How Cell Turnover Works
The skin naturally sheds dead skin cells through a process calleddesquamation.
This desquamation process happens over the entire body.
Where do the old skin cells go once they have been sloughed away?
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They settle on your furniture, in the form of dust.
Yes, that’s right.
Most of the dust in your home is not dirt but, rather, dead skin cells.
Our cell turnover rate (also called the cell renewal factor) changes throughout our life.
Babies and young children have a faster cell turnover rate because they’re growing quickly.
They always have new skin cells on the surface.
As we age, our cell turnover rate slows down.
That’s why our skin never looks quite as “bright” as it did when we were younger.
Cell turnover isn’t as efficient in people with acne.
In those with acne, the natural desquamation process goes awry.
Acne-prone skin produces more dead skin cells than is typical, and these cells aren’t properly shed.
This condition, calledretention hyperkeratosis, is the reason regular exfoliation is so important for acne-prone skin types.
In normal functioning skin, excess dead skin cells are constantly being sloughed away naturally.
This plug of cellular debris and excess oil forms a blackhead or, if bacteria invade, aninflamed blemish.
There are many acne medications that can help speed up cell turnover.
The most effective products you might get over the counter are alpha hydroxy acids, specificallyglycolic acid.
For even more robust exfoliation, nothing can beattopical retinoids.
These are prescription-only treatments that are very effective at clearing up mild to moderately severe acne breakouts.
As an added bonus, they are good anti-agers too.
Need help treating your acne?
Give your dermatologist a call.
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