People who tend to be acne prone have a skin condition called hyperkeratosis, where we literally produce more skin than the average person, which often results in an excess amount of dead skin accumulating on the surface of the skin, which can lead to more congestion. Another thing that acne-prone people also tend to be, is oily. So all that excess dead skin mixed with excess oil is the perfect storm for blackheads, whiteheads and overall clogged pores.
The three categories of exfoliation are 1. enzymatic, a gentle form, 2. physical, which can be gentle or abrasive depending on the granules and density used for the scrub, or 3. an acid which can come from an array of different Alpha-hydroxy acids or beta-hydroxy acid also known as salicylic acid which can vary in strength depending on the %. Depending on your skin type, if your skin is on the reactive side, I would go with a gentle enzyme like bromelain, from pineapple, or papain, from papaya, like Hylunia's Papaya Mask. For physical exfoliation (not recommended for active acne) skip the apricot scrub. The kernel is far too jagged and can create micro-tears in your pores. If you are going for a "scrub" I suggest something that's more refined along the lines of Dermalogica's Daily Microfoliant- it is quite effective, brightening and non-abrasive. For the most common acne-prone/typical thick skin, I highly recommend a 10% glycolic peel pad. Sometimes they also contain a 2% salicylic acid which is oil soluble so it can penetrate within the pore, like Peter Thomas Roth's Complexion Pads. For peel pads I recommend starting with 1 to 2 nights a week and work your way to 3 nights a week which ends up being every other day. You don't want to dry out your skin or irritate it, so start slow and work your way up. For enzymatic exfoliation start off with once a week and work your way up to 2x a week. With scrubs, start with once a week, work your way up to 2x and up to 3x, if your skin permits it. If your skin feels sensitive, you're doing too much and dial back. What's your favorite way to exfoliate? Comment and share!
The three categories of exfoliation are 1. enzymatic, a gentle form, 2. physical, which can be gentle or abrasive depending on the granules and density used for the scrub, or 3. an acid which can come from an array of different Alpha-hydroxy acids or beta-hydroxy acid also known as salicylic acid which can vary in strength depending on the %. Depending on your skin type, if your skin is on the reactive side, I would go with a gentle enzyme like bromelain, from pineapple, or papain, from papaya, like Hylunia's Papaya Mask. For physical exfoliation (not recommended for active acne) skip the apricot scrub. The kernel is far too jagged and can create micro-tears in your pores. If you are going for a "scrub" I suggest something that's more refined along the lines of Dermalogica's Daily Microfoliant- it is quite effective, brightening and non-abrasive. For the most common acne-prone/typical thick skin, I highly recommend a 10% glycolic peel pad. Sometimes they also contain a 2% salicylic acid which is oil soluble so it can penetrate within the pore, like Peter Thomas Roth's Complexion Pads. For peel pads I recommend starting with 1 to 2 nights a week and work your way to 3 nights a week which ends up being every other day. You don't want to dry out your skin or irritate it, so start slow and work your way up. For enzymatic exfoliation start off with once a week and work your way up to 2x a week. With scrubs, start with once a week, work your way up to 2x and up to 3x, if your skin permits it. If your skin feels sensitive, you're doing too much and dial back. What's your favorite way to exfoliate? Comment and share!
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