Exfoliation is a beauty treatment that removes dead skin cells from the skin to give the regrowing skin room to grow. It is said to make the skin look healthier and fresher.
What is exfoliation?
A peel is applied to the skin in the form of a cream or fluid, where it dissolves dead skin cells, dirt and debris. It is said to make the skin appear healthier and fresher. An exfoliant is applied to the skin in the form of a cream or fluid, where it dissolves dead skin cells, dirt and debris. There are significant differences between household peels and a peeling application in a beauty salon. Other forms of peeling are performed with special peeling brushes and are also more likely to be found in the area of home application. Peelings for home use are sold as a pure peeling application for the body or face, or are often sold as a shower gel. In the beauty salon, on the other hand, professionals apply highly effective chemical peelings that can also loosen deeper dirt on the skin. The range of possibilities extends from the visual improvement of acne scars to the aggressive removal of skin impurities and solid sebum. Afterwards, due to the aggressiveness, the skin may need a follow-up treatment, which is not mandatory for household peels, but it is very effective. Peelings in a gentle form belong to the basic care of the skin and can be used on almost any part of the body except mucous membranes.
Function, effect and goals
The skin is constantly regenerating itself by shedding old flakes. This happens as soon as new skin has grown underneath. This process is usually not visible to the eye, but ensures that the skin no longer appears elastic and fresh in the places where a dead skin flake has just come off. The new skin underneath, on the other hand, corresponds to the idea of a healthy skin appearance. In addition, there is pollution such as sebum, skin impurities and blackheads or, in the worst case, skin diseases such as rosacea, couperose or acne with corresponding scarring. Peelings first free the skin from dead skin cells and impurities, professional products cleanse it deep into the pores and remove even stubborn impurities and irregularities. A home peeling can be applied in cream form specifically for the face or for the whole body, as a combination product in the shower gel or in the form of an exfoliating brush. These scrubs are gentle and primarily remove dead flakes and sebum, and they also often contain additional nourishing ingredients. The exfoliating effect comes from rough microparticles contained in creams that rub the skin, making it easy to loosen dirt and loose hanging dead flakes. Peels for professionals are more aggressive, but also much more thorough. They are often applied to the skin as a fluid, and various fruit acids are popular active ingredients. Depending on the concentration of the acid, they dissolve stubborn deposits such as acne scars and remove any dead skin residue and even blackheads very effectively. However, because they are so aggressive and highly effective, they also attack the skin. They do not have an integrated nourishing effect; the customer must often provide this herself at home as an after-treatment over some time in the form of a nourishing cream. While gentle care peels can also be used daily, such effective peels are not recommended too often, even if they clean very thoroughly. Exfoliating brushes, as another special feature, can stimulate blood flow to the skin during treatment. By applying them directly to the skin, the circulation is stimulated and there is not only an exfoliating effect, but also a massaging, invigorating effect. As a result, the skin looks rosy and healthy immediately after the treatment, as blood circulation has been boosted. However, the effort with an exfoliating brush is higher, since sometimes it is necessary to massage thoroughly, and with an exfoliating cream, the gentle massaging in can already be perfectly sufficient.
Risks, side effects and dangers
With any cosmetic application, there is a risk of intolerance. Peeling products for home use, however, are usually dosed so low that no incompatibilities occur. Care should be taken with fruit or herbal extracts that may be contained in such products – if allergies to individual ingredients are known, these will also have an effect on the peeling, even if they are only low concentrations.Since cosmetic studios like to work with high doses of fruit acids as peeling, one should be careful here in particular in case of known allergies. For an effective peeling at the cosmetician there are also alternatives without fruit components, since fruit acid peelings contain a lot of extract, they represent a real risk for allergy sufferers. Close observation of the body’s reactions to a peeling at the beautician is very important, especially after a first treatment. Reactions of the skin can occur to a greater extent after such a thorough peeling – in order to initiate the right aftercare of the skin, the cosmetician must know this. Otherwise, the skin will be left so attacked by the peeling that entirely new problems may develop. Since effective peeling removes the sebaceous layer, blackheads can form without care and even infections or at least irritated reactions of the skin can result. Frequent exfoliation with highly effective exfoliating products can also cause the skin to react and become vulnerable. A home scrub, on the other hand, can be used every day unless otherwise noted on the product.
