You've heard it said over and over "exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate!" But at the end of the day I have to wonder why? Does it REALLY make a difference in my well being and overall skin health? You may be cleansing, moisturizing, using sunscreen religiously, and subscribing to a myriad of anti-aging regimens...but let's face it, if you aren't exfoliating, you might not be getting the results you desire. Did you know that a person sheds over 100 lbs of skin over an average lifetime? First of all...ew. Second of all, that is the equivalent of a small deer, a 13 year old child or a miniature horse. Although that is relatively irrelevant information, it does put the whole thing into perspective.Your skin is your body's largest living organism and has the ability to regenerate and repair itself. This process, however, slows down as we age. Our skin not only becomes less elastic, more fragile and less able to retain water, it also becomes more prone to dead cell build up. Dead skin cells can clog pores, but they can also prevent the absorption of those anti-aging creams and heavy moisturizers you are so good about using. In addition to preventing helpful agents from entering your deep skin layers, dead skin cells can also prevent harmful agents from exiting your body. This in and of itself can expedite the aging process. Exfoliation not only reveals newer younger skin cells underneath the dead layer, it also increases blood circulation which helps your body to rejuvenate these dying cells naturally. Although OVER exfoliation can have adverse affects, it is important to your over all skin health and should be a part of your weekly regimen.
