How Over Exfoliation Triggers Breakouts
Exfoliation helps remove dead skin cells to keep your skin smooth and clear. But doing too much of it can backfire and cause breakouts instead. Over exfoliation strips away the skin’s natural protective layer, leaving it irritated and prone to pimples.
Your skin has a barrier that holds in moisture and keeps out irritants. Exfoliants like scrubs, AHAs, or BHAs dissolve dead cells and unclog pores. When used right, this is good. But if you exfoliate more than two or three times a week, or use strong products daily, it goes too far. The barrier gets damaged, letting bacteria and dirt in while letting moisture out.[1][4]
This damage sparks inflammation, a red, angry reaction in the skin. Inflammation stops existing pimples from healing and starts new ones. Your skin gets dry and tight at first, then overproduces oil to fight back. That extra oil mixes with dead cells and clogs pores, trapping bacteria inside. The result is more blackheads, whiteheads, and painful bumps.[2]
Signs you are over exfoliating include redness, stinging when you apply products, and sudden breakouts in new spots like your cheeks or jawline. Unlike skin purging from new treatments, these breakouts come from irritation, not just speeding up cell turnover.[3]
To avoid this, start slow with gentle exfoliants. Limit use to once or twice a week if your skin is sensitive. Always follow with a moisturizer to repair the barrier. If breakouts appear, pause exfoliation and focus on soothing your skin.
Sources
https://www.lotusbotanicals.com/blogs/news/common-skincare-mistakes-that-could-be-holding-your-skin-back
https://featuringyouspa.com/blogs/news/over-ex
https://elle.in/beauty/skin/skin-purging-vs-breakout-10924834
https://worldofasaya.com/blogs/skincare/over-exfoliation-everything-you-need-to-know
