What is mechanical exfoliation?

Filter 1 answers by contributor:

  • PRACTITIONER
  • GROUP
  • AUTHOR
  • TV PERSONALITY
  • ALL
  1. Dr. Ellen Marmur
     
    Dr. Ellen Marmur answered:

    As old school as it sounds, this method involves physically scrubbing the dead skin off your face. The means can be as elementary as a washcloth or soft brush. A product uses a gritty, granular substance, suspended in a cream, lotion, or gel, that manually scrubs off the surface layer. Granules such as oatmeal, polyethylene beads, salt, sugar, calcium carbonate, dimethicone polymers, or tiny crystal particles are used as gentle buffing tools. Do-it-yourself microdermabrasion kits use a "resurfacing tool" (sounds scary, but it's just a slightly abrasive sponge or soft-bristle brush) to massage a cream with aluminum oxide or mineral crystals onto the skin. If you have a tendency toward sensitivity or rosacea, too much abrasive scrubbing can irritate your skin. It is better to stick with a super-gentle lactic acid exfoliant and use it only once or twice a month at most.

    More Related Answers from Dr. Ellen Marmur
    As old school as it sounds, this method involves physically scrubbing the dead skin off your face. The means can be as elementary as a washcloth or soft brush. A product uses a gritty, granular substance, suspended in a cream, lotion, or gel, that... More