Article Date: 03/24/2022

Body scrubs have been around for a while, but quite a variety has emerged over the years, including those made of coffee, salt, and sugar. You may even have a few of them hanging out in your bathroom cabinet right now.

The benefits of body scrubs

First, let’s take a look at how our skin works.

Desquamation is the natural process of shedding skin, and it happens in a constant, regenerative cycle. The efficiency of this process depends on a number of factors including your age, skin type, the products you’re using, and your environment.

However, the process isn’t 100 percent perfect, and it can lead to a buildup of dead skin cells on the surface of your skin. This is where body scrubs come in.

Body scrubs remove dead skin cells, and so provide several benefits:

They allow your skin to absorb moisturizer better. By doing dead skin cell buildup, any moisturizer applied afterward will soak into the skin more thoroughly.

They unclog pores and prevent ingrown hairs. By regularly using a body scrub, you’ll unclog your pores, which can prevent razor bumps and ingrown hairs.

They leave your skin smoother and more even. When dry skin isn’t removed, it makes the skin rough to the touch and has a dull, cracked texture and appearance. By removing the dead, dry cells, you should have smoother and more even skin.

Whether or not you’ve tried one before, you may wonder what benefits, if any, are associated with body scrubs.

Aside from making your skin feel super-smooth, body scrubs have quite a few other benefits.

Board certified dermatologist and aesthetic expert Kavita Mariwalla, MD, FAAD says body scrubs, “are a good thing to have in your skin care wardrobe, especially in the winter months when the skin can get very dry.”

How to use

Using a body scrub is relatively straightforward. Here’s a quick step-by-step guide (including a few tips):

Rinse your skin with warm water.
Apply the scrub with your fingertips.
Scrub your hands and feet in a circular motion and move inward.
Rinse thoroughly using warm water.
Shave, if desired.
Pat skin dry, leaving it slightly damp.
Apply moisturizer. Putting on moisturizer while your skin is still damp will trap in the moisture.

Pro-tip: Don’t overuse it. Too much of a good thing can be true when it comes to body scrubs. Learn why below. Use twice a week at most.

When to use

Here are two timing considerations to have in mind before using body scrub.

How often should you use a body scrub?

In general, you don’t want to use a body scrub on your skin every day or even every other day. Doing this could lead to dry or irritated skin.

How often you should use a body scrub (or exfoliate in general) depends on your skin type. But in general, you don’t want to use a body scrub more than twice a week, or you’ll dry and irritate your skin, according to Mariwalla.

For sensitive skin, you may want to just use a body scrub once a week.

What about body wash and showering?

It’s best to use a body scrub while you’re still in the shower but right after washing so that your skin is clean and ready for exfoliation.

If you want to continue reading: https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/benefits-of-body-scrubs#when-to-use