Can Acne Be Triggered by Over Exfoliation?
Exfoliation is a popular skincare step that removes dead skin cells to reveal smoother skin and unclog pores. But doing too much of it can backfire and actually cause or worsen acne. When you scrub or use exfoliating products too often, your skin gets irritated and inflamed. This inflammation stops existing pimples from healing and sparks new breakouts.[1][2][3]
Your skin has a natural protective barrier that keeps out bacteria and holds in moisture. Over exfoliation damages this barrier, letting bacteria sneak in more easily. To fight back, your skin may produce extra oil, which clogs pores and leads to more acne.[4][7] Physical scrubs with rough particles or brushes can create tiny tears in the skin, adding to the redness and bumps.[3][5][6]
Signs you might be over exfoliating include dry, flaky patches, stinging when you apply products, and sudden breakouts even if your routine has not changed. Research points to over exfoliation as a common trigger for inflammation and acne flare ups.[2]
How often is too much? It depends on your skin type. For beginners or sensitive skin, once a week is a safe start. Normal or combination skin can handle it two to three times a week. Oily or acne prone skin might benefit from gentler chemical exfoliants like salicylic acid, but still not every day.[2][3][5]
Chemical exfoliants dissolve dead cells without scrubbing, making them less harsh than physical ones. But using too many strong ones at once, like daily high potency acids, can still overload your skin.[5][6] Hot water or over washing after exfoliating strips natural oils, making things worse.[3]
To avoid this, ease into exfoliation and watch how your skin reacts. If acne pops up, pause and let your skin recover with gentle cleansing and moisturizing.
Sources
https://featuringyouspa.com/blogs/news/over-ex
https://www.lotusbotanicals.com/blogs/news/common-skincare-mistakes-that-could-be-holding-your-skin-back
https://woodlandswellness.com/acne-treatment-9-ways-to-stop-acne-before-it-appears/
https://evanaturals.com/blogs/news/how-to-avoid-over-exfoliating-your-skin
https://www.oreateai.com/blog/navigating-the-dangers-of-overexfoliation-finding-balance-for-your-skin/457b88c585f404a958cf98b00c745a09
https://ebanel.com/blogs/skincare/understanding-over-exfoliation-signs-symptoms-and-solutions
https://worldofasaya.com/blogs/skincare/over-exfoliation-everything-you-need-to-know
