Guest Post: Advanced Skin Care, The Importance of Exfoliating

 Greetings from the Dark Side! Today, I have an informative guest post from Christina on the importance of exfoliating. I personally think that exfoliation is very important and an essential part of a skin care routine. Ever since I started using an exfoliation routine (more on this later), I have seen a huge difference in my skin. But I will leave you with the guest post!

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Exfoliation should be an important part of any advanced skin care routine. Basically involving the use of different methods to remove dead skin and improve dry skin problems, exfoliation is essential if you want to follow a comprehensive anti-ageing routine. Different exfoliation treatments have been used since at least the Ancient Egyptians, and generally vary between mechanical and chemical treatments, as well as clinical procedures. Following an exfoliation scheme can produce lasting results over time, albeit while remembering to avoid some common mistakes. More on these areas can be found below:

The Importance of Exfoliating

Dry skin is a common problem, and particularly during the autumn and winter months. Dryness, flaky skin, and breakouts can cause irritation and a blotchy appearance. Other people suffer from pore clogging, as well as mixed pigmentation and bruising as the result of poor skincare regimes.

Exfoliation can help to make a big difference to these problems, working on the surface layer of dead skin, known as the dermis, which tends to become broken and dry when not treated on a regular basis. These problems apply to both men and women, with the former suffering as the result of poor moisturising after shaving.

Exfoliating treatments break down into two key methods: mechanical devices, which represent everything from scrub brushes to pumice stones, and chemical exfoliants that dissolve dead skin through ingredients like glycolic acid. The physical work of scrubbing brushes tends to work best for people that don’t follow a regular skin cream and moisturising routine. Chemical treatments are similarly not recommended for anyone with sensitive skin.

Other options include microdermabrasion, which uses smaller devices to help target specific areas of dead skin. For more serious skin problems, which might include scarring, plastic surgeons and dermatologists can perform advanced exfoliating techniques which intensively work on top layers of skin.

When successful, exfoliating treatments help to keep skin looking fresh and healthy. Regular treatments boost the general regenerative properties of the skin, and can slow down the process of ageing. In this way, exfoliation can be combined with a regular skin moisturising routine to prevent problems with uneven skin, dryness, and irritation. Many people also use exfoliation alongside hair removal treatments like waxing, which can have a similar effect in terms of removing dead skin.

Be careful, though, to tone down, or stop exfoliating treatments if you’re experiencing rough skin, bleeding and prolonged irritation. These problems may be as the result of an allergy to ingredients, or to sensitive skin receiving too extreme a treatment. Always check products for their safety instructions, and don’t continue using exfoliants if your skin is particularly sensitive.

Milder exfoliants can be found for those that suffer persistent dry skin, and don’t want to cause irritation. If in doubt, check your skincare regime with a dermatologist. While most exfoliation treatments are suitable, the damage caused by using chemical or mechanical treatments that are too intensive for your particular skin type can lead to further irritation, and in extreme cases, permanent scarring that requires surgery.

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