When is the last time you exfoliated your skin? In our twenties our skin sheds itself about every 25-30 days but as the skin ages, the rate of skin cell turnover slows down, leaving a dull, uneven, rough complexion. Regular exfoliation is necessary to maintain clear healthy radiant skin.
Exfoliation includes the removal of the dead skin cells on the skin’s surface. Exfoliating the skin to unclog old make-up, dirt and oil build up will help to reduce acne breakouts and improve the penetration of your other skin products.
Exfoliation can be performed in two ways, mechanically or chemically;
Mechanical exfoliation
Mechanical exfoliation can be achieved at home using mildly abrasive scrubs, such as Zo Obagi Exfoliating Polish daily or more aggressively with medical microdermabrasion treatments in the office. Microdermabrasion treatments will quickly remove large amounts of dead skin to deliver exceptionally smooth, deeply cleansed skin with little to no downtime.
Chemical exfoliation
Chemical exfoliation involves using products, such as Zo Obagi Glycogent, that contain special kinds of lactic and/or glycolic acids to dissolve and remove the dead skin cells while simultaneously stimulating new skin cell renewal without manually scrubbing. Medical grade .5% and 1% retinol products, such as Zo Obagi Radical Night Repair, will also promote skin cell turn over helping to shed the outer layer of dead skin cells.
The cross section of the skin in the image below shows the benefits of regular exfoliation.
Skin specialists have found that the benefits of exfoliating are even greater during the winter months, as dry skin cells are more concentrated on the surface of the skin due to lower humidity levels. These are important to remove in order to bring fresh skin to the surface.
Dr. Patenaude highly recommends the following 2 medical grade exfoliation products to keep your skin looking its brightest.
- Zo Obagi Exfoliating Polish is good for all skin types. Round magnesium crystals exfoliate dead skin cells, increase epidermal turnover and create a clearer, smoother, more even-toned complexion. It helps to exfoliate dead skin and allows for better absorption of other products.
- Zo Obagi Glycogent exfoliation accelerator is engineered to help reduce inflammation and prevent future damage. Active ingredients enhance cell turnover and help correct skin discoloration. Potent glycolic and lactic acid complex provides skin surface renewal. Anti-inflammatory properties help minimize the appearance of irritated skin.
Exfoliation is an important step in your skin care routine to help expose the younger-looking skin below the surface. If done consistently, you can improve your skin’s texture, minimize breakouts and help stimulate the production of new cells and collagen. If you want healthy and glowing skin, you need to exfoliate.
If you are interested in reviewing your exfoliating options with SkinRhümMD call us to schedule your complimentary consultation at 204-894-7486.