Is it a good idea to exfoliate acne prone skin? The quick answer is, yes. Exfoliation is an important part of any healthy skin care routine. The good news is it can be done in a completely natural way without the use of any harsh chemical products. There are two ways to exfoliate – physical exfoliation and chemical exfoliation both of which can be done with totally natural ingredients.

Ways to Exfoliate Acne Prone Skin

Physical Exfoliation

Keep in mind that it's not a smart idea to go overboard with this method. Gentle exfoliation is key. A warm wash cloth does work well to exfoliate acne prone skin and it works well with the oil cleansing method.

Another great tool is the Konjac Sponge. It's a super soft and gentle sponge that contains charcoal to help pull toxins from the skin. Another way to get a physical exfoliation is by using salt, sugar, or ground up grains to scrub the skin. Salt can be too harsh for your face but other more gentle scrubs work well. Exfoliation is not just for your face, try this DIY coffee body scrub.

Chemical Exfoliation

There are many food items that naturally contain fruit acids and enzymes that help to exfoliate skin. There is no need for expensive prescription or over the counter creams for this purpose. Stronger prescription creams are most likely too strong and doing more damage to your skin. 

Here is a list of food items that can be used for chemical exfoliation:

• Salicylic acid: white willow bark, meadowsweet, strawberry
• Lactic acid: yogurt, kefir, fermented vegetables, blackberries, tomatoes
• Citric acid: lemons, limes and oranges (do not use if you plan on being in the sun afterwards)
• Glycolic acid: sugar
• Trans-Retinoic acid: rose hip seed oil
• Papain enzyme: Papayas
• Malic acid: apples, vinegar

Exfoliation is an important part of your skin care routine whether you have acne prone skin or not. The only caveat is to be sure not to overdo it, especially if you have sensitive skin. Also, if you are already using other prescription or chemical products be careful of mixing things without checking with your dermatologist. 

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