What to Do if You Overdid Exfoliation

So you started incorporating exfoliation into your skin care routine and maybe (don’t feel bad, it’s a common mistake) you got a bit too aggressive and you are noticing some unwanted changes to your skin. What does this look like and what should you do about it?

The first thing that will happen with over-exfoliation is flakiness. If you notice this, DON’T give in to the temptation to try to scrub it away with more exfoliating products. This will only make the issue worse. Instead, back off the exfoliation for at least a few extra days and see how your skin feels. If you are working with an esthetician, give them a call as well. Your professional skincare provider will be able to give you customized instructions for your particular skin concerns.

If you are past the point of just some flakiness and are experiencing redness and burning when you apply products (even gentle ones) you should discontinue any exfoliating for at least a week to give your skin a chance to calm down and heal. If you don’t do this, you may start to see fine lines that can lead to deeper wrinkles and also hyperpigmentation as a result of inflammation.

Watch the video below as Tarrah explains how to heal your skin after over-exfoliation.

Whether you just have some extra flakiness or you have progressed to the redness and burning, you will need to rehydrate your skin to help it heal. One of our favorite products at Amelia Gray is the hydraCalm mask by Face Reality. This product is a wonderful quick fix for your skin and is safe for those with sensitive skin, acne prone skin and also dry/aging skin. This mask works great as an overnight treatment too! It contains glycerin and beta-glucan (Team AG likes this even more than hyaluronic acid for rehydration).

Another option to keep your skin hydrated is the Oxygenation cream from Bioelements. It contains stabilized peroxide and EFAs to help heal your skin. AND it won’t break you out if you are acne prone. As an added bonus, it is great for anyone who is allergic to benzoyl peroxide. It won’t be quite as effective in clearing up a breakout, but it will get the job done!

Bioelements also has a Recovery Serum that is amazing at tackling dry skin. It is filled with lipids and ceramides and can be used year round for help with hydration as long as you are not prone to acne.

When you have accidentally over-exfoliated, as mentioned earlier, your skin is prone to hyperpigmentation. This will look like dark patches on your skin and it will age you (no one wants that!). So, make sure to use an SPF for your face daily (even if you haven’t over-exfoliated). Even the little bit of sun you get on your face while walking to your car or sitting by a sunny window can cause damage and hyperpigmentation.

And finally, just in case you didn’t stop the hyperpigmentation in time, you can use a dark spot corrector to help brighten your skin. The one we love and use in our treatment rooms is also available for you to use at home. You may want to give the LightPlex GigaWatt Dark Spot Corrector a try. This product is safe for oily, dry and combination skin.

Now, what should you do if you have a facial already scheduled but you have overdone the exfoliating at home? We still want you to come in and see us. We recommend our Downtown Facial service in this case because it doesn’t have the same level of exfoliation as our other facial services. Your esthetician will customize the facial to meet your needs and won’t use active serums that could further irritate your skin. We do recommend getting the Nano Mask upgrade if you have overdone exfoliation. This mask will increase your skin hydration by 72% and it is safe for all skin types.

Okay, one last thing. Don’t let one unfortunate experience with exfoliation keep you from making it a regular part of your skincare routine. The benefits (that we discussed in Exfoliation 101) are SO WORTH IT. Follow the tips in this blog to help get your skin healthy and hydrated again and keep working with one of our licensed estheticians to help you figure out the exact right products and how to use them for your at-home skincare. And, as always, we are only a phone call or email away if you have any questions!