We’ve all been there. You’re in a rush and decide to give yourself an exfoliating facial—only to realize afterwards that maybe you were a bit too aggressive. Your skin is now red, peeling, and sore.
What do you do? Don’t worry – there are ways to heal over exfoliated skin quickly and get back to feeling great about your complexion!
When done correctly and with moderation, exfoliating can be a fantastic way to get rid of dead skin cells and keep your face looking vibrant, refreshed, and glowing. But if you don’t proceed with caution when treating your delicate facial skin, it can leave you dealing with redness, irritation, as well as sensitivity running rampant.
Luckily, quick remedies are available so that your skin can begin its recovery process right away!
Read through the following lists to find out how best to care for Over Exfoliation Syndrome (OES)– the common term now used for over exfoliated skin – and get back on track with a healthy facial regimen once again!
What Is OES?
Over Exfoliation Syndrome (OES) is a condition caused by over-exfoliating your skin with physical or chemical exfoliants.
When you exfoliate too often or too aggressively with facial scrubs and acids, your skin becomes irritated and inflamed, leading to conditions like redness, dryness, acne breakouts, or even peeling or flaking skin.
It’s important to note that OES isn’t caused by just one type of exfoliant; both physical scrubs and chemical peels can be culprits.
Why Does OES Happen?
Exfoliation can be beneficial to your skincare routine, but using harsh exfoliants too frequently without properly giving the skin time to recover can cause overexposure and sensitization of the skin over time – leading to a condition called Overexposure Exfoliative Syndrome (OES).
When the skin no longer has an ability to resist external stimuli such as sun exposure, pollution or even particular skincare products as compared to healthier, stronger skins, its no surprise why OES is a growing concern.
Not only that, using products made with strong ingredients that don’t work well with one’s personal skin makeup can have a similar effect in throwing off its delicate balance.
Skincare routines vary from person to person, but it’s important not to overdo it whatever routine you choose in order preserve the health of your skin.
What to do if OES occurs?
Take a Break From Exfoliating
Sometimes taking a break from exfoliation is the best thing for your skin. Letting your skin cells regenerate for two weeks will help them get back to their healthy state.
In the meantime, switch to using gentle cleansers and moisturizers that won’t strip away your natural oils or create irritation. Look for ingredients like aloe vera and chamomile, which naturally hydrate while providing calming relief.
Think of this as an investment in healthier, happier skin down the road! Your patience and conscious choices will pay off in the long run.
Be Gentle with Your Skin
It really needs no explanation, but treat your skin kindly as it goes through its healing journey. Unless absolutely necessary, keep away from overpowering chemicals or anything that might harshly scrape your face.
If you do need to put on some makeup to conceal spots here and there, use the lightest products you can find.
For those days when you’re out and about, don’t forget the sunscreen! Inadequately protected skin is vulnerable to developing sunburns that not only hurt—they are also commonly associated with further inflammation in already exfoliated skin.
Whatever you do, keep sipping plenty of H20 during the day and make sure you reapply sunscreen regularly!
When it comes to healing over exfoliated skin fast, one of the best things you can do is give your skin a break from products that contain acids.
These ingredients—such as AHAs, BHAs, and retinol—are super effective at getting rid of excess dead skin cells but they can also irritate over-exfoliated skin even more.
So if you’re dealing with sensitive skin right now, it’s best to take a break from these types of products until your complexion has had time to fully heal.
When warding off over exfoliated skin, it’s best to occasionaly switch up your cleanser. Abstain from using products formulated with fierce foaming agents, as this could strip away the protective top layer of skin oils and irritate an already laden complexion.
Embrace gentle cleansers boasting glycerin or hyaluronic acid to rehydrate discomforted skin and nurse any redness that may pop up.
This added moisture layer, from the acid or glycerin, will wrap around each cell giving some skin shifting TLC for a long over due facial session.
Moisturize Often
If you’ve just exfoliated your skin, the most important thing you can do is moisturize right away. Doing this will help soothe any potential inflammation and give your face the hydration it needs.
When picking out a moisturizer, make sure to choose one that’s specifically formulated for sensitive skin and includes antioxidants like Vitamin E or green tea extract. These natural ingredients can ward off free radicals that contribute to damaged cells.
If you need some extra calm from the over-exfoliation, keep an eye out for lotions or creams containing well known soothing ingredients such as aloe vera or colloidal oatmeal— both of which have anti-inflammatory qualities that will reduce redness or itchiness.
Make sure to apply these products both morning and night after cleansing so that you don’t dry out your complexion any further.
An overnight face mask is a great way to provide extra moisture while also calming down any redness or irritation in the area. Many masks also help lock in hydration so that your skin stays soft and supple throughout the day.
You can also use hydrating toners or facial mists throughout the day for an added boost of hydration whenever needed.
Conclusion
Making the mistake of over exfoliating your skin can happen quickly if you’re rushing during your skincare routine. But there’s no need to despair since this condition – called Over Exfoliation Syndrome, or OES – can be remedied with ease.
First and foremost, start by using moisturizers formulated for sensitive skin. As you do, built on this routine by incorporating gentle and light products that are suitable for your damaged complexion.
Advice number two: Reduce foundation wear and make sure to protect yourself from sunshine exposure as well!
Restoring your over freshly gripped face won’t take nearly as long and hassle as it could have been. So don’t worry too much; the patch job is so easier said than done!
For optimal results in a shorter timeline, keep these tips close by and create habits for gentle exfoliating only.
Your skin will thank you!