I used to think exfoliating was the golden ticket to glowing skin. Everyone online said it—the influencers, the beauty bloggers, even that friend who always looks flawless.
“Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate!”
So naturally, when my dermatologist told me to stop exfoliating entirely, I felt confused, frustrated, and honestly a little betrayed.
How could her skin look like glass—smooth, radiant, and perfect—while mine was stuck in a cycle of redness, dryness, and breakouts?
The Exfoliation Paradox: Why Mixed Advice Is So Confusing
Scroll through Instagram, and you’ll see everyone worshipping chemical peels, scrubs, acids, and all kinds of slough-off-your-dead-skin magic. But then here I was, hearing the exact opposite from an expert.
What gives?
The truth is, not all skin is the same, and not all exfoliation is created equal.
My Dermatologist’s “No Exfoliant” Rule: The Why Behind It
After some digging—and a lot of patient listening—I realized:
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My skin barrier was damaged.
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Over-exfoliating was making my skin more reactive.
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Sometimes, less is actually more.
Instead of stripping away layers of skin, my dermatologist focused on healing my skin’s foundation first.
How Her Skin Can Look Like Glass (And Why It Doesn’t Work for Everyone)
Her routine? Customized, gentle, and probably years in the making. She’s likely got a perfectly balanced skin barrier and knows exactly when and how to exfoliate without tipping into irritation.
But if your skin is sensitive, inflamed, or compromised, exfoliation isn’t your friend—it’s your enemy.
What I Did Instead: The Healing Approach
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I paused all acids and scrubs.
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Switched to ultra-gentle cleansers and moisturizers.
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Introduced barrier-repair products.
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Learned to listen to my skin’s subtle signals.
It felt weird at first, like I was doing nothing. But over time? My skin stopped screaming and started whispering back with calmness and clarity.
The Big Takeaway: Trust Your Skin More Than the Hype
That flawless “glass skin” look is tempting, but chasing it with every trendy exfoliant won’t work for everyone—and it might make things worse.
Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is stop exfoliating and start repairing.
Final Thought: Your Skin’s Journey Is Yours Alone
Her skincare looks amazing, yes. But your skin’s needs are unique—and that’s okay.
If your derm says “no exfoliants,” don’t panic.
It might just be the secret your skin needed all along.
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