Exfoliating or exfoliating dead skin cells to make the skin look younger and glowing is necessary. However, sometimes a person does not exfoliate properly, so the skin ends up being inflamed afterwards. Generally, exfoliating inflammation occurs when you apply too strong a product or exfoliate your skin using the wrong technique. As a result, the skin can look red, irritated, or even burn and leave scars. If your skin feels sore, uncomfortable, or makes your appearance worse afterward, try the methods listed in this article to soothe your skin and speed up its recovery.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Soothes Inflamed Skin After Exfoliating
Step 1. Recognize the symptoms of inflamed skin caused by the exfoliation process
If you think you're applying the wrong exfoliant, exfoliating your skin with excessive movements, or using too many exfoliants at the same time, try to identify if you have any of the following symptoms:
- Skin looks red
- Skin looks peeling
- Skin is irritated
- The skin experiences a burning sensation
Step 2. Apply a cold compress to the skin
Gently compress the affected skin with a clean, cool towel for a few minutes, or until the irritation subsides. Never rub the skin with a towel so that the intensity of irritation does not increase! Repeat the process as often as needed.
Step 3. Apply aloe vera gel to the skin
Gently, apply a thin layer of aloe vera gel to reduce irritation and speed recovery on the affected skin area.
Store aloe vera gel in the refrigerator so that it cools down when applied to inflamed skin
Step 4. Take anti-inflammatory drugs and pain relievers
Try taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) if your skin feels sore from the wrong exfoliation process. NSAIDs can relieve discomfort and reduce the potential for inflammation of the skin. To take these drugs, follow the doctor's recommendations or the dosage rules listed on the drug packaging. Some types of NSAID drugs that can be purchased without a doctor's prescription at pharmacies are:
- Aspirin
- Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
- Naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn)
Part 2 of 2: Caring for Inflamed Skin from Exfoliation
Step 1. Use a mild cleansing soap
To clean your face every day, make sure you only use a cleansing soap that does not produce foam and is made of soft ingredients. Then, wash off the soap with warm or cold water so that the skin is not further irritated and avoids exposure to germs or bacteria that cause infection.
- Use a mild cleansing soap that does not produce foam to wash your face. Avoid using anti-aging creams during this period!
- Avoid products that contain exfoliants, fragrances, or retinols to avoid exfoliating and irritated skin.
- Wait for your skin to completely heal before starting a new exfoliation routine.
Step 2. Lightly pat the skin dry
Drying the skin with a rubbing motion can further irritate already fragile skin. Therefore, after cleansing, it is best to lightly pat the skin with a clean towel to dry it. In this way, the skin will not be more irritated.
Step 3. Keep skin moist
Apply a thick-textured moisturizer to cleansed skin to soothe the skin and speed its recovery.
Avoid creams that contain fragrances or exfoliants, such as retinoids, to prevent exfoliation and irritation of the skin
Step 4. Apply hydrocortisone cream
Try applying 1% hydrocortisone cream on top of your moisturizer twice a day. Focus on applying the cream to the irritated area for a maximum of two weeks. Hydrocortisone cream can help relieve irritation and inflammation, reduce redness of the skin, and protect the skin from exposure to germs or bacteria.
Step 5. Try using a vitamin C cream
Instead of hydrocortisone, use a light vitamin C cream if you want to apply a more natural ingredient to your skin. In general, a vitamin C cream with a concentration of about 5% can help soothe inflamed skin and speed up its recovery.
Make sure the skin that is coated with vitamin C is not exposed to direct sunlight. Remember, vitamin C creams and lotions will increase your skin's sensitivity to the sun. Therefore, always protect the skin from the sun so that irritation and inflammation that occurs does not get worse
Step 6. Coat the skin with vitamin E oil
With very gentle movements, apply a thin layer of vitamin E oil to the skin to retain moisture, reduce discomfort, and speed up recovery.
Step 7. Do not expose the skin to direct sunlight or always wear sunscreen cream
If you exfoliate too often, your skin will not only lose dead skin cells, but also new skin cells! As a result, the remaining layers of skin will be more susceptible to burning if exposed to sunlight. Therefore, always protect the skin from the sun to speed up the recovery process. If possible, always put on a sunscreen cream before leaving the house to reduce the risk of sunburn, inflammation, irritation, and longer recovery time.
Step 8. Do not put anything on the skin of the face
At the very least, wait a few days or a few weeks before going back to putting on your makeup or doing your facial routine. In other words, give your skin time to fully heal before interacting with creams or makeup containing chemicals to reduce the chance of irritation and speed up the healing process.
Step 9. See a dermatologist
If the irritation seems to get worse or doesn't go away after a week, see a dermatologist or dermatologist immediately. Your doctor can identify the severity of your infection or skin damage, and provide a more accurate diagnosis and treatment options. Chances are, the doctor will prescribe a cortisone cream that has a higher dose or a barrier repair cream to protect the skin from various ingredients that can damage skin health.
