How To Exfoliate Sensitive Skin Types
How To Exfoliate Sensitive Skin Types
One of the most common reasons for acne breakouts is clogged pores, which often become blocked with dead skin cells, sebum—an oily secretion—and debris. When we can reduce the amount of clogging that occurs, we can limit breakouts and other skin conditions and reduce the pain and discomfort associated with them.
In addition to regular cleansings and protective products, exfoliating is one of the best ways to remove build-up from oils and debris. Unfortunately, exfoliating can be quite harsh on sensitive skin or skin with pre-existing conditions. It’s important to exfoliate your sensitive skin safely and carefully to prevent any future complications or irritations, and to find the best products to fit your skincare needs and skin type.
PROVEN Skincare makes it easy to find the best products and practices for all of your skincare needs, whatever they may be. Learn about your skin type and approaches for care, treatment, and management through our growing collection of skincare resources and information, starting right here — how do you exfoliate sensitive skin?
Understanding Sensitive Skin Causes
The term sensitive skin can refer to many different skin conditions or skin reactions, and it can be an all the time thing or just during certain parts of the year or for certain ingredients. That’s why it can be helpful to know how to exfoliate sensitive skin, in the event that you have a reaction or flare-up that needs to be handled gently.
Here are a few of the most common reasons you may be experiencing sensitive skin.
Dry or Injured Skin
You may be managing the effects of dry skin for many different reasons. Dry skin is one of the most common skin conditions, but it can also develop as the result of environmental factors, like excessive exposure to heat, sun, or even cold. When our skin is too dry, it is more prone to damage and injury, which is why you’ll want to be careful when exfoliating it.
Contact Dermatitis
Contact dermatitis is a type of eczema that develops when your skin is exposed to irritants and allergens. More than three-fourths of contact dermatitis occurs when the skin comes into contact with irritating substances, like jewelry, soaps, or fabrics. Less common is a type of allergic reaction that occurs when your body has a reaction to allergens, like poison ivy. Usually, these reactions are delayed a few days after exposure.
Existing Skin Conditions
Existing skin conditions can make the skin sensitive and prone to damage and discomfort, especially during exfoliation. Common conditions that can affect the skin include other forms of eczema, beyond contact dermatitis, psoriasis, and rosacea. Even some forms of acne can be considered an existing condition and may require extra care when exfoliating.
Benefits of Exfoliation
Exfoliation is a simple process by which the dead skin cells that sit on the top layer of the skin are removed. It gets deeper than a traditional cleanser and can be performed at the discretion of you and your skincare needs.
Even though it may require a careful hand, there are many reasons you’ll want to add exfoliation to your skincare routine. Here are some of the benefits of regular exfoliation.
Exfoliation Unclogs the Pores
The best way to prevent acne from developing is to prevent buildup of sebum, dead skin cells, and debris. While it’s important to use a regular cleanser every day, sometimes that simply isn’t enough. When you exfoliate, you can remove deeper buildup and help to reduce the likelihood of breakouts.
Exfoliation Promotes Healthy Circulation
If you have puffy or sallow skin, exfoliating might be the best option for you. Exfoliating can help to promote healthy circulation and blood flow, which means the reduced appearance of inflammation and redness, for healthy, glowing skin.
Exfoliation Helps Your Products Work Right
If you spend time and resources to create a comprehensive skincare routine, they should work effectively. Not only does exfoliation help to remove the buildup that leads to acne and breakouts, but it can clear out the pores so that your serums and moisturizers can actually penetrate the skin deeper and work more effectively. This can contribute to increased skin health and wellness and a greater sense of confidence in your own skin.
Exfoliation Can Even Out the Skin
There are many reasons your skin may have discoloration or unevenness, including hyperpigmentation, scars, and sunspots. Exfoliating breaks down dead skin cells and promotes healthy cell regrowth and regenerations. That can help to reduce the appearance of discoloration and even out the skin over time.
How To Exfoliate Sensitive Skin
Because there are so many benefits to exfoliating, you’ll want to consider adding it to your routine even if you do have sensitive skin. Here are a few ways you can safely exfoliate sensitive skin.
Go Slow
While you won’t want to exfoliate your skin more than three times a week, you certainly don’t need to do it that often. When you’re beginning a sensitive skin exfoliation schedule, it’s helpful to go slowly and watch for your skin’s reaction before the next round. Even a few exfoliations a month can be helpful and will have a lower impact on your sensitive skin.
Use the Best Products and Tools for Your Needs
There are many different ways to exfoliate your skin. Not only are there options for the products you use, which can be tailored to fit your specific skincare needs, but you also have different tools and brushes, as well. If you have sensitive skin, using a soft washcloth can be a safe and gentle way to exfoliate without irritating any preexisting conditions.
Skip the Flare-Up Days
You want to avoid exfoliating your skin if there are any signs of damage or sunburns, and the same goes for flareups of preexisting conditions. You skip exfoliating if you have obvious signs of acne breakouts, psoriasis, or eczema in order to keep from irritating your skin further.
Be Gentle
Whether you have sensitive skin or not, you always want to be gentle when you first begin exfoliating. With sensitive skin, go slowly and gently when you exfoliate. You’ll also want to use small, short strokes, exfoliate for short periods of time, and always use warm, not hot water, to rinse off your cleanser.
Keep Your Face Moisturized
Exfoliation can lead to a drying out of the skin, which can contribute to increased irritation or potential damage. Finding and using the right moisturizer for your skin can both provide relief and prevent future complications or irritation.
Listen to Your Skin
No matter what kind of skincare products or practices you’re trying out, you want to listen to your skin and make sure that the new activity isn’t causing any added damage. Possible side effects of exfoliating with sensitive skin can include dryness, redness, irritation, or even increased flare-ups and breakouts.
To protect your skin while trying out a new routine, go slow and use gentle products and touches. Take the time to see how your skin responds to your exfoliating routine and whether it contributes to flare-ups or reactions. If your skin seems to be responding positively to exfoliation, then add it to your regular routine slowly and intentionally.
Conclusion
Conclusion
There are many benefits to exfoliating your skin. It can help to remove buildup from your pores, which reduces the likelihood of acne breakouts and inflammation. It can also help promote healthy circulation, even out the appearance of uneven skin, and even ensure that your skincare products work as effectively as possible.
While you’ll want to take extra care when exfoliating skin that is sensitive, whether from a preexisting condition, environmental damage, acute injury, or just a little allergen-susceptibility, there are still many reasons to exfoliate sensitive skin. You can protect sensitive skin during the exfoliation process by using the best products and tools for your skincare needs, following a light exfoliation routine, and always listening to your skincare needs, and we’re here to help.
PROVEN Skincare believes every person deserves access to a personalized skincare routine designed to fit their exact skin type.
That’s why we have our unique 47-Factor Skin Genome Quiz with questions about your lifestyle, breakouts, environment, makeup habits, and more. It’s also why we have personalized information on all of your skincare needs, from managing dry skin to developing a routine for oily skin.
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