
- Even skin tone: Exfoliating allows you to effectively get rid of a dull complexion, as it helps liberate dead skin cells, and reveals a fresh new layer of radiant skin. Exfoliating is a powerful way to fight any pigmentation issues and get your skin tone back on track.
- It helps other skincare products work better: When the surface of your skin is free from dead skin, your skincare products work better as they are able to penetrate on a deeper level and help the deeper layers of your skin absorb the products.
- Boost circulation and lymphatic drainage: Exfoliation does wonders to stimulate blood flow, bringing it closer to the surface of the skin for a beautiful instant, rosy flush. It also stimulates and encourages lymphatic drainage, therefore removing toxins and pathogens more quickly.
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It improves skin texture: Removing the dead cells on the surface helps speed up cell turnover, which will leave your complexion looking brighter as you reveal the fresh cells underneath.
