How Often Should I Exfoliate?

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While your skin does need to be buffed and refreshed on a regular basis, exfoliating more than necessary may not be the best idea. Here, cosmetic dermatologist Fredric Brandt, MD, explains why overexfoliating your skin will wreak havoc on your dermis.

By Gwen Flamberg

Question: "With so many at-home options, is it possible to overexfoliate your skin?"

Answer: Definitely! While exfoliation is necessary to eliminate the dead skin that's dulling your complexion, too much of a good thing will cause it to become red and flaky full-time.

"The upper layer of skin forms a protective barrier against the environment. Removing too many cells can increase moisture loss, sensitivity, dryness, and irritation," says Fredric Brandt, MD, a cosmetic dermatologist in New York City and Miami. If you have sensitive or thin skin, you should use a chemical exfoliator like glycolic acid or Retin-A only once a week. If your skin is on the oily side, you can exfoliate up to twice a week with a grainy scrub.

Originally published in Fitness magazine, May 2006.