You don't need a lot of special products to exfoliate your skin. A good, old-fashioned washcloth works, when soaked in warm water and used gently.
- If you want to use an exfoliating cream or scrub, be sure to test it on your hand first.
Make sure it has very fine grains or particles. Many commercially available scrubs contain abrasive particles that can scratch and irritate the skin. Be gentle and don't use them more than once or twice a week, as you can cause more harm than good.
- Acid-based products dissolve the bonds between skin cells on the surface of the skin as opposed to physically rubbing off the surface of the skin.
These are a very good choice, particularly for sensitive skins. These come in cleansers, creams, and scrubs. Again, start light and don't use these more than once or twice a week until you see how your skin responds. And watch the strength of the acid -- the stronger the acid, the deeper the effect.
- For most people, exfoliating every day is not a good idea.
That can be too harsh for the skin and can cause skin irritation, crusting, and other problems. Once or twice a week is usually sufficient for most people for at-home exfoliation. If you are going to your doctor for chemical peels, once every 2 to 4 weeks is probably enough, but the frequency really depends on the strength of the peel.
