How should you exfoliate the skin on your body?
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free skin care · Sat Mar 24, 2012 11:53 am

Is it best to chemically exfoliate the skin on your body by using an AHA or BHA body lotion? If so, should this lotion be used occasionally or daily? If not, what would be a better way to chemically exfoliate the skin on the body?

On the other hand, is it better to physically exfoliate the body skin by using a loofah or a body scrub?

Dermatologist Neil Schultz says that we should regularly exfoliate our skin. Many skin experts (such as Dr. Schultz and Paula Begoun) prefer chemical exfoliation for the face. Is this recommendation different, however, for the body?

How do you exfoliate your body's skin? And has your routine changed over the years?

Sat Mar 24, 2012 7:04 pm

This may sound odd, but I sometimes use moisturizer to exfoliate. I use a creamy body wash then smooth lotion on and the moisture helps the flakes to come off much easier than using something harsh.

free skin care · Sat Mar 24, 2012 9:11 pm

I suppose it depends on your body and skin texture. My preference is a body scrub with AHAs and a body lotion that I use with lactic acid.

My feet are a different story. They need a good daily scrub and now and then I do a chemical foot peel.

For my face I do peels and micodermabrasion every 6 weeks, but that's becuase I have thick pore congested sluggish skin that needs it. I also use a clarisonic daily.Luv it Very Happy

. But my body has a very different texture so I dont feel it needs as much.

I have heard of dry brushing and using gloves to help with exfoliation, but Ive never tried it. I must admit though I do use clarisonic not only on my face but neck area too ...all the way to my shoulders and elbows and even hands. They feel nice and soft....but the whole body would take forever LOL.

Apart from a nice AHA/BHA body lotion you could always add a bit of DIY vitamin C to your body. I've read some ladies do that and its quite nice...but I certainly wouldnt want to use a $100+ bottle on my body though Wink

free skin care · Sat Mar 24, 2012 10:30 pm

I like the Japanese body scrubber, Salux...you can buy on amazon or in local Asian stores. Its a long nylon strip that makes it easy to do your back, or reach down to your feet. It doesn't hold bacteria and can be washed easily. Lasts forever, costs a few dollars.

free skin care · Sat Mar 24, 2012 11:18 pm

VeronicaM wrote:

Is it best to chemically exfoliate the skin on your body by using an AHA or BHA body lotion? If so, should this lotion be used occasionally or daily? If not, what would be a better way to chemically exfoliate the skin on the body?

On the other hand, is it better to physically exfoliate the body skin by using a loofah or a body scrub?

Dermatologist Neil Schultz says that we should regularly exfoliate our skin. Many skin experts (such as Dr. Schultz and Paula Begoun) prefer chemical exfoliation for the face. Is this recommendation different, however, for the body?

How do you exfoliate your body's skin? And has your routine changed over the years?

I'm quite possibly the BIGGEST fan of exfoliation you will run into at EDS... Laughing

With that said though I'd also tell you that I don't do any of the typical "peels" many are fond of, but have come up with my own variation that works well for me.

For me it's mostly manual exfoliation with microfiber cloths, body brushes and/or Clarisonic facial brush for daily face, chest arms & hands, but for icky, yucky, crusty and neglected lower leg and foot woes, read on...

I'm 62 and live in south Florida.. To say my legs are neglected and as dry as the dessert would be an understatement... About every 6 or 8 weeks, when I've had enough of the scaly dry skin, I get to work with this simple system and wala, my leg skin is smooth and creamy in 2 or 3 days...

At night: I use a loofah or some type of body brush, and really go at it on my clean, dry skin (typically from the knee down). This removes much of the flaky top layer of dead skin. Now I add 1 tsp of 88% lactic acid to 1 TBS of whatever AHA cream or lotion I have on hand. I apply this from the knee down on each leg and also the bottom of my feet, let it absorb/dry and then go to sleep... In the morning when I shower, I go at it with the brush and/or microfiber cloth again on my hot/wet skin. When I've finished up I apply a good amount of whatever I have on hand that is especially rich, creamy and has plenty of humectants (favs are; CeraVe Cream in the big tub or Egyptian Magic. Sometimes I'll mix both together!)

