How many times a week should you exfoliate?

What changes how often you should exfoliate?

Your skin type and the strength of the exfoliation matter more than a fixed weekly number. Stronger acids, rougher scrubs and more aggressive tools need less frequent use. Leave recovery time between sessions instead of exfoliating on consecutive days to get the week's applications out of the way.23

• Dry skin or winter dryness: Keep exfoliation to once or twice a week at most. Flaking is not a reason to scrub more; exfoliation can remove moisture and oils and make dryness worse.
• Aging skin: Gentle exfoliation once or twice a week can refresh the skin's appearance. Follow the product directions rather than adding extra applications.
• Sensitive skin: Choose mild methods cautiously. Coffee scrubs should be avoided with sensitive skin, eczema, rosacea or psoriasis, and can be too abrasive for the face.
• Oily, thicker skin: Stronger methods can be suitable, but stronger exfoliation still means less frequent use, not permission to exfoliate daily.

Does a scrub need a different schedule from an acid?

Physical exfoliation uses a scrub, brush or cloth to remove dead surface cells. Chemical exfoliation uses acids to dissolve them. Neither method has one schedule that suits every product. Start gently, with a simple washcloth or a low strength chemical exfoliant, rather than jumping straight to stronger acids. Coffee scrubs, like many physical exfoliants, can irritate skin when used more than once or twice a week.235

Check what is already in your routine

Retinol, prescription retinoid creams and benzoyl peroxide can make skin more sensitive or cause peeling. Adding exfoliation can worsen dryness or trigger breakouts. If you already use these products, do not automatically add a separate exfoliant. Avoid aggressive chemical or physical exfoliation if you have a darker skin tone or develop dark marks after acne, bites or burns, because it can increase pigmentation.3

How to exfoliate gently

1. 1Check your skin first. Skip exfoliation over sunburn, open cuts or wounds.
2. 2Follow the product directions. For a rinse off scrub, use gentle circular motions for about 30 seconds, then rinse with lukewarm water. Use short, light strokes with a brush or sponge.
3. 3Apply moisturizer immediately afterward, because exfoliation can be drying.
4. 4Protect your skin from the sun. Exfoliation increases susceptibility to sunburn; use broad spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 every morning.

What should you expect?

Exfoliation can improve dullness, surface texture and uneven surface pigmentation. Smoother looking skin is a reasonable goal for exfoliation, not a request for a replacement face. Exfoliation is not necessary for healthy skin. Skipping exfoliation is fine; the skincare aisle does not get a vote.2

When should you stop or get help?

Stop exfoliating if your skin becomes red, irritated, raw or chapped. Do not try to scrub acne away: scrubbing can irritate skin and worsen breakouts. A dermatologist can help decide whether exfoliation suits your skin. If acne is deep, painful, causing scars or not improving with treatment, see a doctor rather than increasing exfoliation.1367