Does Exfoliating Help Blemishes?

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.

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.

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.