How Often Should You Exfoliate Your Body?

For most people, exfoliating the body once or twice a week is enough. Sensitive or dry skin often does better with once a week or less, and oily or resilient skin may tolerate two or three times a week. The right frequency depends on your skin and on how strong your method is: a soft sponge can be used far more often than a firm glove or a gritty scrub. If your skin is red, tight or stinging afterward, you are doing it too often or too hard.

A starting guide by skin type

These are starting points, not rules. Your own skin's response is the real guide.

Why does the method change the answer?

• Soft cloth, silicone scrubber, soft sponge: mild enough for daily washing for most people.
• Mesh pouf, nylon wash cloth: daily to a few times a week.
• Exfoliating glove, natural loofah, bristle brush: once or twice a week.
• Body scrub with grains: once or twice a week.
• Chemical exfoliants, such as body lotions with acids: follow the product's directions, and do not use them on the same day as a firm scrub.

Count them together. A glove on Monday, a scrub on Wednesday and an acid lotion on Friday is three exfoliations in a week.

What does exfoliating do?

Skin sheds dead cells from its surface all the time. Exfoliating helps lift cells that have not yet come away, which leaves skin feeling smoother and helps lotion spread evenly. It is a comfort and appearance step. Skin does not need it to be healthy, so there is no harm in doing less.

What are the signs of overdoing it?

• Redness that lasts more than a few minutes.
• Stinging or burning when you apply lotion or step into warm water.
• Tight, shiny or itchy skin.
• More dryness or flaking than before.
• Soreness to the touch.

If you see these, stop exfoliating for a week or two, moisturize generously, and restart less often with a softer tool.

And the signs you could do a little more?

• Skin feels rough or looks dull even with regular moisturizing.
• Lotion sits on the surface.
• Self-tanner goes on patchy.
• Flaky patches on shins, elbows or knees.

A glove for the weekly scrub

The Uexim exfoliating bath glove is a textured glove designed to help remove dead skin and refresh the skin in the shower, bath or spa routine. The listing describes it as easy to slip on and use with body wash. It is sold as a single green glove. A glove is a firm tool, so it fits the once or twice a week slot.

How do you exfoliate gently?

1. Soak in warm water for a few minutes first.
2. Use light pressure and small circles.
3. Spend about 30 seconds on each area.
4. Give more time to elbows, knees and heels, and less to the chest and inner limbs.
5. Rinse with lukewarm water.
6. Moisturize straight away.

When should you adjust?

• Winter: cold, dry air leaves skin drier. Exfoliate less, moisturize more.
• Summer: sweat and sunscreen build up, so you may want slightly more. Never exfoliate sunburn.
• Before shaving: exfoliate just before, not after.
• Before self-tanner: exfoliate the day before.
• After waxing or hair removal: wait a couple of days.
• If you use retinoid or acid body products: cut back on physical scrubbing.

Where should you not exfoliate?

• Broken skin, cuts, rashes or sunburn.
• Inflamed breakouts.
• The face, with body tools.
• The genital area.

Frequently asked questions

Can I exfoliate my body every day?

Only with something very mild, such as a soft cloth. Firm tools and scrubs every day are too much for most skin.

Is it better to exfoliate in the morning or at night?

Either. At night gives skin time to settle, and you can moisturize well before bed.

Should I exfoliate before or after body wash?

With a glove or brush, exfoliate during washing, with body wash as slip. With a scrub, wash first, then scrub, then rinse.

Do I need to exfoliate at all?

No. It is optional. Regular washing and moisturizing are enough for healthy skin.

The bottom line

Start at once a week, move to twice if your skin is comfortable, and match the frequency to how firm your tool is. Redness, stinging or tightness means do less.