Dealing with Dead Skin:
Causes and Care Routine
What Are
DEAD SKIN CELLS?
Dead skin is a natural part of your body’s renewal process. These dead cells often show up as rough, dry, or flaky patches on the outermost skin layer. In more severe cases, a build-up can lead to calluses, especially on the soles of your feet. Using different exfoliation techniques can help your skin shed dead cells more effectively.
After exfoliation, dead skin cells usually have a greyish tone and a flaky appearance.
This article walks you through the causes of dead skin cells, then a simple skincare routine for your face and some easy homemade remedies to remove dead skin cells from your body. You’ll also find recommended ingredients you can build into your routine to help get rid of dead skin cells.
How Does
DEAD SKIN OCCUR?
Over a cycle of about 28 to 42 days, your skin cells move from the middle layer (dermis) to the outer layer (epidermis) and then naturally shed, allowing newer cells underneath to come to the surface. This cycle helps your skin repair itself and replace damaged tissue. Sometimes, though, these dead cells don't fall off the way they should, and that build-up can trigger different skin problems.
10 Causes of
DEAD SKIN
Here are 10 common reasons why dead skin doesn’t shed properly:
- Age
As you age, skin cell renewal naturally slows down. That means slower shedding and reduced oil production, which can cause dryness and a build-up of dead skin.
- Inadequate Cleansing
If you don’t cleanse regularly or properly, oils and cosmetics stay on your skin for longer, which keeps dead skin cells sitting on the surface instead of shedding.
- Incorrect Exfoliation
You only need to exfoliate once or twice a week, not every day. Exfoliation speeds up the shedding process and helps new skin cells come to the surface.
- Moisturiser Misuse
Using a moisturiser that doesn’t suit your skin or not using enough of it can leave your skin dehydrated and trap dead skin cells on the surface.
- Weather and Climate
Very dry environments and indoor heating can sap moisture from your skin, which encourages dead skin cell build-up.
- Sun exposure
Unprotected exposure to UV rays can dry out your skin, cause dark spots and make the top layer of skin thicker.
- Hot Showers and Baths
Very hot showers and baths can damage your skin’s natural moisture barrier. When that barrier is weaker, your skin finds it harder to fight dryness, and that can create a build-up of unwanted dead skin cells.
- Harsh Soaps
Very strong or harsh soaps can strip away your skin’s natural oils, leading to dryness and dead-skin build-up, especially on the more delicate facial skin.
- Swimming Pools
Chlorine in swimming pools can irritate and dry out your skin, which can lead to more dead skin cells.
- Other Skin Conditions
Other skin conditions, such as psoriasis and eczema, are also prone to causing dead skin. If you feel you might have one of these, it’s always best to take advice from a medical professional or your GP.
How to Remove
DEAD SKIN
Depending on which part of your body you’re caring for and your skin type, you can choose different techniques and products to get rid of dead skin gently and safely.
1. Cleanse
Cleansing your face thoroughly and taking off excess particles, makeup and pollutants that build up on your skin through the day is super important. This step helps your skin stay clear, healthy and radiant. If you skip proper cleansing, your skin can become more vulnerable to breakouts, dehydration and early signs of ageing.
Cleansing your face before you exfoliate is also helpful because it opens up your pores and prepares your skin.
The NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Wash Gel, enriched with Salicylic Acid and Niacinamide, deeply cleanses your skin by removing excess oil and clearing the pores. This range is mainly designed for blemish-prone skin and is not advised for sensitive skin.
2. Exfoliate
There are two main ways to exfoliate your skin to remove dead cells:
- Chemical exfoliation: this is a gentler method that dissolves dead skin instead of brushing it away.
The Derma Skin Clear Chemical Exfoliator is enriched with Salicylic and Glycolic Acids to support the removal and renewal of old and damaged skin cells. The product is designed for blemish-prone skin and is not recommended for sensitive skin.
- Mechanical exfoliation: in contrast to chemical exfoliation, mechanical exfoliation removes dead skin physically. You might use a soft brush or a washcloth to gently rub your face in small circles. This is most effective on normal to oily skin types, but it tends to be harsher than chemical exfoliation. For dry or sensitive skin, it’s better to avoid mechanical exfoliation.
For men’s skincare routines, NIVEA MEN offers the Protect & Care Face Cleansing Scrub, infused with Provitamin B and Aloe Vera, which can help unclog pores and smooth the skin’s appearance by lifting off dead skin cells.
NIVEA also offers a range of scrubs and exfoliators, such as the Pore Purifying 3-in-1 Wash Scrub Mask, infused with Kaolin to remove daily impurities and deeply cleanse the skin. The product is based on a vegan formula to suit your skin’s needs.
3. Serum
Serums usually contain a higher concentration of active ingredients and can reach the skin’s surface layers more effectively for quicker, visible results.
