Can I Over-Exfoliate?
The simple answer is, yes, you can definitely over-exfoliate!
Have you ever heard of having too much of a good thing?
That's basically what can happen with exfoliating. While exfoliating should be an important part of your skincare routine, you need to be careful not to overdo it and not to exfoliate when your skin is showing signs of damage.
A Love-Hate Relationship
When you first add exfoliation to your routine, your skin will likely look and feel great.
But, you should know your skin probably feels great because it’s healthy and resilient. This ultimately means it's capable of repairing itself.
If you over-exfoliate or the condition of your skin changes (which often happens as we age), regular exfoliation can cause your skin to become red, sensitive, flaky, or even kind of plastic-looking.
Many times people see this damage to their skin and think, "ok, I need to exfoliate to clear up my skin," not even realizing that's what's CAUSING the issue.
What Happens When You Over-Exfoliate
Here's what is happening. Your skin has a natural barrier that keeps moisture in and pathogens out. In order to absorb and use good skincare products effectively, that barrier needs to be intact. The first step in healthy, sustainable skincare is barrier repair, then we can work on other skin issues.
Products That Heal
So how do we address barrier health initially so that we can break this cycle and heal from the damage? I have several favorites go-to products that I use when starting clients off.
After that, we can re-access and start to work on other issues such as acne, age management, and pigmentation.
If you suspect you might be over-exfoliating, let's get you on the schedule to start rebuilding your skin's barrier!
