Is Exfoliation Good Or Bad For Acne Prone Skin

If you have acne, you may wonder “is exfoliation good for acne?”

It’s true that scrubbing acne prone skin will aggravate inflammation. But then it’s also true; exfoliation is an effective way to get clear, glowing skin. The experts claim that exfoliating your skin regularly is one of the best ways to address the issues concerning acne, pimples, acne spots & other skin blemishes.

So, the million $ questions: (i) “Is exfoliation good or bad for acne prone skin”. (ii) “Which type of Exfoliation is good for acne? Read on here to get the correct answers.

How Does Exfoliation Help Acne?

If our skin is left unattended, it eventually traps dirt, toxins, and oils. These unhealthy “bacteria causing deposits” can clog the pores, and cause acne, pimples, blackheads & whiteheads. This explains why the people who don’t use an exfoliating face wash as a part of their skin-care regime are more prone to having recurring breakouts and other facial skin problems.

It is a well-known fact that the dead skin cells are an active breeding ground for acne-causing bacteria. Thus to control acne related issues, the old top-skin layer should be gently removed to uncover fresh, healthy skin. For this reason, the skin experts highly recommend to incorporate gentle exfoliation in a skin care routine. However, many people having acne prone skin fail to appreciate this fact.

Without a regular routine of facial exfoliation, acne breakouts keep occurring – which in many cases leads to formation of acne scars. So, if you desire to have clear, healthy facial skin or looking for an acne-free radiant face, exfoliation is the secret trick for you.

Can exfoliating get rid of acne?

Exfoliation on its own is not a total solution to get rid of acne completely, but when incorporated within a proper anti-acne skin care routine it will turbo-charge results.

What Type Of Exfoliation Is Best For Acne Prone Skin?

The next logical question is: “What exfoliator should I use for acne?”

When it comes to exfoliation, most people think of physical exfoliants, like facial scrubs, sponges, konjac and cleansing cloths. If your skin is acne-prone, you must always avoid using such types because of the following reasons – they:

(i) are typically hard on your skin, so will inflame your skin due to the excessive scrubbing action.

(ii) are breeding ground for acne-causing bacteria.

(iii) can push acneic pustules and papules deeper into your skin.

Chemical Exfoliants And Acne

Chemical exfoliants work best for acne prone skin because they don’t involve any irritating scrubbing action. They contain acids or enzymes that help dissolve the glue that holds the dead skin cells together.

Following are the most commonly used over-the-counter chemical exfoliants:

(i) Glycolic Acid: Glycolic acid is the most well known ingredient in topical exfoliating products.

(ii) Salicylic Acid: Salicylic acid is best known as an anti-acne ingredient. It not only exfoliates, but helps reduce inflammation also.

When it comes to exfoliating acne-prone skin, the best is an ingredient that has the ability to penetrate deep inside the skin pores. Because the problematic, acne-provoking area, where dead skin cells tend to collect, lies below the upper skin surface.

Whereas all chemical exfoliants can reach the inner skin layers, we recommend the exfoliants containing salicylic acid. Salicylic acid is most soluble in oil. This property makes it the ideal ingredient to easily penetrate deep inside the skin pores that are coated by skin’s natural oil, known as sebum.

One of the main causes for acne breakout is excessive oily skin. This also makes salicylic acid perfect for treating acne prone skin.

Useful Related Post: Physical Exfoliation Vs. Chemical Exfoliation

Moreover, here are some additional properties that explain why products based on salicylic acid are most beneficial for acne prone skin.

(i) Anti-inflammatory

(ii) Antibacterial

(iii) Reduces redness

(iv) Enhances collagen production to help fade acne scars