Dead Skin: Causes and Care Routine

Skin cell death is inevitable and a natural process that our body takes on continually throughout an individual's life. The old mutated cells die while the new ones spruce up, ready to take on the day. But what happens when there is a shift in this dynamic, which slows down the shedding of the old that was supposed to make way for the new? Well, the simple answer is you get “buildup”.

This circumstance of dead skin cells accumulated at the surface of your skin can trigger a cascade of inflammation, resulting in skin conditions much like acne. Hence, it is essential to know how to remove dead skin from the face if you aspire to flaunt smooth, even-textured skin daily. Allow us to illustrate the subject in the article below.

Keynotes:

• Dead skin cells are a natural part of the skin's renewal process; however, when this slows down, it can lead to a buildup on the surface of the skin.
• An accumulation of dead skin cells can trigger inflammation, leading to problems like acne, and can make skin appear dull, flaky, and uneven in texture.
• Two ways to get rid of dead skin on the face include physical exfoliation and chemical exfoliation.
• Build a gentle yet effective skincare routine to protect the skin and support its natural shedding process.

Dead skin is often medically called corneocytes, denoting them as flat, differentiated cells lying on the top of your epidermis. As your skin constantly renews itself, the newer cells travel upwards, crossing different layers of the skin to reach the outermost layer.

During this, they lose the desmosomes, the bond that holds each cell together to form a strong skin barrier. In this process, named epidermal desquamation, the older cells or keratinocytes, already situated at the top, gradually give away, allowing corneocytes to separate and eventually shed off of your skin.

This mechanism of cell turnover happens automatically and may not require friction or external force primarily. However, disruption in the intercellular lipid, due to both internal and external factors, can lead to an excess deposit of dead skin cells on your skin. Such a predicament can leave your skin dry, scaly and rough, compromising your skin barrier function.

Factors like ageing, genetic predisposition, inadequate exfoliation, long-term sun exposure, erratic weather and skin conditions, much like psoriasis and eczema, can influence the homeostasis of your skin. A consistent desquamation rate allows your body to eliminate tissues and cells that have sustained damage from these impurities, thereby boosting wound healing, DNA repair and adequate function of your skin barrier.

While cell death may seem drastic in theory, a healthy shedding via apoptosis (organized cellular destruction) can act as a protective mechanism for the skin. Your body daily battles countless assailants, both external and internal, in terms of bacteria, pollutants and irritants. These are bound to settle onto the skin, compromising its health and function.

It is important to get rid of dead skin cells on the face and other parts of the body, as a lack of it can pose several cosmetic and functional issues. Essentially, a buildup of bacteria, hyperkeratinization and chemical disruptions can turn the skin dull, lackluster, flaky and uneven in texture. Moreover, buildup and insufficient exfoliation can also lead to comedonal formation, often called as acne.

When searching for how to remove dead skin cells from the face and other parts of the body, an individual is first recommended to exfoliate their skin optimally. Let’s learn more about skin exfoliation methods below:

Physical vs Chemical Exfoliation

1. Physical exfoliation

   This is a technique that adopts mechanical tools to get rid of dead skin cells on the surface of the skin, body, or face through direct contact by leveraging friction. These tools may consist of washcloths, scrubs, soft-bristled brushes or body loofahs. By design, these are abrasive; hence, they are only advised to be used in gentle, circular motions to avoid micro-tears and irritation.

2. Chemical exfoliation

   On the other hand, chemical exfoliation effectively targets the bonds between the cells, desmosomes, to proactively cause shedding without mechanical friction.
   
   Common chemical exfoliators, which you may easily find on the market, include alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) such as glycolic acid and lactic acid, as well as beta hydroxy acid (BHA) like salicylic acid. The former are water-soluble, working on the surface of the skin, while the latter is an oil-soluble acid, penetrating deeper into the epidermis to unclog pores.
   
   As compared to physical ones, chemical exfoliants can give you consistent and uniform results, provided they are used in set quantities to prevent skin inflammation risks.

Natural Remedies for Dead Skin Removal

For individuals who prefer a more DIY approach to body dead skin cell removal, home remedies like scrubs can be a great alternative.

These homemade masks may consist of one agent, such as finely ground sugar, coffee or oatmeal. You may mix this with a soothing agent, such as honey or coconut oil, with a few sprinkles of diluted essential oil. Thereafter, create a mix that moisturizes the skin and minimally exfoliates it to protect the barrier from excessive irritation.

That said, it is best to consult with your dermatologist before applying any ingredient to your face and body to prevent allergic or sensitization reactions.

To prevent buildup and eliminate dead skin cells from your face, you need gentle exfoliating skincare products that suit your skin type without irritating it. Let’s explore how an ideal skincare routine should look to get rid of dead skin cells from the face:

Ideal Skincare Routine

Step 1: Cleanser

Wet your skin with water before taking a coin-sized amount of lactic acid-based cleanser like the DermoPurifyer Cleansing Gel. Massage the product into your skin, allowing it to sit for a few seconds before you wash it off.

Step 2: Toner

Pat dry your face with a clean towel and apply our pH-balanced DermoPurifyer Toner onto your skin. Since typically toners are water-based, tap the product slowly into the skin to ensure none of it gets wasted.

Step 3: Serum

Next, apply a serum with concentrated ingredients, like Hyaluron-Filler Moisture Booster, to soothe and repair your skin.

Step 4: Moisturizer

Moisturizer is as important to skincare as water is to your health. It hydrates your skin and boosts its barrier function to fortify your skin health.

Step 5: Sunscreen

Finally, finish your skincare regimen with a high-performing broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 50+ to prevent UV-induced oxidative stress.

Managing your skin optimally amongst the sea of options and advice available to us can seem like a daunting task. It is essential to follow a simple yet structured routine consistently to ensure healthy removal of dead skin cells and buildup so that your skincare is granted the support it needs to boost a radiant and youthful glow.

1. What causes dead skin on the face to build up?

   There are several factors that can cause dead skin cell buildup on one’s face. Since it is a multifactorial process, some of these may coincide with each other, namely, aging, sun exposure, weather conditions, skin disorders, and lack of skin care routine.

2. How to remove dead skin cells from the face?

   The best ways to get rid of dead skin cells on the face are by chemical exfoliation with BHA (salicylic acid), AHA (glycolic or lactic acid), or even OTC retinoids like retinols or retinals.

3. What’s the best routine to get rid of dead skin?

   Your routine on how to remove skin from the face should include an exfoliating cleanser, a topical toner, a serum with active ingredients, a rich moisturizer and effective sun protection. This is all you need to support the natural shedding process of dead skin cells from your face.

• aad.org - How to safely exfoliate at home
• Skincancercentres - What causes dead skin cell build-up and how can you treat it?
• Health.harvard - Have you exfoliated lately?
• Researchgate - Epidermal desquamation. J Dermatol Sci
• Pmc.ncbi - Cell death in skin function, inflammation, and disease