What's the best way to exfoliate skin?

I go against the mainstrean when it comes to exfoliation. Most of us do far too much of it. The top layer of our epidermis, the stratum corneum, is made up of dead skin cells held together by lipids--exfoliation removes excess dead skin cells where it looks as if the dead skin cells are piling up and your natural processes aren't keeping up with getting rid of them. However, it is important to remember this top layer is your environmental protection barrier--remove it at your peril! A recent study indicated that people who washed with soap in the morning were 50% less protected from the sun than people who just used water. Especially for older women it is easier to over-exfoliate than to not exfoliate enough.

If you do want to exfoliate here are my suggestions:

1. Yoghurt contains lactic acid, an alpha-hydroxy acid that is good for your skin. Take 1/2 tsp whole milk yoghurt (goat or sheep milk is good) and spread it over your face. After 15 minutes or so rinse with tepid water. Excellent for all skin types, especially dry, mature.
2. Oil - lipids dissolve lipids, so you can take a light oil and massage it into the skin. This is a gentle way to dssolve hardened sebum, and a great way to treat blackheads and whiteheads--no squeezing allowed--just gently massage into affected area 2-3x a day. The oil penetrates and eventually the material floats to the surface. This treatment helps to refine pores. This is a great exfoliation treatment for oily skin with pimples and blackheads, as it helps balance oil production and will prevent scarring.

My preferred methods of exfoliation are light peels and microdermabrasion. At-home exfoliation should be performed one to two times weekly, while a medical exfoliation should be performed monthly.

Exfoliation is a natural process that is normally performed by enzymes naturally found in the skin. Unfortunately, as we age our skin loses the hydration needed to activate these exfoliating enzymes. That explains why a five-year-old child doesn’t require exfoliators and moisturizers, but someone in their 30's does.

1. For professional exfoliation, I prefer chemical peels to microdermabrasion
2. Don’t over-do it at home (peels are meant to be performed by skin care professionals)
3. Don’t under-do it; even more sensitive skin types need to exfoliate to help cell turnover.
   • Use a more gentle scrub in a cream base if skin shows signs of irritation.