NIVEA offers a range of serums to address different concerns like anti-ageing, dark spots and dry skin. The Cellular Expert Filler Replumping Hyaluronic Acid Serum is an advanced option to help bounce back signs of ageing, keep your skin hydrated and support cell regeneration.
4. Hydration (day/night cream)
Since dryness can easily lead to dead skin, good hydration is a key step in your skincare routine. You want to nourish your skin with the right ingredients depending on your skin type.
NIVEA offers day creams and night creams to include in your daily routines, with products for all skin types. Both ranges are designed so that every skin type is covered with carefully formulated creams.
5. SPF (morning)
In your morning routine, it’s really important to finish with a good SPF. UV rays can be very harmful for your skin and damage the cells on the surface, which increases the chances of dead skin building up.
How to Remove
DEAD SKIN ON THE BODY
Using a natural body scrub together with a brush, sponge or exfoliating glove is one of the most effective ways to remove dead skin cells from the surface of your body. When you scrub your skin thoroughly but gently, you help get rid of dead cells and also boost blood flow.
Arms and legs
Using a brush, sponge or glove to exfoliate your arms and legs is one of the simplest methods. This can help promote circulation and support the removal of dead skin cells.
The NIVEA Rich Nourishing Body Lotion is enriched with Almond Oil and Vitamin E, providing 48 hours of deep moisture and leaving your skin feeling non-greasy and looking healthy.
Feet and hands
A pumice stone can be used to scrub and help remove hard, thickened skin on your feet.
Soak the area of your skin that has become tough in warm water for about 10 minutes first. This softens the skin and makes it easier to dissolve and scrub off dead skin cells. Then exfoliate with a light body scrub that suits your skin type to remove the dead skin. After you pat your skin dry, follow up with a nourishing body lotion.
Dead skin
Causes: Dead skin cells are natural and appear for many reasons such as age, weather and climate, sun exposure, inadequate cleansing and other lifestyle or environmental factors.
Solutions: To remove dead skin, you can follow a regular skincare routine that helps your skin look more radiant by allowing fresh skin underneath to breathe better and shine through.
Best ingredients: AHAs and BHAs are very effective ingredients to support the removal of dead skin cells.
Home Remedies to
REMOVE DEAD SKIN CELLS
- Coffee scrub
Coffee grounds make an effective exfoliant for removing dead skin cells. Coffee is also rich in flavonols, which can help improve your skin’s texture and maintain its glow when you apply it directly on the skin.
- Oatmeal scrub
Oatmeal has a naturally gritty, granular texture that works well for most skin types when you want to remove dead skin. It can help lift away built-up dead cells along with excess sebum and other impurities.
- Orange peel powder
To use orange peels as an effective exfoliant, simply keep the peels and let them dry in the sun for a few days. Once they’re fully dry, blend them into a fine powder and store it in an airtight container. An orange peel scrub can help make your complexion look fresher and more youthful by removing impurities along with dead skin cells.
- Gram flour
Gram flour, often known as besan and commonly found in Indian kitchens, is another easy home ingredient for exfoliation. It helps gently scrub away dead skin and can leave your skin feeling smooth and radiant. Using besan can also help absorb excess oil from oily skin.
- Dry brushing
Dry brushing is another way to remove dead skin cells effectively. By using a dry brush on your skin in gentle strokes, you can loosen and lift off dead cells and help clear your pores. This can support your skin in finding its natural glow again.
What Are the Best Ingredients
TO REMOVE DEAD SKIN
Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs)
Plant-based AHAs like Citric Acid, Glycolic Acid, Malic Acid and Lactic Acid help remove dead skin cells, especially if you have dry to normal skin.
AHAs work by targeting the adhesive bonds that hold skin cells together, which allows smoother, fresher skin to appear.
Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHAs)
BHAs such as Salicylic Acid exfoliate from deep within the pores, which makes them suitable for oily, combination and acne-prone skin.
If a build-up of dead skin cells is causing breakouts and blemishes for you, the NIVEA Derma Skin Clear range could help you address these concerns. Concentrated with Niacinamide, Salicylic Acid and Glycolic Acid, these products are designed to support the removal of dead skin cells and help prevent new blemishes from appearing. Note that the Derma range is not recommended if you have sensitive skin conditions.
Dead skin removal
at a glance
Dead skin cells are natural and part of your skin’s regeneration process. However, when too many dead cells collect on the surface, they can affect how your skin looks and feels, so it’s helpful to support your skin by removing dead skin regularly. Common reasons for dead skin build-up include skin ageing, inadequate cleansing and environmental conditions. That’s why a simple but consistent skincare routine for both face and body is important, focusing on cleansing, exfoliation, serums, hydration and sun protection. You can also consider homemade remedies for dead skin removal, along with proven ingredients like Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) and Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHAs) when you’re looking at how to treat dead skin.
