4 Signs You May Be Over-Exfoliating

The skin is the body's biggest organ, layered and complete with an oily barrier that further protects us from the elements.

It is true that not enough exfoliation can lead to clogged pores, acne, skin texture, dullness, and even excess oil. Not exfoliating enough can also unknowingly cause us to use more skincare products to fight through the dry top layer of the skin, forcing us to use more of our product and spend more money.

My first experience with over-exfoliation goes back to middle school, the first time I advised someone to stop exfoliating. When I was 12, my best friend complained about a dry patch she couldn't scrub off. I took a look at her skin without the fancy equipment I use today and asked what she used on her face. She used an apricot scrub, and I could tell it was tearing through her skin and stripping it of its natural oils, not giving it a chance to recuperate.

"You may want to give your skin a break with exfoliating altogether," I said. I advised her to use a soft washcloth with her non-exfoliating cleanser once a week, but besides that, "just use your fingertips."

After two weeks, she ran up to me, excitedly, "It's working!"

I highly recommend a form of exfoliation at least once a week, possibly twice, depending on your skin's needs. It brings back the skin's vibrancy and natural clarity, essentially bringing it back to life! When done in moderation, the skin visibly glows!

In an effort to have constant glowing skin, I see too often people over-exfoliate and have the complete opposite results, unintentionally leaving their skin vulnerable to the elements. Instead of being vibrant, their skin may be sensitive, dry, and acne-prone.

Here are 4 signs you may be over-exfoliating:

1. You use a physical exfoliator more than twice a week. A physical exfoliator can be a face scrub, a washcloth, or a face brush. This type of over-exfoliation is the easiest to detect and change.

2. Recognize that you may be using multiple products in your skincare routine that you may not know are exfoliators. The three types of exfoliation are physical, chemical, and enzymatic. For example, you may be using a face brush (a physical exfoliator) with your salicylic acid cleanser (a chemical exfoliator).

3. Your skin develops dry, flaky patches that may itch. You may think it's eczema and doesn't seem to get better no matter how much moisturizer you lather on.

4. You may be experiencing more breakouts. Physical exfoliators can spread bacteria across the skin and spread breakouts but can also deplete the skin's natural barriers to fight the bacteria, leaving it vulnerable. Your skin may be easily irritated and could look red after your skincare routine. This can happen with both oily skin types and dry skin types.

If you feel like your skin could be freaking out from over-exfoliation, it can't hurt to take a break for a while. If you're unsure about which products are considered chemical or enzymatic exfoliators, your safest bet is to stop using a physical exfoliator altogether. Like I told my friend in grade school, try a few weeks without the exfoliator and "just use your fingertips" and a gentle cleanser. If you must, use a soft washcloth once a week, but nothing more!

Give your skin a break. You may be surprised to find out your skin just needed some rest.