Three Places Where You Should Exfoliate (And Probably Aren’t!)

As any reader of the ViaBuff blog knows, exfoliation is essential to maintaining beautiful and healthy skin. While we predominantly focus on exfoliating the face and body, did you know that there are other parts of the body that most of us neglect to exfoliate? We wanted to dedicate today’s post to discussing those parts of the body which need some extra attention in your exfoliating routine.

Your Scalp

shampoo

When you think about it, your scalp and hair go through a lot of abuse – they are bathed in hair dyes, gels, and sprays; combed, pulled, and twisted into unnatural shapes and styles; and are seldom given proper protection from the elements. All of this unintentional abuse can lead to significant buildup of dead skin cells and may sometimes lead to a condition known as folliculitis, a type of inflammation that somewhat resembles acne. To exfoliate the scalp, make sure to massage your scalp with your fingers while shampooing, and consider using a salicylic acid or glycolic acid-containing shampoo a few times per month (more than once a week may damage your hair and scalp). By exfoliating your scalp you are encouraging regular cell turnover as well as healthy hair growth (New BeautyTotal Beauty).

Your Feet

Feet are often stinky, hairy, and generally nothing much to look at – but you still need to exfoliate them regularly if you want to make your feet appear healthy and well-maintained (especially during sandal season!). For feet which suffer from a significant buildup of dead skin cells, a combination of physical and chemical exfoliants are usually the best treatment, especially when followed up by a deeply-penetrating moisturizing serum (Dr. Cynthia Bailey SkincarePopsugar). We suggest pairing your favorite exfoliating serum with one of the ViaBuff Exfoliating Buffs, which were designed to meet the needs of 10 different skin types, are dermatologist-tested and cruelty-free, and last three times longer than your standard exfoliating puff.

Your Armpits

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Like the feet, your armpits are an often-ignored part of the body, especially when it comes to exfoliation – when is the last time that you remember doing more than shaving your armpits and rolling on some deodorant? But armpits are made of skin just like the rest of the body, and need regular exfoliation in order to loosen dead skin cells that may clog pores. Additionally, certain keratolytic alpha hydroxy acids (like glycolic acid) may assist in lightening hyperpigmented underarms. However, be careful when using keratolytic ingredients on hyperpigmented armpits; aggressive chemical and physical exfoliation may induce uneven hyperpigmentation. To minimize the risk of adverse effects, Dr. Neal Schultz recommends using the smallest concentration of the keratolytic ingredient available and testing it on a small patch of skin before using it elsewhere on the body (Dr. Cynthia Bailey SkincareDr. Neal Schultz for DermTV.com). If you notice chronic or worsening hyperpigmentation in the underarms, make sure to visit your dermatologist as soon as possible, as this may be indicative of an underlying condition such as bacterial infection, insulin resistance, or hormonal imbalance (Everyday Health).

Bottom Line

There are few parts of the body where you should not exfoliate, yet there are many that we unknowingly neglect to exfoliate. Your armpits, feet, and scalp are often in need of regular exfoliation, just like your face and body. For exfoliation on the scalp, it is suggested that you try using a salicylic acid or glycolic-acid containing shampoo, whereas we suggest using one of the ViaBuff Exfoliating Buffs for use on the feet and armpits. If you have any more questions or would like to know more about our buffs, feel free to send us an email – we love receiving reader inquiries!

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