Exfoliation is a term that we are all familiar with, but it is something that we rarely practice on a regular basis. Your skin is the largest organ of your body. So it only make sense that since it is the largest organ it suffers the most damage. Sun exposure, harsh winds and extreme heat and cold are all elemental factors that can damage the skin, in addition, stress and anxiety can also take their toll. As we age, our once smooth, firm skin can take on wrinkles, fine lines, sun damage and uneven pigmentation. While there are many treatments available to cure these skin ailments, only one treatment can help to prevent them—exfoliation.
Proper skin exfoliation is essential for the health and longevity of your skin. Unexfoliated skin is prone to many ailments including acne, acne scarring, ingrown hairs, wrinkles, fine lines and pigmented lesions. As time passes, pores can become clogged with toxins, bacteria and dead skin cells, improper removal causes these factors to react with the skin in a negative way. Exfoliation of the skin removes these factors and keeps the pores open and clean while simultaneously increasing circulation in the upper skin cells for faster, more efficient toxin removal. This allows the skin to absorb nutrients which can help to reduce acne, reduce fine lines and wrinkles and reduce uneven pigmentation. Those who exfoliate on a regular basis are left with nothing but smooth, gleaming skin.
As with most skin treatments, there are several different exfoliation methods available. Depending on personal preference as well as the results you are looking to achieve, one may be more logical than another.
The first type of exfoliants are manual in nature. Mechanical in this sense simply means that the exfoliant is an object, that when applied by an individual manually, helps to exfoliate the skin. Common examples of manual exfoliants are rice, salts, brushes and stones. Manual facial exfoliants can benefit individuals depending on their specific skin ailment.
The second type of exfoliants are mechanical in nature. Mechanical in this sense simply means that the exfoliant is a mechanical object, that when moved over the treated area, helps to exfoliate and rejuvenate. Mechanical exfoliation techniques include Dermasound and microdermabrasion. Dermasound is a machine that loosens skin using ultrasound waves. It uses a combination of sound waves and water to exfoliate and wash away dead skin cells. Microdermabrasion is another type of skin exfoliation treatment that lightly abrades the skin for the removal of dead skin cells; this exposes the smooth, fresh skin below.
The last type of exfoliants are chemical in nature. Chemical exfoliants such as alpha hydroxy or beta hydroxy loosen up and peel off dead skin cells. Chemical peels are very successful in removing dead skin cells and reducing acne and acne scarring. There are many different types of peels that can be undergone depending upon your skin type and your desired outcome.
Skin exfoliation involves a variety of processes designed to get rid of dead and dying skin cells for a smoother, firmer, clearer appearance. Whichever type you choose, feel confident the end result will be younger and healthier looking skin. |
