Over-exfoliation might lend a temporary glow to the skin but not without making it itchy dry, rough, and prone to rashes
Exfoliation is the process of scrubbing off dead skin cells from the skin and improving the appearance and texture of it. As a skincare essential, this step prevents clogged skin and acne. However, many times, the skin becomes vulnerable to excess exfoliation, that stripes away natural oils and premature exposure of underlying skin. The skin looks slick as opposed to plump—a key feature of healthy skin.
The harsh and insistent scrubbing, at frequent intervals, be it with chemical products or DIY remedies, leads to over-exfoliation. Exfoliation is advised once or twice a week in a bid to expediate cell turnover. Too many peels and physical scrubs means going overboard and aggressive with the exfoliation process, which irritates healthy skin. It is more concerning since the skin takes quite a while to get back its baseline texture. Since specific skin types and requirements decide the frequency of exfoliation, a dermatologist might help you with the process.
Irritated Skin: Symptoms of skin irritation is mostly itchiness, redness, and dryness. The trick is to heal the irritation pronto by using simple measures such as applying ice compress to let the itchiness cool down. Dabbing some fresh aloe vera is also an easy and amazing way to heal the skin. Besides applying a barrier cream, it is best to consult a dermatologist if the irritation persists.
Uneven Texture: The rash-like texture is due to dryness and flakes. Exfoliation on an abnormal scale leads to patchy and blotched skin, which changes the textures for the absolute worst. You may also notice rough and bumpy pimples. Sometimes, the waxlike texture stimulates a temporary glow, but in essence points at loss of natural oils, imminent peeling, and painful cracking in the skin. At this stage, skin sensitivity increases triggering a burning sensation to whatever remedial products you apply.
Breakouts and Blemishes: The link between insane exfoliation and breakouts? Skin sensitivity and unnatural drying. When the skin is devoid of moisture, sebum production increases which results in acne. Another possible reason is skin inflammation, again an aftermath of excess exfoliation, which might cause the breakouts. Eventually, the face is speckled with blemishes.
Tightness in Skin: Dry skin is bound to feel taut and stretched. This symptom turns pretty agonising when you smile or work with facial muscles.
Oily Skin: Scrubbing relentlessly at first shows in oily skin before you start experiencing dryness. It might seem counterintuitive, but oily skin indeed is a sign of dry and weak skin. It is the skin’s way of overcompensating for the lack of hydration by generating an abnormal amount of oil and shininess.
Get rid of harsh components: The first and fundamental step would be to meticulously eliminate the harsh and potentially irritating compounds from your exfoliation. Those elements are likely to stimulate irritation as many times as you apply on the skin.
Pause with exfoliation: The habit of overzealous scrubbing of the face must be stopped immediately until the skin has bounced back to its natural form. Sometimes, it might be tempting to risk another round of exfoliation to do away with the dryness, but the implications are never positive. Even the use of microbeads and alpha and beta-hydroxy acids is not a good idea when the skin is reeling under the effects of intense scrubbing.
Use soothing creams: Gentle formulas that include ceramides, glycerine, hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, and jojoba oil should be incorporated to speed up the healing process. Ointments, hydrocortisone cream, and gentle, anti-inflammatory cleanser are also relevant to repair the skin barrier.
