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Good For You Tips For Treating Yourself The Way You Deserve |
October 2008. Volume 1, Issue 2 | www.infiniteindulgence.com
Exfoliation: How To Make Your Skin Look Smoother
by Ann Karcich Is your skin tone uneven or blotchy? Are you noticing some dry patches or rough spots on your skin? If you are, exfoliating your skin can help give your skin a more polished, even look and may even help minimize fine wrinkles. What is Exfoliation? Exfoliation removes dead skin cells on the outer surface of the skin and exposes fresher living cells from underneath. Exfoliation also helps remove sun damaged and discolored skin. Why Exfoliate? Skin cells in our younger years grow quickly and move to the outer layer of our skin where the dead skin cells are shed. This shedding of the dead skin cells gives our skin a smoother, more supple look. As we age, this process slows down. The skin cells don't grow as quickly or as uniformly and are shed more slowly. And adding sun exposure, which a lot of us thrive on, just makes things worse. So the next thing we know, we're noticing fine wrinkles and dry skin. Which Product to Choose? Manual dermabrasive products or scrubs work by manually applying a granular product to the skin and moving it across the skin surface. These products often contain sugar, salt or oatmeal. The small grains remove the dead cells from the skin surface with mechanical friction but don't tear or scratch the skin. Be careful with some of the less costly dermabrasive products because the large, rough grains in the product can damage the skin. Products containing enzymes work when the enzyme catalyzes a chemical reaction that dissolves the dead tissue. Two enzymes often found in these products are papain from papaya and bromelain from pineapple. Chemical dermabrasive products work by dissolving the glue-like substances that hold the dead cells together. Many of these products contain alpha and beta hydroxy acids. Alpha hydroxy acids are compounds found in apples, sugar cane and grapes. Beta hydroxy acids are found in wintergreen. Retinoids are also used for exfoliation These products remove the top layer of dead skin and generate collagen, a protein responsible for the skin's elasticity and ability to absorb moisture. When to Exfoliate? Everyone's skin changes at different rates so we all need to find our own exfoliation schedule. To get started, try a gentle exfoliating product on your face, body and feet and observe the results. If your skin feels raw or sensitive after a treatment, try a milder product. Many people find facial exfoliation helpful once or twice a month. Your body and feet can often be treated with exfoliants once a week. So find a product you love, find an exfoliation schedule that works well for your skin and watch your smoother, clearer skin start to appear. |
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