Is Exfoliation Safe for Dry Skin? Here's What a Doctor Recommends

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Exfoliation is often part of a body care routine to remove dead skin cells and make the skin feel smoother. However, is exfoliation safe for people with dry skin, or does it risk worsening the condition?

Answering this question, dermatologist Dr. Amanda Nandi Wardani, BMedSc(Hons), Sp.D.V.E., explained that exfoliation is essentially related to the process of exfoliation.

Therefore, it is important for people with dry skin to understand the correct method and frequency so that the benefits of exfoliation can be felt without causing side effects.

“Actually, a scrub is also a form of exfoliation, but it is done physically,” said Dr. Amanda when met in South Jakarta, some time ago.

Physical exfoliation that is done too often can make dry skin lose even more of its natural moisture.

“It can be done for dry skin, but the recommendation is to do physical exfoliation no more than once a week,” she explained.

She emphasised that exfoliation that is done too often risks eroding the skin’s protective layer.

In dry skin, this layer tends to be more fragile than other skin types, so it needs gentler and more controlled treatment.

Dr. Amanda stressed that exfoliation should only be done when the skin barrier is in good condition and not currently problematic.

“Also, make sure the skin barrier is good. If the skin barrier is weak or problematic, and then you exfoliate or do physical exfoliation, it will cause irritation,” said Dr. Amanda.

She explained that signs of a damaged skin barrier can include skin that feels sore, red, easily itchy, or becomes even drier after showering. If these conditions appear, exfoliation can actually worsen the condition and trigger further irritation.

“If people with dry skin are unsure about exfoliating, I suggest choosing products that have been clinically tested and contain gentle exfoliators, so they are safe to use daily,” she said.