Best Ways to Exfoliate the Skin for a Healthy Glow

Exfoliation is the means by which we slough of dead skin cells from our skin, either on the face or the body. There are two ways to exfoliate, Physical Exfoliation or Chemical exfoliation.

1) Physical Exfoliators are either products with granules or substances that physically scrub the skin such as walnut hulls, almond or corn meal granules, jojoba beads and so forth. Other physical scrubs are machine or equipment based, such as Microdermabrasion machines used in spas by a professional, or scrubbing brushes, like the Clarisonic Brush.

Facial scrubbing brushes, like the Clarisonic, use vibration or oscillating movements to exfoliate the surface of the skin while removing makeup and oil.A Microderambrasion treatment gives you an even deeper cleaning than a brush. Microdermabrasion uses either crystals that blow through a wand, producing a sand blasting effect, or a diamond tip wand which deeply scrubs, buffs and suctions the dead skin cells of at the same time, producing a smooth polished look to the skin.

2) Chemical Exfoliators go even deeper than Microdermabrasion by loosening the “glue-like” substance that holds your skin cells together. This allows dead skin cells to slough or peel off over a few days usually 2-5 days depending on the strength of the chemical peel exfoliator.The strength of chemical exfoliators can be modified so as to produce a gentle mild exfoliation (flaking of the skin) or an aggressive deep peel that can last up to a week.

There are different types of chemical exfoliators.

• Alpha Hydroxy Acids like Glycolic and Lactic are primarily used in anti-aging treatments.
• Beta Hydroxy Acid, generally known as salicylic acid, is usually used for acne or oily skin.
• Retinoic acid, derived from Vitamin A, can be used on all skin types.
• TCA is beneficial in both acne and anti-aging treatments.
• Mandelic and Citric acids,which are much gentler, can be used on normal to sensitive skin types.

If you are seeking a chemical peel, it is better to seek one from a professional who can analyze your skin and determine the best peel for your skin type in order to prevent a chemical burn, which is a possibility when using any chemical peel.

Exfoliation is a great way to keep the skin looking healthy and smooth. A weekly peel is recommended for oilier, acne prone skin and a biweekly gentle exfoliation is recommended for normal to sensitive skin types. Be careful not to overdo any form of exfoliation as this may cause more harm than good! Be gentle, and when in doubt, seek a professional treatment.

For a Free Chemical Peel Consultation at MaxAesthetics, Please call 267-528-3859 or Request An Appointment Here