How often should you use an exfoliator?

Does that mean daily or weekly?

A scrub, an acid lotion left on overnight and a professional peel need different schedules. Leave on alpha hydroxy acid products can be applied at night, sometimes twice daily when needed. Professional glycolic acid peels are commonly repeated every one to two weeks. Neither schedule is a rule for every exfoliator, so do not borrow a peel schedule for a lotion or assume every acid belongs in a daily routine.2

Exfoliation removes dead cells from the skin's outer layer, but not everyone benefits from doing it. Exfoliation is a choice, not a compulsory department in the business of having a face.1

Choose the method before choosing the frequency

• Dry, sensitive or acne prone skin: favour a mild chemical exfoliator over an abrasive scrub.
• Oily, thicker skin: stronger chemical or mechanical exfoliation can be an option, but stronger methods need less frequent use.
• Darker skin tones or a tendency to develop dark marks after irritation: avoid aggressive chemical exfoliation and scrubbing.

For mature skin, a gentle cleanser is a better daily washing choice than a scrub with small particles, which can cause dryness, rashes or uneven pigmentation. A scrub is not a more thorough cleanser, even if the packaging has ambitions.3

How to exfoliate gently

1. 1Check your skin first. Skip exfoliation over sunburn, open cuts or wounds.
2. 2For a scrub, use gentle circular movements for about 30 seconds, then rinse with lukewarm water. Use short, light strokes with a brush or sponge.
3. 3For an acid product designed to stay on, use its directions rather than the scrub method. Alpha hydroxy acid preparations are generally applied at night.
4. 4Apply moisturizer immediately afterwards.

Count what is already in your routine

Retinol, prescription retinoids and benzoyl peroxide can make skin more sensitive or cause peeling. Adding exfoliation can worsen dryness or breakouts. Salicylic acid already exfoliates, including when it is part of an acne cleanser, so check your existing products before adding another exfoliating step.14

Alpha hydroxy acids include glycolic and lactic acid. They loosen the substances holding surface cells together, helping those cells shed. These products can be alternated with retinoid creams rather than used together at every application. Alpha hydroxy acids can cause irritation and sun sensitivity, so use sunscreen every morning.24

More frequent use is not a shortcut

Repeated alpha hydroxy acid peels improve texture over a few months. For an exfoliating product used as an acne treatment, allow six to eight weeks to see some improvement; complete clearing generally takes three to four months. Those are acne treatment timelines, not a promise for every cosmetic exfoliator. Switching treatments every week can irritate skin and cause breakouts, and scrubbing acne can make it flare.25

When should you stop?

Stop exfoliating if your skin becomes red or irritated rather than continuing on schedule. A dermatologist can help decide whether exfoliation suits your skin. Persistent dry, itchy flaking despite moisturizing deserves assessment rather than more scrubbing, because it can be a sign of dermatitis, meaning skin inflammation.14