Exfoliation is an important part of any well-balanced skincare routine since it clears away dry, dead cells and makes room for your skin to shine. Still, many of us are intimidated by the process. We always have a dermatologist on speed dial here at Parade, so we reached out to Dr. Whitney Tolpinrud, MD, FAAD, to learn more about a genius facial exfoliation trick we wish we'd known about sooner.
Knowing which method of exfoliation—chemical or physical—is best for your skin type is typically the first step in mastering your exfoliation routine. Tolpinrud breaks down the difference between the two techniques for us and explains how often you should be exfoliating your face.
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"This involves applying a chemical exfoliant, leaving it on for five to 10 minutes, then rinsing it off rather than leaving it on overnight," she tells Parade.
"Short contact application can provide some of the benefits of exfoliation while limiting exposure time, which may help reduce the risk of irritation," she explains.
Physical vs. Chemical Exfoliation: What's the Difference?
"Physical exfoliation removes dead skin cells through manual action, such as facial scrubs, cleansing brushes or professional treatments like microdermabrasion. One benefit is that results are often immediate, with skin feeling smoother and looking brighter after treatment," Tolpinrud says. "Professional procedures such as microdermabrasion may also help improve the appearance of fine lines, uneven texture and discoloration."
Chemical exfoliation
Chemical exfoliation, on the other hand, uses ingredients such as alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) or enzymes to loosen and remove dead skin cells.
As always, it's important to consult a dermatologist beforehand to make sure your skin can tolerate chemical exfoliation.
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"For many people, exfoliating one to three times per week is a reasonable starting point," Tolpinrud says.
"People with sensitive skin may benefit from exfoliating less frequently—more isn't always better," Tolpinrud says. "Over-exfoliation can lead to redness, dryness, irritation and a weakened skin barrier. Some research has also linked overly aggressive exfoliation habits with worsening rosacea symptoms in susceptible individuals."
How To Exfoliate Without Irritating Your Skin
Before you start experimenting with different exfoliants, Tolpinrud says you should start with gentler options then gradually introduce ingredients.
Steering clear of aggressive scrubbing techniques is another way to avoid potential irritation.
Overall, if you experience redness, burning or persistent irritation, it's typically a sign that you should reduce the frequency of exfoliation or switch to a gentler approach.
While building an exfoliation routine, it helps to have a go-to guide of some common mistakes to avoid any skincare mishaps. Below, Tolpinrud shares some of the biggest mistakes she sees clients making.
"While exfoliation can improve skin texture and brightness, excessive exfoliation may damage the skin barrier, leading to redness, dryness, irritation and increased sensitivity," she warns.
2. Using products that are too strong
"Using potent exfoliants without proper guidance can increase the risk of irritation, peeling and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, particularly in sensitive skin or darker skin tones," Tolpinrud says.
Your complexion can easily get confused if you throw too much at it at once.
4. Skipping sunscreen
Sun protection is a critical part of any skincare routine, but it becomes even more critical while exfoliating.
5. Exfoliating irritated or inflamed skin
It's best to give your skin a break if you're already dealing with a rosacea flareup, eczema, dermatitis or another form of inflammation or irritation.
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Dr. Whitney Tolpinrud, MD, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist who works as the medical director at Curology.Hence then, the article about i m a dermatologist this is the exfoliation trick i swear by was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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