Skin is the largest organ of our body and to keep it healthy and glowing, we tend to follow several skincare routines. While some steps like cleansing our skin, and applying sunscreen and moisturisers must be implemented daily, there are a few others that must be practised from time to time. One among them is exfoliation, which is a process of removing dead surface skin cells that gather on the uppermost layer of the skin. Believe it or not, exfoliation is not some recent practice, it dates back to ancient Egypt and ancient China. At that time, people mainly used oils and minerals for the process.

In this article, we will learn about the benefits of skin exfoliation, what are the best exfoliators for different skin types, and most importantly about ‘Gommage’ exfoliation from one of our country’s leading dermatologists, Dr Nivedita Dadu.

According to Dr Dadu, “No matter how you exfoliate your skin, it should not disrupt the skin barrier, which is a protective layer that protects our skin from pollution, dust, bacteria, and allergens.”

Why is exfoliating your skin important?

Regular exfoliation is very beneficial for the skin. It removes dead skin cells, reduces pigmentation and dullness, and makes your skin look radiant and younger. Exfoliation is further helpful in removing blackheads, whiteheads, and clogged pores. Studies also suggest that as this process leads to collagen production, it also facilitates anti-aging.

Types of skin exfoliators

There are three types of exfoliators that one can use according to their skin type. These include – Physical Exfoliators, Chemical Exfoliators, and Gommage Exfoliators.

• Physical Exfoliators - These are also known as scrubs that work by removing dead skin cells and creating a higher concentration of new skin cells. Dr Nivedita Dadu doesn’t recommend their usage on the skin especially on the face as they are a bit harsh by nature. And in case, if anybody wants to go for physical exfoliators, they must use them on arms, elbows, or knees to remove dead skin cells.

• Chemical Exfoliators - These exfoliators contain Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA) that helps to remove dead skin cells and help you to get smooth and radiating skin. In case you have dull, pigmented, or damaged skin, you can go for Glycolic acid which is a type of AHA. But if you have oily skin and are dealing with a problem of blackheads, whiteheads, or clogged pores, it would be best for you to use salicylic acid (Type of BHA).

• Gommage Exfoliators - ‘Gommage’ is a French technique of gentle exfoliation that combines physical and chemical exfoliators to slough off dead skin cells. Gommage exfoliators are made up of fruit enzymes like Papain, which is made from Papaya enzymes and Bromelain from Pumpkin enzymes. Dr Nivedita Dadu says that “these exfoliators are very mild and are extremely good for sensitive skin. They also have several other benefits as they help in dead cell renewal, hydrating the skin, and increasing brightness.” Moreover, they don’t have any side effects like redness, allergy, or any kind of sensitivity that can occur due to chemical exfoliators.

Important things about ‘Gommage’ Exfoliation

• As Gommage exfoliators are fruit enzymes which are proteins, their formulations must be correct otherwise it can lead to the denaturation of proteins which won’t be effective.

• If you have dull, oily, or pigmented skin or have a lot of blackheads and whiteheads, then ‘Gommage’ exfoliation won’t help you in getting rid of these problems due to their mild nature. You must choose chemical exfoliators in this case.

If you want exfoliators to work best on your skin, you must choose them as per your skin type. Using the right exfoliators can give glowing, clear, and healthy skin.

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