I do this routine for 2 or 3 days/nights and I'll tell you what, it's like looking at different skin in 3 days...And OMG, the softness is such that you just want to keep touching... Even Mr Kassy notices and remarks, and this is a man that didn't notice when my hair went from blond to red.. Shock

I have no idea what % of AHA this equates to and frankly, I don't care.. Laughing

Sensitive folks should of course adjust accordingly, or test a small spot to be sure it isn't too strong. I have sickeningly normal non-reactive skin that can take whatever I throw at it...(Don't be hatin' now.. Laughing

)

Works great for elbows & heels too!

And with that I'm off to bed so I can get up at the crack of dawn with the grandkiddo's Cool

free skin care · Tue Mar 27, 2012 5:15 am

I dont think there is any one best way. Go with what your skin likes best. I like to use AHA lotion but also like to use a manual scrub on my legs/feet.

free skin care · Tue Mar 27, 2012 11:18 am

Skin on many areas of the body can be thicker and less well served with sebaceous glands than the face. Firstly try cutting ingredients known to be irritant/ dehydrating out of your routine, particularly sulphate surfactants and alkaline soaps. Then ensure you are moisturising with a product containing either urea or lactic acid - skin's own humectants/ keratolytics - if that is insufficient consider adding in manual exfoliation (cloth/ puff/ gloves).

free skin care · Tue Mar 27, 2012 2:05 pm

Firefox7275 wrote:

Skin on many areas of the body can be thicker and less well served with sebaceous glands than the face. Firstly try cutting ingredients known to be irritant/ dehydrating out of your routine, particularly sulphate surfactants and alkaline soaps. Then ensure you are moisturising with a product containing either urea or lactic acid - skin's own humectants/ keratolytics - if that is insufficient consider adding in manual exfoliation (cloth/ puff/ gloves).

What are some decent lactic acid or urea based body lotions available in drugstores that I could try?

free skin care · Tue Mar 27, 2012 2:22 pm

Gayle wrote:

Firefox7275 wrote:

Skin on many areas of the body can be thicker and less well served with sebaceous glands than the face. Firstly try cutting ingredients known to be irritant/ dehydrating out of your routine, particularly sulphate surfactants and alkaline soaps. Then ensure you are moisturising with a product containing either urea or lactic acid - skin's own humectants/ keratolytics - if that is insufficient consider adding in manual exfoliation (cloth/ puff/ gloves).

What are some decent lactic acid or urea based body lotions available in drugstores that I could try?

AmLactin comes to mind. I've never used it before though.

Wed Mar 28, 2012 11:14 am

Buy a Baiden Mitten. You can Google for the info.

free skin care · Sat Mar 31, 2012 9:19 am

Hey Firefox: What is a "keratolytic"?

free skin care · Sat Mar 31, 2012 9:25 am

cm5597 wrote:

Hey Firefox: What is a "keratolytic"?

Not Firefox but,

Keratolytic
An agent that dissolves or breaks down the outer layer of skin (keratins).

http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/keratolytic

free skin care · Sat Mar 31, 2012 9:48 am

Thanks, DarkMoon! So it sounds like keratolytic = exfoliant, no? Or are there subtle differences between something that is keratolytic versus something that is an exfoliant?

free skin care · Sat Mar 31, 2012 9:52 am

cm5597 wrote:

Thanks, DarkMoon! So it sounds like keratolytic = exfoliant, no? Or are they subtle differences between something that is keratolytic versus something that is an exfoliant?

It sounds like just another form of exfoliation to me as well, I always think it boils down to what works best for your skin. Smile

Sat Mar 31, 2012 11:09 am

I don't believe in chemical exfoliants, so I'd recommend using a nice, all natural body brush or pad with a soothing body cleanser (Pai makes wonderful everything, in my opinion), or use something with natural beads or pieces of material that would slough off dead skin.

free skin care · Sat Mar 31, 2012 11:27 am

ErinJoy27 wrote:

I don't believe in chemical exfoliants, so I'd recommend using a nice, all natural body brush or pad with a soothing body cleanser (Pai makes wonderful everything, in my opinion), or use something with natural beads or pieces of material that would slough off dead skin.

I have several enzyme peels made from pumpkin, pineapple and papaya. I consider those chemical substances yet quite natural. Our bodies are a collection of chemicals.

Lactic Acid....derived from milk

Glycolic Acid....derived from sugar cane

Alpha Hydroxy Acids....derived from fruits

free skin care · Sat Mar 31, 2012 1:29 pm

ErinJoy27,

Why don't you believe in chemical exfoliants?

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