Warm weather has arrived and you want your skin to be at its best appearance.   So that means, the more you show of your bronzed and beautiful self, the more care you’ll need to provide to your skin.

Believe it or not, exfoliating treatments and products are used to accomplish this and  for various skin conditions.

Skin discoloration, uneven skin tone, acne, fine lines, wrinkles and even skin tightening, benefit from a good exfoliation treatment or product.

How Do You Choose The Right Exfoliation Method For Black Skin?

There are several methods of exfoliation that can be used on one particular concern or condition.  Learning about the differences between the types of exfoliation is necessary before you choose one or have one performed on your beautiful black skin by a skin therapist.

You’ve got surface exfoliants, superficial mechanical exfoliation and superficial chemical exfoliation.

Surface Exfoliants

Surface Exfoliants can be purchased and used in conjunction with other methods as part of your at-home maintenance program.

These products might contain ingredients with jojoba wax beads, crushed herbs, ground nuts or crystals.  With any exfoliation treatment, caution should be taken with the amount of pressure used when exfoliating.

Although the ingredients listed above are natural, over stimulation can actually cause minor wounds in your skin.

Enzymes are surface exfoliants that are typically derived from fruit acids found in pineapples (bromelian) and papaya (papain).  Depending on their strengths, they can be used for home treatments or spa treatments.

Enzymes are known to break up dead skin cells on the surface of your skin and depending on the treatment they are often combined with hydroxy acids.  This type of treatment is better left to the professional during a spa treatment.

Superficial Mechanical Exfoliation

Superficial Mechanical Exfoliation is when microdermabrasion and dermaplaning is used.

Microdermabrasion is when a rough surfaced instrument is used to remove dead skin cells and polish your skin during the performance of microdermabrasion.  Although this procedure is performed by a skin care professional, it is not always the best option when caring for African American Skin.

Because this treatment is used by creating suction through a loophole, the suction can cause harm especially to sensitive and inflamed skin.

Dermaplaning is when a skin care professional is removing dead skin cells and fine hairs from your face with a scalpel.  While this procedure might seem straightforward,  it is not a simple procedure to perform and the legalities of whether or not an esthetician should perform it, is controversial.

The controversy comes in the use of a medical instrument, the scalpel.  Each state must determine whether or not it’s legal for an esthetician to use this procedure as an exfoliation process.

Superficial Chemical Exfoliation

Superficial Chemical Exfoliation is what you know as chemical peels. They fall under the category of Alpha Hydroxy acids (AHAs) and Beta Hydroxy acids (BHAs).

Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) include glycolic, lactic, malice and citric acids.  AHAs dissolve proteins that hold dead skin cells to each other.

The common Beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) used in peeling agents is salicylic acid.  Salicylic acid is known for its use for oily and acne-prone skin.

Remember …

Exfoliation treatments and products are a great way to care for black skin and remove dead skin cells.

If you are going to be exposed to the sun, only a surface exfoliant should be used. This will cut the risk of side effects that occur when exposing your skin to the sun after a microdermabrasion  or chemical peel treatment.

Dedicated To Your Beauty

Juliette Samuel

Esthetician/Author/Publisher

Nyraju Skin Care