We all want smooth skin, but many of us are stuck wondering what the best way to exfoliate is.
One concern about exfoliation has always been whether or not it’s good to use a washcloth to scrub your skin when you are in the shower or bath.
You might wonder if using a washcloth will cause damage to your skin or lead to other problems.
We posed the question “can you exfoliate with a washcloth” to skin care expert and dermatologist Ally Wheeler to get her take on the matter.
Can you exfoliate with a washcloth?
You can exfoliate with a washcloth.
Washcloths are a great way to remove dead skin cells from your face and body.
Dermatologist Ally Wheeler says, “washcloths are excellent; the only caveat is that you don’t want to scrub too hard. The best way to use them is to lather up the washcloth with soap or a cleanser, and then gently scrub your skin in circular motions.”
She also adds, “By exfoliating your skin, you are removing the dead, dulling cells that are on the surface of your skin. This will allow new cells to come through and make your skin look healthier.”
Dermatologist Wheeler says, “I always recommend doing it in the shower or bath when you have a little more time to let the water and steam open up your pores and give you a deeper cleanse.”
Is exfoliating with a washcloth bad?
Exfoliating with a washcloth is not bad.
The only time exfoliating with a washcloth could become problematic is if you were to use it too roughly, scrub your skin with too much pressure, or exfoliate too often.
“If you are scrubbing too hard, you’re tearing your skin up. If you are exfoliating too often, you are going to irritate your skin and cause redness,” says Ally.
How do you exfoliate with a washcloth?
1. Lather the washcloth up with a cleanser.
The first step to exfoliating with a washcloth is to lather the cloth up.
You can do this by wetting the cloth and then running a cleanser or soap over the washcloth.
It’s best that you avoid using hot water, as this can be too harsh on your skin, and choose instead to use lukewarm water.
Dermatologist Ally Wheeler says, “It’s actually really important that you don’t use hot water because it can be too drying for your skin (especially in the winter).”
Ally also adds, “Using lukewarm water is important because it helps open your pores, meaning the heat of the water won’t cause any damage to your skin, but it still gets your pores open to allow you to clean them thoroughly.”
2. Gently scrub your skin in circular motions to remove dead skin cells.
The next step is to gently scrub your skin using circular motions.
Don’t scrub too hard, as this can cause damage to the outer layers of your skin and cause redness.
Dermatologist Wheeler says, “the reason we recommend using circular motions is that it helps get rid of the dead skin cells that are on your skin without tearing into the top layers of your skin.”
In addition to gently scrubbing your skin, you should also pay attention to the areas that need to be exfoliated more.
Dermatologist Wheeler says, “the places that get dry and dull are usually your elbows, ankles, knees, and the tops of your feet, so just focus on gently scrubbing those areas a little bit more.”
3. Rinse your skin and gently pat your skin dry.
Once you are finished scrubbing your skin, rinse your skin and then gently pat your skin dry.
It’s essential to get all of the soap or cleanser off your skin before leaving the shower or bath.
If you leave some on your face, this can irritate your skin, make it dry, and cause it to be more prone to breakouts.
Your skin is the most delicate after exfoliating, so it is important to ensure that you are careful when patting your skin dry.
Dermatologist Wheeler says, “I would recommend using a soft cotton towel or even a soft t-shirt to pat your face dry. If you use a towel that has too much texture, or if it’s too rough, you’re going to irritate your skin.”
4. Finish up with a moisturizer to help keep your skin hydrated.
Once your skin is dry, you should go ahead and moisturize it with a gentle moisturizer.
Ally says, “moisturizing after you exfoliate is essential because you’re removing the dulling cells on your skin, but you’re also removing some of your natural oils, and the moisturizer can help get your skin back to being hydrated.”
How often should you exfoliate with a washcloth?
You should exfoliate once or twice a week.
If you exfoliate any more than that, you will run the risk of over-drying your skin and stripping it of its natural oils.
If you don’t exfoliate regularly, your skin will produce cells more slowly, which can cause it to appear dull and dry.
Dermatologist Wheeler adds, “Exfoliation is a good preventive measure against dry skin and flaky skin, especially in the winter when your skin isn’t as hydrated.”
Final thoughts
Exfoliation is a great way to keep your skin looking healthy and radiant.
If you’re going to use a washcloth, make sure you scrub gently in circular motions with warm water.
Be sure to moisturize after exfoliating with a gentle moisturizer, and don’t exfoliate any more than 2 times a week.
We hope that by following the tips provided here, it will be easier for you to walk away with healthier-looking skin!
