Over exfoliation reverses the positive effects of the face scrub and in turn, it renders the skin with the below mentioned after effects. If you suspect your skincare routine to be doing more harm than good, watch out for these five main warning signs of over-exfoliated skin:
Sign 1: Discomfort
Discomfort may be felt after over exfoliating your skin because of damaged skin protective barrier. Common visible signs of discomfort are as follows:
- Windburn sensation when exposed to normal, cool outdoor air currents.
- Irritation with use of moisturizers right after exfoliation.
- Persistent throbbing or a feeling of heat localized in the cheek areas.
- Inability to use simple facial oils without experiencing a heavy, hot feeling.
- A feeling that your skin is very thin to protect itself from touch.
- Sharp, localized zaps of pain when facial expressions stretch your skin.
- Increased sensitivity to the natural friction of wearing a medical mask.
- Intense stinging from environmental pollution during a brief walk outside.
- Spontaneous flushing and heat generation without any physical triggers.
- Continuous prickly and itchy feel while exfoliating.
- Simple face oils feel heavy
- A feel of thin and delicate skin to touch and apply any other cosmetic.
Sign 2 : Visible Inflammation & Vascular Reactions
Exfoliation in excess could lead to stimulation of inflammatory mediators in the skin leading to redness, itchiness, burning pain, bleeding, etc. It could also aggravate skin conditions like acne.
The blood capillaries beneath the surface of the skin may get ruptured with popping of breakouts due to intense exfoliation which further worsens the inflammation and renders the skin prone to microbial skin infections. Some common signs of visible inflammation and vascular reaction are as follows:
- Blotchy red patches scattered randomly across your forehead and chin.
- Visible spider veins (telangiectasia) becoming more prominent around the nose.
- A “plastic” flush that resembles a sunburn rather than a natural blush.
- Prolonged flushing that stays for hours after a brief warm shower.
- Sudden appearance of broken capillaries on the thin skin of the cheeks.
- A perioral rash forming small, angry red clusters around the mouth.
- Persistent inflammation around the edges of your nostrils.
- A raw, red shine that highlights the true texture of your skin damage.
- Red streaks tracking along the path where physical scrubs were rubbed.
- Angry, raised hives appear after using any standard active ingredient.
Sign 3 : Textural Deficiencies & Moisture Depletion
This category involves structural changes to the skin surface, showing an inability to retain hydration due to lipid barrier destruction. This could be due to stripping off natural oils from the skin surface and scratchy action of the exfoliant of large jaggy nature. Some common examples of textural deficient and moisture depleted skin are as follows:
- Premature fine lines showing up around your eyes due to deep dehydration.
- Dehydrated skin with dry flaky texture.
- Lack of elasticity and plumpiness in the cheeks when pulled.
- Cakey and patchy foundation application as the make-up base.
- Rapid absorption of heavy moisturizers and feeling of skin being dry and unprotected.
- Frequently peel off the skin around the nose and corners of the mouth.
- Microtears in the skin that sting when you sweat.
Sign 4 : Acne due to Barrier Damage
When the skin barrier is ripped off its natural oils, it often responds by rebound over production of sebum or exposing the skin to acne-causing bacteria. Some common signs to determine the ruptured protective skin barrier are as follows:
- An explosion of tiny white bumps (milia) or closed comedones.
- Blemishes that stay dark red and take weeks longer than usual to heal.
- Clogged pores that return immediately after deep cleansing sessions.
- A sudden sensitivity to your holy-grail acne spot treatments.
- Makeup sliding off your face due to a heavy layer of compensatory oil.
- Blackheads that fill up rapidly due to a lack of a structural skin barrier.
- Pus-filled bumps that sting when touched, indicating deep surface irritation.
- An oily t-zone that flakes and peels.
- Spread of bacteria, causing acne patches to move quickly across your face.
- Severe purging that lasts way beyond the normal four-week window.
Sign 5 : Clinical Signs of Prolonged Damage
The structural anomalies due to over exfoliation represent advanced or prolonged damage to the epidermal layer and its defense systems. A few of them are listed below:
- Pronounced shadow casting over fine lines due to lost skin density.
- Loss of the skin’s natural ability to resist external bacterial infections.
- A dull translucent look where your skin appears weak and fragile.
- An accelerated aging appearance due to deep, unchecked inflammation.
- A highly unstable barrier that reacts to sudden changes in temperature.
- Deep-set texture changes that make the skin look uneven under natural sunlight.
Tips To Fix The Signs Of Over ExfoliationWhile Using A Face Scrub
- Prefer a P.M. or night time routine for exfoliation as it would prevent the skin’s exposure to the sun and damage from the harmful UV radiation.
- Choose gentle exfoliating agents. Check out for jaggy and large grainy particles as they could scratch and damage the skin surface.
- Wet your face before applying neem face scrub for a smoother application.
- Gently massage for 1-2 minutes in circular motion with your fingers.
- Avoid rubbing aggressively on your delicate skin.
- Rinse with lukewarm water as using hot water may leave your skin dry and irritated.
- Pat softly with a clean towel to clean and dry after exfoliation.
- Allow your skin some time to calm and soothe after exfoliation.
- Let it heal back its natural protective barrier and you can also apply a hydrating moisturizer afterwards for improved skin feel and protection.
Conclusion
Over-exfoliation is a matter of concern in maintaining optimum skin health while using a face scrub in skin care routine. Therefore, you should be looking out for any visible signs that could be indicative of the damage to skin’s natural protective barrier. Using the best face scrub with the right routine will help you in preventing the signs of over-exfoliation.