Peeling skin, how to do it
The skin naturally sheds itself of dead skin cells and dirt. However, there are times that you may need to undergo skin peeling to get rid of those unwanted stubborn dead skin cells and dirt on the surface of your skin, making it look and feel rejuvenated and refreshed. Skin peeling or skin exfoliation is also a procedure that helps get rid of skin imperfections such as scars, skin discolorations, acne, clogged pores, and fine lines. It is often done on the face, although some may also undergo skin peeling on their extremities.
When you peel off skin, you are actually just removing the topmost layer of the skin’s epidermis, which is basically a layer of dead skin cells. There are different ways on how to peel skin, either at home or at your doctor’s clinic, depending on what your skin type needs.
Mechanical skin peeling is an exfoliating method that uses either natural or synthetic exfoliating particles that are applied on the surface of the skin. Moderate scrubbing with these particles can get rid of the dead skin cells as well as dirt and other foreign materials on the skin. This method of peeling skin is often done in the convenience of their own homes.
Another method is the use of chemicals or natural acids found in milk and fruits such as lactic acid, glycolic acid, malic acid and salicylic acid. It works by detaching the dead skin cells from the surface layer. However, the amount of chemical peel used must be regulated to avoid burns or skin irritation.
Similar to the chemical peel, the enzyme peel makes use of the natural enzymes of fruits such as papaya, pumpkin, and pineapple enzymes. This is said to be less irritating to the skin, without the need to scrub it on.
A skin peeling procedure that is usually done at the doctor’s clinic is laser resurfacing. This procedure makes use of a high intensity light beam or a laser that works to remove the outermost layer of the skin epidermis, which is, of course, composed of dead skin cells.
Another method to peel the skin is through dermabrasion, wherein a high speed rotating fraise or brush is used to remove the layer of dead skin cells. For finer exfoliation, microdermabrasion is recommended since it uses fine crystals or diamond dust instead of brushes to remove the topmost layer.
Skin exfoliation is regularly done at least once a week for those with normal, dry, or sensitive skin, and up to three times for those with oily combination skin. Home skin peeling kits are usually available at the neighborhood pharmacy, with instructions on how to use it. It would be best to test a product first on an unobtrusive part of the body to check for an allergic reaction. This can help avoid doing damage on the skin, especially of the face. It is also suggested to perform this procedure when pores of the skin are open, such as after a steam bath, to effectively get rid of the dirt. After each skin peeling, the use of a good moisturizer can help protect the new skin from the environment, keeping it smooth and young.