Exfoliation (cosmetology)

Exfoliation is a fancy word that means to remove the dead skin cells from your body. Just like how you wash your hands to get rid of germs, exfoliation helps you get rid of the old skin cells that can make your skin feel bumpy or look dull.

Think of your skin like a house made of bricks. The bricks are your skin cells and they stick together with something called a "glue." This glue can get a little too sticky and keep the old skin cells from falling off properly. That's where exfoliation comes in! It helps to break down that sticky glue and gently remove the old skin cells so that the new, fresh ones underneath can shine.

There are a few different ways you can exfoliate your skin. Some people like to use scrubs with tiny beads or sugar that help slough away the dead skin. Others prefer to use chemical exfoliants, like an alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) or a beta-hydroxy acid (BHA). Those sound scary, but they're actually very gentle and help to dissolve the glue holding your skin cells together.

It's important to be gentle when you exfoliate. Over-exfoliating can actually irritate your skin and make things worse. Think of it like brushing your hair too hard and making it all tangled! Exfoliating once or twice a week is usually enough to keep your skin smooth and happy. And remember to always wear sunscreen when you're exfoliating, since your skin can be a little more sensitive to the sun afterwards!