How Often Should You Really Exfoliate Your Skin?

How often should you really exfoliate your skin? In this video, dermatologist Dr. Dray explains how often to exfoliate, the difference between chemical and physical exfoliation, and how to tell when your skin is being over-exfoliated. Exfoliation can help improve rough texture, clogged pores, keratosis pilaris, flaky skin, and the appearance of uneven skin tone. But exfoliating too frequently or combining multiple exfoliating methods can disrupt the skin barrier and lead to dryness, burning, stinging, redness, peeling, and worsening of certain skin conditions. Dr. Dray explains why everyday habits such as shaving, using a washcloth, and cleansing can contribute to the overall amount of physical stress on the skin, even though they may not be thought of as traditional exfoliation. She also discusses the importance of regular moisturizing for supporting the skin barrier and normal shedding of dead skin cells. The video also covers how exfoliation needs can change with aging and menopause, when skin may become drier and rougher but also more sensitive and fragile. Topics covered: 0:00 Introduction 0:34 What Does Exfoliation Actually Do? 1:38 Chemical Exfoliation 3:10 Mechanical Exfoliation 5:02 How Often Should You Exfoliate? 6:15 The Benefits of Exfoliation 6:51 When Exfoliation Becomes Too Much 7:37 Don't Stack Exfoliants 8:11 Don't Forget Moisturizer 10:33 What About Menopause and Aging? 12:12 What Should You Do If You've Over-Exfoliated? 12:41 Final Points Whether some