Dead skin cells. ONE of the causes of ingrown hairs.
Dead skin cells: you often hear they’re one of the causes of ingrown hairs.
But what exactly are dead skin cells? Where do they come from? Where do they go?
And more importantly: what are you supposed to do about them?
What are dead skin cells?
Dead skin cells are, surprise surprise, skin cells that are no longer alive. They form the outer layer of your skin.
They offer protection, so they aren’t bad in themselves. However, if there’s a build-up of dead skin cells, your skin will look dull and uneven. The opposite of what you want, of course.
Moreover, a build-up of dead skin cells causes your pore openings to become clogged.
This increases the chance of ingrown hairs because it makes it harder for your hairs to find their way out without any issues.
Instead, they get trapped under the skin’s surface and continue to grow beneath your skin. The result is a bunch of painful and itching ingrown hairs.
Where do those dead skin cells come from? And where do they go?
Your skin is your largest organ. It literally functions like a well-oiled machine. Your sebaceous glands produce new skin cells throughout your life and say goodbye to the old ones.
To do this, these sebaceous glands produce natural hydrating oils that keep this masterpiece of renewal running smoothly.
Skin cells, also called keratinocytes, consist of a protein mix. We call this protein mix keratin, and it’s produced in the epidermis.
During a skin cell’s life cycle, it travels from the epidermis to the outer skin layer and then to the surface. Here, it will eventually die and shed.
It takes a skin cell about one month to go through this entire process, from creation to shedding. And every hour, about 40,000 dead skin cells are shed.
While those dead skin cells are constantly being broken down and eventually fall off, a new, sparkling skin waits impatiently underneath to emerge.
Okay, that sounds logical, but why don’t your dead skin cells just fall off your skin immediately? Why do they stay there even though you take a daily shower and your clothes rub against your skin?
Here’s the answer:
1. Father Time
That ongoing monthly process of creation and shedding works best when we’re young. As we get older, this process slows down.
The sebaceous glands produce less natural oil, and the path from clearing away dead skin cells to revealing healthy, glowing skin becomes longer.
The result: drier skin and, you guessed it: a build-up of dead skin cells. But before you blame Father Time, it’s good to know he’s not solely responsible. There are other reasons too.
2. Insufficient or incorrect cleansing of your skin
Do you sometimes forget to dutifully clean your skin in the evening? If so, your dead skin cells might stick around longer than intended.
Since your skin is constantly creating new cells and shedding old ones, a blockage caused by excessive makeup, body lotion, or other skincare products can slow down or even block this natural process.
Compare it to a traffic jam on the highway: too many cars on the road slow down the flow and can even bring traffic to a complete standstill. And nobody likes that, right?
3. Not exfoliating, or doing it too little or too often
Exfoliating helps to nip ingrown hairs in the bud.
When you exfoliate, you remove the dead skin cells on the surface which, as mentioned before, can clog the pore opening.
With a thorough full-body exfoliation, you stimulate cell renewal and give your body a helping hand in the natural process from creation to shedding.
Just like daily cleansing (preferably twice a day), regular exfoliation is an important part of your beauty routine.
Especially as you get older and the natural shedding of dead skin cells decreases. But unlike cleansing your skin, exfoliation doesn’t need to happen daily.
In fact, exfoliating too often can even contribute to the development of ingrown hairs.
When you exfoliate too often, your skin renews itself faster. The more new skin, the more dead skin cells, and the greater the chance that the hair shaft becomes blocked.
Therefore, limit exfoliation to two, at most three times a week.
Also, make sure to protect your skin well with an SPF.
Your new skin, having just been cleared of dead skin cells, is more sensitive to sunlight and therefore more vulnerable to sunburn. Even in winter!
Watch out! The skin on your face is much thinner. Therefore, be extra careful with your face.
Exfoliate your face less often than the rest of your body and use a special, gentle scrub or exfoliant (yes, there is a difference).
For the rest of your body, a gentle scrub, like our YIONN Kjarr, is also better than one with coarse grains.
4. Not nourishing your skin, or not doing it enough
Exfoliating and cleansing your skin is essential to reduce the build-up of dead skin cells, but this alone is not enough.
After every cleansing and exfoliation, you need to hydrate well. Do you skip this nourishment? Then your skin will dry out unnecessarily. Dry skin is more prone to dead skin cells because it forms a kind of blockage on your skin.
As a result, the dead skin cells underneath that are ready to be shed can’t get out.
Always choose a nourishing cream tailored to your skin type. This will help your skin perform its best and keep all these processes running smoothly.
5. Change of season
Another common cause of dead skin cell build-up is your environment. If the air around you is dry, your skin becomes drier too.
In winter, for example, humidity is lower because the heating is on. This might sound great for your hair (less frizz), but it’s disastrous for your skin.
It dries out rapidly, and the shedding of dead skin cells is blocked.
Tip! Always ensure extra hydration in winter! For instance, you can place some special houseplants indoors that increase humidity.
Opening a window occasionally and airing out the house is also a must. On the other hand, putting a water bowl on the radiator is apparently not a good idea. These are often sources of mold and bacteria.
6. Reduced skin condition
If you suffer from eczema or psoriasis, for example, you may experience an increased build-up of dead skin cells, which can be worsened by using harsh soaps, sun exposure, and low humidity.
If this is the case for you: always consult your GP or a dermatologist for advice tailored to your skin.
7. Sun, sun, and more sun
Not only do dry climates pull moisture from your skin, but so does too much sunbathing. So don’t lie in the blazing sun all day long.
Avoid sunbathing during the hottest hours of the day. And most importantly: apply a suitable SPF regularly!
Are you ready to say goodbye to your dead skin cells and ingrown hairs? I’m happy to help you!
For instance, I’ve already written a blog post explaining why a suitable, tailored body cream is a must and which ingredients you should find in a nourishing cream. Want to learn more about exfoliating? I’ll tell you all about it here!
My YIONN products will also help you further, of course!
Bring on that radiant, smooth skin!
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Whether or not to shave is a choice; fortunately, shaving irritation is now one too!
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From certified nurse to hair removal expert:
I’m Wendy, the founder of YIONN. I know better than anyone what it’s like to go through life with shaving discomforts.
After desperately trying all sorts of ways and remedies for red shaving bumps and ingrown hairs and spending a lot of money, I was
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