Over-cleansing can damage the skin's natural protective layer, causing dryness, sensitivity and even accelerated aging. Many people think that the more cleansing, the better, but the damage of excessive cleansing to the skin cannot be underestimated. This article will explain the effects of over-cleansing in simple terms and provide proper cleansing tips to help you achieve healthy, beautiful skin. I’ll share my clinical experience and provide some practical skincare tips so you understand the importance of proper cleansing.
Over-cleansing can damage the skin's natural protective layer, causing dryness, sensitivity and even accelerated aging. Many people think that the more cleansing, the better, but the damage of excessive cleansing to the skin cannot be underestimated. This article will explain the effects of over-cleansing in simple terms and provide proper cleansing tips to help you achieve healthy, beautiful skin. I’ll share my clinical experience and provide some practical skincare tips so you understand the importance of proper cleansing. The practical advice from this article is as follows (read on for more details)
Here are some suggestions on how to prevent excessive cleansing from damaging your skin:
- Choose the right cleansing products for different skin types: Don’t blindly pursue products with strong cleansing power. Choose mild, low-irritation cleansing products according to your skin type. For example, dry skin should choose moisturizing cleansing products, while oily skin can choose refreshing cleansing products. You can read product labels carefully, avoid cleaning products containing soap, alcohol or fragrances, and choose cleaning products containing moisturizing ingredients such as ceramide, hyaluronic acid, etc.
- Adjust your cleansing frequency: Unless there are special circumstances, such as after exercise or when your skin is overly oily, cleansing once a day is sufficient. If your skin is sensitive or dry, it is recommended that you cleanse 2-3 times a week.
- Avoid excessive friction: When cleansing, massage gently with your fingertips and do not rub excessively. Especially in dry seasons, it is important to cleanse gently to avoid excessive friction that may cause skin damage.
You can refer to the essentials for oily skin: Recommended oil-control sunscreen products to get rid of oily skin
Over-cleansing: depriving the skin of its natural defenses
When we take good care of our face, cleansing is an essential part. However, the purpose of cleansing is to remove dirt and oil, not to completely "clean" the skin. Excessive cleansing is like depriving the skin of its natural defenses and will cause more negative effects. We are born with a protective layer called "sebum film", which is like the skin's natural armor to resist external aggression.
The sebum membrane is composed of oil, sweat and the stratum corneum, forming a thin acidic protective layer that can:
- Locks in moisture: Prevents moisture loss and keeps skin hydrated and radiant.
- Resist bacteria: inhibit the invasion of bacteria and harmful substances to avoid infection.
- Repair damage: Promote skin's self-repair and maintain a healthy state.
However, excessive cleansing can disrupt the balance of the sebum film and cause the following damage:
- Damage to the sebum membrane: Excessive cleansing will wash away the oil and moisture on the sebum membrane, causing damage to the sebum membrane.
- Reduce acid protection: The acidic environment of the sebum film can inhibit bacterial growth. Excessive cleaning will lead to a decrease in acidity, making it easier for bacteria to grow.
- Increased sensitivity: Without the protection of the sebum film, the skin becomes fragile and sensitive, prone to irritation and infection.
When the sebum film is damaged, the skin is like losing a layer of protection, making it more vulnerable to damage from the external environment, such as ultraviolet rays, air pollution, etc., which can lead to skin dryness, inflammation, sensitivity, accelerated aging and other problems. Therefore, we need to look at cleansing more rationally, avoid over-cleansing, and allow the skin to maintain its natural protective power in order to have a healthy and beautiful face.
The bad consequences of over-cleansing: dryness and sensitivity
Excessive cleansing not only deprives the skin of its natural defenses, but also brings a series of negative effects, the most common of which are dryness and sensitivity. Imagine that your skin is like a fragile castle, and the sebum membrane is like a solid wall, resisting external invasion and maintaining the moisture balance of the skin. When you over-cleans, it's like using a strong tool to tear down the wall, leaving the skin without a barrier and exposing it to dry air and environmental irritants.
Dryness caused by over-cleaning
- Damaged sebum film: Excessive cleansing will damage the sebum film, causing moisture to evaporate quickly, making the skin feel dry and tight.
- Increased water loss: Dry skin is more susceptible to external irritation, leading to more severe water loss, forming a vicious cycle.
- Thinning of the stratum corneum: Long-term excessive cleansing will make the stratum corneum weak, unable to effectively lock in moisture, aggravating the dryness problem.
Excessive cleaning leads to sensitivity
- Irritating ingredients: Some cleaning products contain irritating ingredients, such as soap, alcohol, fragrances, etc. Excessive use will aggravate sensitivity.
- Weakened barrier function: When the sebum membrane is damaged, the skin's defense ability decreases and it is more susceptible to external stimuli, such as pollen, dust mites, chemicals, etc., leading to sensitivity.
- Inflammatory response: Excessive cleansing can stimulate the skin's inflammatory response, causing sensitive symptoms such as redness, burning, and stinging.
Therefore, in order to avoid dryness and sensitivity caused by excessive cleansing, choosing mild cleansing products, moderate cleansing, and using moisturizing products are the correct ways to care for your skin.
The Vicious Cycle of Over-cleaning: Increasing Inflammation and Accelerating Aging
Excessive cleansing will not only cause dry and sensitive skin, but also form a vicious cycle, aggravate inflammation and accelerate skin aging. When the sebum film is damaged, the barrier function that originally protects the skin is weakened, making the skin more susceptible to external stimuli, such as pollutants in the air, ultraviolet rays, etc.
Increased inflammatory response
These stimuli will further trigger an inflammatory response in the skin, manifested as redness, burning, itching, etc. Excessive cleansing will further irritate sensitive skin, causing more severe inflammation, forming a vicious cycle.
