Does Exfoliating Help Blemishes?

Masks and other exfoliants can help control acne blemishes.
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Acne blemishes are caused by clogged pores. Pores become clogged when the skin produces too much oil and when dead skin cells do not slough away quickly enough. Both of these problems are common in young skin, which produces large amounts of oil and renews itself by replacing skin cells quickly. Exfoliate your skin once a week as part of your skin-care routine to improve your complexion and reduce the appearance of blemishes.

1 Mask vs. Scrub

Exfoliate your skin with a mask or a scrub. Spread a beauty mask over your face to absorb excess oil and strip away old skin cells. Facial scrubs, on the other hand, wash away oil and contain small beads or granules that rub dead skin cells away. Both work well, but stick to a mask when you have pimples. The granules in facial scrubs can tear open the inflamed skin of a pimple, spreading its contents and creating more pimples.

2 How to Exfoliate

To exfoliate with a mask, smooth a thin layer of the mask over your face and leave it in place as long as the directions tell you to before rinsing it away. To use an exfoliating cleanser with beads or granules, wet your skin and apply a thin layer of the scrub using a gentle, circular motion. Rinse your face and pat it dry after using a mask or a scrub. If your skin is red when you are done exfoliating with a scrub, you may be applying too much pressure. Be a bit gentler the next time you exfoliate.

Writing professionally since 2008, Michelle Miley specializes in home and garden topics but frequently pens career, style and marketing pieces. Her essays have been used on college entrance exams and she has more than 4,000 publishing credits. She holds an Associate of Applied Science in accounting, having graduated summa cum laude.

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