You probably already know the benefits of regular exfoliation — once or twice weekly to eliminate dead skin cells for smoother, softer skin. Yet, while the same logic applies to our body, many of us don’t make the effort to exfoliate our body regularly. And just like facial exfoliators, there are many options (if not more) you can choose for when it comes body exfoliators.
For example, the most common type would be physical exfoliators like a body scrub. Whether they’re made of sugar crystals, sea salt or finely ground particles, these body exfoliators physically polish away dead skin cells. While they work fine for most people, some irregularly shaped crystals can be a tad too harsh for people with dry and sensitive skin. Another option is using an exfoliating brush or pad. Similar to body scrubs, these also work by physically removing dead skin cells from skin surface to reveal softer and smoother skin. However, likewise, they can also be tricky for people who have sensitive skin.
Another way to get rid of dry and rough skin on your body is to use chemical exfoliants like AHAs. They are usually found in cleansing wipes, exfoliating pads or you can even get a chemical peel for your body at some spas and clinics. Great for those looking at added skincare benefits beyond just removing dead skin cells, AHAs like glycol acid and lactic acid also help refine skin texture and stimulate cellular renewal so that signs of photo-damage like fine lines and dark spots can also be reduced.
More importantly, consider the thickness and sensitivity of your skin on various parts of your body before deciding on the type of exfoliant to use. For example, the skin on our backs tend to be thicker and less exposed to the sun, yet, many people can be prone to back acne due to sweating and oily skin. On the other hand, the skin on our decolletage tends to be thinner and more prone to sun damage so it probably requires different products. Here, six ways you can get rid of dry and rough skin from top to toe.