Over Exfoliated Skin: What To Do When You Scrub Too Much

Are you over exfoliated because you scrubbed your face too hard or used too many exfoliants in your skin care routine? If so you may have skin bumps, skin stinging, a rash, or even worse – scabs. If your skin hurts or is purging after over exfoliating, this blog will tell how what to do. I always explain to my patients with dry and sensitive skin not to over exfoliate. It is so easy to over exfoliate when you use a facial brush, too many exfoliants, or you are using Vitamin C or retinoids.

My advice is to take our skin type quiz and review the custom skincare routine we will give you so you can see how many exfoliants should be in your skin routine to avoid over-exfoliation.

Overexfoliating Skin

If you use a rough washcloth and rub too hard, or you overuse a facial brush or facail scrub, this thins the top layer of the skin. Your skin in most cases does not need much help exfoliating. You see- your skin naturally exfoliates in a process called desquamation. Also, many skin care products have ingredients that exfoliate skin even when they are not described as exfoliants. This is why it is very easy to over-exfoliate! For example- did you know that Vitamin C exfoliates skin? Adding Vitamin C to a regimen that already has 2 exfoliants can lead to skin inflammation so that your skin actually hurts and becomes sensitive.

To avoid over exfoliating you should not use more than 2 exfoliants in your daily skincare routine. You can find a list of skincare products that are exfoliants here.

It is Bad to Exfoliate Too Much

Over exfoliation is bad for skin because it disrupts the keratinization process.

You do not want to over-exfoliate because that can lead to skin problems such as dryness and acne.

Over-exfoliating can damage your skin by:

injuring your skin barrier

disrupting the normal keratinization process

causing inflammation

Skin Types at Risk For Over Exfoliation

There are certain skin types that need to be careful when they exfoliate to avoid causing skin problems. When you take our skin type quiz, we will tell you which Baumann Skin Type you are and give you advice on products, your skin, and your routine. There are 12 of the 16 Baumann Skin Types need to worry about over exfoliating. Take the skin type quiz to get a custom routine, shop by your skin type, see and how many exfoliants you should use.

ensitive Skin

Very sensitive skin types are at a high risk of over-exfoliation- especially acne, rosacea and stinging skin types. Unless we tell you otherwise in your custom skincare routine, you should not exfoliate with scrubs and peels that are not in your daily routine. Most resistant skin types can exfoliate 2-3 times a week, and resistant skin types can exfoliate 2 times a day.

Dry Skin

Exfoliating can dry out your skin- so do not use any exfoliators that we do not recommend in your custom skin care regimen. Always exfoliate less in the winter when the climate is dry and cold, because you need the top layers of the skin to help your hold onto water.

Signs of Over Exfoliated Skin

How To Know If You Are Over-Exfoliating Your Skin? There are signs of over exfoliation that should warn you to stop exfoliating. Over exfoliated skin can have stinging, itching, skin bumps, and redness. Over exfoliating can cause breakouts and too much exfoliation can even lead to large pores.

Signs of over exfoliation are:

acne breakouts

purging

skin bumps

clogged pores

scabs

sensitive skin

shiny skin

skin dehydration

stinging skin

tender skin

Treatments for over exfoliated skin

Treating Hyperexfoliated Skin

Treating over-exfoliated skin properly is important to prevent purging, bumps and other side effects from exfoliation.

If you have over exfoliation damage, these are the 10 steps to treat and soothe the skin.

Remove all exfoliants from your skin care routine until your skin returns to normal.

Do not use Vitamin C

Do not use hydroxyacids

Do not use retinoids like retinol

Do not use a facial brush or loofa or scrub

Apply a soothing barrier repair moisturizer such as Zerafite Soothing and Calming Face Cream.

Apply a soothing oil such as Argan Oil overnight or a soothing mask.

Use a gentle non-foaming cleanser and cleanse with cool or room temperature water- not hot.

Avoid friction

Avoid extreme temperatures like cold or hot water

Best Moisturizers to Treat Over-exfoliated Skin

These moisturizers have soothing ingredients, ceramides, fatty acids, and cholesterol that help repair your skin barrier.

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Best Soothing Oils

These oils containing anti-inflammatory fatty acids that help soothe skin. This are best for dry skin types that have exfoliated too much.

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Best Soothing Masks

These masks can be used every night until your skin feels better.

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When Will Over Exfoliated Skin Heal

How long to heal over exfoliated skin? Over exfoliated skin will take 1- 5 days to heal depending on how severe it is. If you stop all exfoliants, the skin should begin to feel better in 2 days. It may take an entire week to heal. If your skin is stinging or itching, applying a soothing oil overnight can help. Give your skin 2 weeks before restarting any exfoliating skin care products.

