Using sugar as a scrub. Good or bad idea?

Exfoliation aids inaccelerating cellular renewal by removing dead cells from the skin's surface. It helps torefine the skin's texture and to combat dull complexion. Certain exfoliants assist indiminishing imperfections and in delaying the onset of ageing signs.

There are three types of exfoliations:

• Mechanical Exfoliation : This involves using an abrasive material such as sugar to remove dead cells from the skin's surface through circular movements.

• Chemical Exfoliation : Through the use of hydroxy acids (A.H.A., B.H.A., P.H.A.), chemical exfoliation dissolves the lipid cement between cells, thus promoting their detachment.

• Enzymatic Exfoliation : this process removes damaged skin proteins through the use of fruit-derived enzymes such as bromelain from pineapple.

As previously mentioned, exfoliation with sugar is a type of mechanical exfoliation that involves creating friction on the skin using circular movements. It is generally very popular because it is inexpensive. However, it does have some drawbacks.

Firstly, this method acts solely on the superficial layers of the skin unlike chemical exfoliation which works more deeply within the epidermis. For instance, glycolic acid, which is an A.H.A. besides exfoliating the skin, reduces pigmentation spots, restores firmness and hydration to the skin and diminishes wrinkles and fine lines.

Furthermore, sugar exfoliation can prove to be harsh on the skin due to the irregular edges of sugar crystals. It can be the cause of micro-damage to the skin leading to inflammation and redness.

Therefore, chemical and enzymatic exfoliation should be favoured over physical exfoliation. Moreover, due to their harshness, sugar-based scrubs are not recommended for acne-prone and sensitive skin.