Currently many of your clients are learning about home care, but what about exfoliation?

Excessive exfoliation is unnecessary and a trend and myth of the past. Many people who are avid exfoliators believe they need to exfoliate very often to get all the dirt and debris out of their pores. However, it can be harmful to the health of the skin, particularly on the face.

Excessive exfoliation can cause skin irritation such as bumps, redness, dry skin, as well as destabilizing the skin’s pH which can compromise its barrier function and lead to breakouts and other pathogenic activity to take place.

Signs of excessive exfoliation include excessively smooth and shiny skin, redness, flaking and dryness, sometimes even inflammation due to acne.

It is important to understand that sometimes this action can even cause lasting damage if the problem is not addressed.

If a skin is exfoliated too often, its protective function can be compromised, the skin can become dehydrated and the capillaries can be damaged, in a case of acneic skin the problem will be systematically aggravated. It is important to remember that there is no set time for skin to regain its balance. Some will see results after a month of strict routine care, while for others the rehabilitation time may take up to two months.

It is imperative to stop all exfoliation when a skin shows these signs of distress. Further manipulations, frictions and repeated skin handling can slow the healing process, introduce bacteria and thicken, darken and enlarge the epidermal cells on and around the imperfections as the body struggles to defend itself against constant and repetitive physical manipulations.

Never use a scrub that is intended for the body on the face, these are usually more aggressive and can tear the delicate tissues of the skin!

In summary, if done incorrectly, physical exfoliation can sometimes irritate your skin and lead to transdermal water loss. Following up with a humectant oil or serum can help minimize irritation and lock in moisture.

When creating a skin care brand, you need to pay special attention to the type of exfoliant in your product range. Enzymatic exfoliants that will only remove superficial dead cells while preserving the integrity of the skin are categorically the optimal choice!

Europelab is the ideal partner in the development of your product line from concept-to-shelf. The integrity of the skin is at the forefront of our formulation standards.