Skin peeling: How to reduce it effectively?
Lucas PINOS
5 min
Summary
Have you noticed small flakes of skin peeling off your face? Don't panic. This is called skin desquamation, also known by the scientific term "peeling skin." 😊 This phenomenon, although natural, can become annoying when it becomes more pronounced. But rest assured, there are simple and effective ways to reduce flakes and regain healthy, soft, and smooth skin.
What is peeling skin?
Let's start by understanding what exactly peeling is. Understanding it is the best way to tailor your skincare routine to your skin's unique needs.
Definition
Skin peeling refers to the natural process by which the stratum corneum, located on the surface of the epidermis, eliminates dead cells to renew itself. Normally, peeling goes unnoticed.
The skin regeneration cycle
Skin cell renewal is an essential process for maintaining healthy and resilient skin. Normally, cells renew themselves every 28 days.
During this cycle, cells are born in the basal layer of the epidermis, migrate to the surface and gradually transform into dead cells, thus forming the horny layer. These dead cells are then eliminated naturally or by exfoliation.
Peeling skin
When the skin's renewal cycle is disrupted, in response to an attack or imbalance, desquamation accelerates: the skin sheds dead cells excessively, and they accumulate on the skin's surface. Scales—small flakes of skin that slough off—become visible. In other words, the skin begins to peel.
In short, natural skin exfoliation is a normal process that occurs without us realizing it, while excessive peeling, characterized by the loss of clumps of skin, results from a malfunction in this process.
Causes of Skin Peeling
Excessive skin flaking is usually caused by an attack that forces the skin to renew itself more quickly to heal. Here are the main factors responsible.
Environmental factors
Climate plays a significant role in the onset of flaking. Cold, wind, dry air, and sudden temperature changes can dry out and dehydrate the skin, thus accelerating the skin renewal process.
Sun exposure
Prolonged unprotected sun exposure can cause sunburn and sunburn. The cells in the top layer of skin are destroyed, causing the skin to begin to peel off to renew itself, resulting in significant flaking.
Medical conditions
Certain skin irritations or intolerances can disrupt the cell renewal cycle. The loss of dead cells accelerates and makes flaking more visible.
Reaction to certain products
The use of unsuitable or overly aggressive skincare products, containing alcohol or overly powerful cleaning agents, weakens the skin barrier, dries out the skin and accelerates its renewal.
Lifestyle and internal factors
Several elements in our lifestyle can contribute to unbalancing the skin's regeneration cycle and accelerating flaking:
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A diet lacking in essential nutrients;
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Insufficient hydration;
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Certain medical treatments;
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Stress;
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Etc.
Your skin reflects your overall well-being, so pamper yourself from the inside out! 💧
Our tips for getting rid of flaking
Peeling isn't a permanent skin problem. A few adjustments to your skincare routine may be enough to get rid of it.
Intensive internal and external hydration
Hydration is the key to fighting peeling skin. But we often forget that the skin is an organ that needs to be nourished and hydrated from the inside as well as the outside:
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To hydrate your skin from the inside out, drink enough water throughout the day. At least 1.5 liters per day.
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To moisturize the skin from the outside, choose highly nourishing creams based on hyaluronic acid.
Choose products rich in fatty acids if your skin is also dry.
Gentle cleanser
Choose a gentle cleanser to preserve your skin's protective barrier. A cleanser that's too abrasive can strip your skin of its natural oils, making it more fragile, dry, and prone to flaking. Choose a pH-neutral, alcohol- and fragrance-free product that cleanses your skin without stripping it.
Gentle exfoliation
Exfoliation helps remove dead skin cells, but be careful not to over-strike your skin! Opt for gentle exfoliants that gently stimulate cell renewal.
Enzymatic exfoliants are particularly recommended, as they dissolve dead skin cells without rubbing, preventing further irritation. One to two exfoliations per week are sufficient to aid skin regeneration and prevent scale buildup.
Sun protection
Sun protection is essential, even when your skin doesn't appear to be directly exposed to the sun. Use a non-comedogenic sunscreen every day to prevent sunburn, which is often the cause of peeling. Prevention is better than peeling!
Softness, softness and softness
It may be tempting to get rid of flakes by scratching or rubbing them vigorously. But this only further irritates the skin and can lead to micro-injuries, which will prolong the flaking cycle. Be gentle with your skin every day. To dry your skin, for example, pat instead of rubbing.
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Whatever your skin type or skin concerns, always choose gentle formulas and gestures that respect your skin's natural balance. |
Excessive skin flaking can be annoying, but it's usually a temporary problem. By adopting a proper skincare routine and taking care of your skin both inside and out, you can get rid of those little flakes of skin in no time. ✨
