The largest organ in the body is the skin. It is sort of the silent hero, doing a variety of tasks that it usually doesn’t get any appreciation for. It acts as a shield between your internal organs and the environment, keeping out harmful bacteria, excreting toxins and regulating body temperature. Because it works so hard, it has to make new cells regularly, and the dead cells can linger on the surface leaving your skin looking dry and dull. Skin exfoliation is necessary to help your skin look and feel healthy.
To counter the effects of dry skin, most people use some sort of lotion or moisturizing cream. But, what they often don’t know is they could be making the problem worse. The dead cells that lead to dry skin are sticking on the surface and limiting the moisture that the pores can absorb, so all that lotion isn’t doing you any good.
Exfoliants work to slough dead skin from the surface. Using a product that is slightly abrasive, scrubs those dry cells away. What you’re left with is skin that can absorb moisture better and looks healthier because of it. You’ll also see fewer bumps and acne, and less fine lines.
Exfoliating can easily be done in a number of ways. Use a loofah or a natural-fiber brush to assist in sloughing off the dead cells. There are a variety of scrubs on the market that can also get the job done. Scrubs are usually made from a mix of either fine particles of sand or sugar and either liquid soap, moisturizer, or oil.
Aside from manual methods, you can also use chemical exfoliants. These are usually in the form of a lotion or gel and come in two types. Alpha-Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) which are acids derived from fruits, and Beta-Hydroxy Acid, which is also known as salicylic acids. Both work to remove the outer layer of dead skin cells and they also promote the growth and regeneration of healthy cells underneath.
AHAs and BHA have different uses because AHAs are water-soluble and BHA is oil-soluble. Because of this, they have different uses as well. If your skin is sun damaged or overly dry, use and AHA. But if you have blemishes and acne then a BHA is right for you. Regardless of the method though, regular skin exfoliation will give your skin a healthy, radiant glow.
Skin exfoliation is very important for your skin. There are many different skin exfoliators out there and it is important that you choose the right one for your skin condition.