For example, when the skin is exposed to the sun, it is already in an inflamed state. If you over-clean at this time, it will further damage the sebum film, leading to aggravated inflammatory reactions and even causing sunburn, pigmentation and other problems.
Accelerate skin aging
Excessive cleansing can also accelerate skin aging. The sebum film is an important moisturizing barrier that can lock in moisture and maintain skin elasticity. When the sebum film is damaged and moisture is lost, the skin becomes dry, rough, and more prone to fine lines and wrinkles.
At the same time, the inflammatory response will stimulate the breakdown of collagen, further reducing skin elasticity and accelerating aging. Therefore, excessive cleansing will not only cause short-term skin problems, but also affect the long-term health of the skin and accelerate aging.
In order to avoid the vicious cycle caused by excessive cleansing, it is recommended that you choose mild cleansing products and clean appropriately to reduce irritation to the skin. At the same time, you need to do a good job of moisturizing, repairing the sebum film, and maintaining the skin's health.
| question | describe | Influence |
|---|---|---|
| Excessive cleaning | It destroys the sebum membrane, reduces the skin barrier function, and makes the skin more susceptible to external stimuli. | Aggravates inflammation and accelerates skin aging. |
| Increased inflammatory response | External stimuli trigger an inflammatory response, and excessive cleansing further irritates sensitive skin, creating a vicious cycle. | Redness, burning, itching, even sunburn and pigmentation. |
| Accelerate skin aging | The sebum membrane is damaged, moisture is lost, and the skin becomes dry and rough; the inflammatory response stimulates the decomposition of collagen and reduces skin elasticity. | Creates fine lines and wrinkles and accelerates aging. |
The cost of over-cleaning: damaged skin barrier
In addition to dryness, sensitivity and accelerated aging, excessive cleansing can also cause serious damage to the skin barrier, which is an invisible injury that may lead to more serious skin problems.
The importance of the skin barrier
The skin barrier is the first line of defense of our skin. It is composed of the stratum corneum, sebum membrane and microorganisms, forming a protective barrier to prevent the invasion of external stimuli and infection. It acts like a solid wall, protecting against harmful substances such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, UV rays, pollution, etc., while also preventing moisture loss and maintaining a healthy balance for the skin.
How Over-cleansing Damages the Skin Barrier
Over-cleaning can damage this important barrier, causing problems such as:
- Destruction of the sebum film: The sebum film is composed of oil secreted by the sebaceous glands and sweat. It can lock in moisture, moisturize the skin, and resist external stimuli. Over-cleansing will remove too much oil, causing damage to the sebum film, making the skin dry, sensitive, and more susceptible to external irritation.
- Damage to the stratum corneum: The stratum corneum is the outermost layer of the skin. It is composed of dead keratinocytes and protects us from external stimuli. Excessive cleansing can cause excessive exfoliation of the stratum corneum, leading to damage to the skin barrier function and making the skin more susceptible to infection and irritation.
- Microbial imbalance: There are many microorganisms on the skin, which form a healthy ecosystem and protect our skin from invasion of harmful bacteria. Excessive cleansing can disrupt this balance, making it easier for harmful bacteria to invade and cause various skin problems.
Consequences of a damaged skin barrier
A damaged skin barrier can lead to the following consequences:
- More susceptible to irritation and infection: Once the skin barrier is damaged, external stimuli can invade more easily, causing symptoms such as sensitivity, redness, burning, itching, and even skin infection.
- More prone to dryness and peeling: Damage to the sebum membrane can lead to moisture loss, making the skin dry, rough and peeling.
- More prone to skin diseases: A damaged skin barrier makes the skin more susceptible to external stimuli, leading to various skin problems such as eczema, rosacea, psoriasis, etc.
- Accelerated aging: A damaged skin barrier makes the skin more vulnerable to environmental damage such as UV rays and pollution, accelerating skin aging and making wrinkles and fine lines more likely to appear.
Therefore, we must avoid over-cleaning, choose mild cleansing products, and follow healthy skin care habits to protect the skin barrier in order to have healthy and beautiful skin.
Conclusion on the harm of excessive cleansing to the skin
Excessive cleansing can cause more damage to the skin than you can imagine. It can damage the natural protective layer of the skin, leading to dryness, sensitivity, inflammation, and even accelerated aging. The purpose of cleaning should be to remove dirt, not to over-clean. The correct way to care for your skin is to choose a mild cleansing product that suits your skin type, cleanse moderately, and use moisturizing products.
Remember, healthy skin takes time and patience, so don't rush for quick results. Choose a cleansing method that works for you and stick to good skin care habits, and you'll be sure to have healthy, beautiful skin.
Frequently Asked Questions Quick FAQ
1. How many times a day should you wash your face to be considered over-cleansing?
Generally speaking, washing your face once or twice a day is sufficient. Unless you play sports or have oily skin, you need to wash your face more often. Over-cleansing can strip your skin of its natural protective layer, leading to problems like dryness and sensitivity.
2. How do you tell if you’re over-cleaning?
If your skin often feels dry, tight, flaky, or even sensitive, red, or has other problems, it may be a sign of over-cleansing. Additionally, if your skin is easily irritated, such as after using makeup, over-cleansing may be the cause.
3. Besides washing your face, what other cleansing behaviors might be excessive?
In addition to washing your face, over-cleansing can also include using harsh cleansers, over-exfoliating, frequent use of scrubs, and using cleansing products that contain alcohol or fragrances. These behaviors will cause damage to the skin. It is recommended to choose mild cleansing products and clean moderately to avoid over-cleansing.