Scabs from over exfoliation can take 5 days while shininess goes away in 1-2 days. Bumps from exfoliation can take a week or more to heal depending on your skin type and how over exfoliated you are.

Exfoliating too much or incorrectly can damage your skin. This why you need to get skincare routine advice from us for your Baumann Skin Type® .This will keep you from wasting time and money on the wrong skin care products and too many exfoliants.

DQH Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? It’s easy to create a skincare routine, but knowing how to use it is another thing entirely. In most cases, if you’re not getting the desired skin results, it could be due to the layering of conflicting ingredients. So, is it possible that salicylic acid and vitamin C are such ingredients? Or are these active ingredients the duo that’s been missing from your skincare routine? If you want answers, stick around because today we are going to explain the benefits of salicylic acid and vitamin C and how they can be used in your daily life. What are the benefits of salicylic acid for skin? Salicylic acid is one of the most commonly used beta hydroxy acids and is favored by many people with oily, acne-prone skin. This acid is derived from willow bark, and unlike its water-soluble relatives (called alpha-hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble, which means it can penetrate deeper into the lower layers of the skin. Once it reaches the lower layers, it can help unclog pores of excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, debris, and impurities. This results in clearer skin tones and greater definition. Not only does salicylic acid benefit the underlying layers, but the outer surface of the skin benefits as well. When applied to the skin, salicylic acid removes the buildup of dead skin cells. This is accomplished by breaking the bonds that hold dead cells to the surface. Over time, this can cause the complexion to look dull and prone to acne, blackheads, and other blemishes. If you’d like to learn more about salicylic acid and how it can improve your skin, check out this dedicated blog post from a beauty insider. What are the benefits of vitamin C for skin? Vitamin C is considered one of the most powerful antioxidants, which means it is very effective at fighting free radicals and preventing them from causing further skin damage. Examples of free radicals include pollution, central heating, UV rays and harsh climate. They attack proteins, fats and cell membranes as soon as they come into contact with the skin, causing signs of premature aging such as fine lines and wrinkles as well as hyperpigmentation, flaky patches of skin and loss of elasticity. Many people usually prefer to use vitamin C in their morning routine as this ingredient gives the complexion a radiant glow. You’ll also find that vitamin C can target areas of hyperpigmentation, plumping the skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The thing about vitamin C is that there are a lot of outdated studies going back to the 1950s that describe vitamin C as an unstable skin component. Thanks to improvements in modern technology, this is no longer the case as all products now contain a stable form of vitamin C. Visit The Beauty Insider to learn more about vitamin C. So please check out our blog post. Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? Yes, you absolutely can. In fact, it’s thought that using salicylic acid before using vitamin C ensures it penetrates faster and works faster. This is an efficient way to utilize two power sources, and the reason has to do with pH. For example, the skin’s natural pH is about 4.7, making it slightly acidic. Salicylic acid and vitamin C are also both acidic, and you’ll find that vitamin C is absorbed quickly into the skin. Therefore, using salicylic acid beforehand can increase the acidity of the skin and allow vitamin C to penetrate into the skin faster. While this is considered an effective way to combine two powerful ingredients, you need to be aware of your skin type and how it reacts to certain active ingredients. Even people with perfect, normal skin can experience skin sensitivity and irritation. Therefore, always consult a doctor or dermatologist before using any new products on your skin. It’s also important to follow skin application rules. In this case, you need to use the product correctly to ensure you get the best results for your skin. If you’re not sure what I mean, the basic rule for skin is to start with the thinnest consistency and work your way up to the thickest consistency. This prevents a barrier from forming on the surface, preventing other active ingredients from penetrating the skin. Can I use salicylic acid at night and vitamin C in the morning? Yes, absolutely, this is considered the most effective way to get returns without any adverse side effects. This is because there is enough time between applications to ensure that the skin’s pH levels return to balance. You’ll also find that Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants and is perfect for use in the morning to ensure your skin is protected and looking its healthiest. Due to the small size of salicylic acid molecules, it is an acid that is able to reach the deepest parts of the skin. While this is effective at keeping skin clear, it also increases the risk of irritation and photosensitivity. Therefore, many people prefer to use powerful BHAs in their evening routine without exposure to UV rays, pollution, or harsh weather. Warning: If you avoid using sunscreen every day, none of these ingredients will do what your skin needs. The combination of chemical peels and powerful ingredients increases the risk of further damage to the skin’s surface. Use SPF 50 every day to keep your skin protected and your lipid barrier healthy, even on cloudy days, keeping your skin in top condition.

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