How Often to Exfoliate Your Body: The Definitive Guide

Short answer: for most skin, 2 to 3 times a week; for sensitive skin, once a week. Elbows, knees and heels tolerate more frequent exfoliation; the chest, inner arms and abdomen, less. Exfoliating your body every day is not recommended.

Over-exfoliating your body is more common than under-exfoliating – and harder to spot, because the symptom (rough, dull, reactive skin) is exactly what leads people to exfoliate even more. The right frequency depends on your skin type, the area of the body and the material you use.

Frequency by Skin Type

• Normal – 2 to 3 times a week
• Dry – 2 to 3 times a week, with a gentle material. It's counter-intuitive, but removing dead cells helps the moisturiser you apply afterwards to work
• Oily – 3 times a week
• Sensitive – once a week, with very fine granules or oats

The Frequency Changes with the Area

The body isn't uniform. Elbows, knees and heels are keratinised areas – they have a thicker stratum corneum and tolerate more frequent exfoliation, up to 3 times a week on dry skin. The chest, inner arms and abdomen have thinner, more reactive skin: once a week is enough.

The face is a case apart. Facial skin is thinner and more reactive than that of most of the body – the granules that work well on your legs can compromise the facial barrier. For the face, gentle chemical exfoliation is usually the more prudent choice.

When NOT to Exfoliate

• Active sunburn – wait for it to peel naturally
• In the 24 to 48 hours after hair removal, whether waxing or shaving
• Skin with wounds, cuts or visible irritation
• Eczema or psoriasis in an active phase – consult a dermatologist before exfoliating at all
• Over recent tattoos, until fully healed

How to Tell You're Exfoliating Too Much

The most common signs: skin that feels tight after your shower, redness that takes a long time to fade, stinging with moisturisers you used to tolerate, and thin, shiny-looking skin. If you recognise two or more, stop exfoliating and give your skin time. If the discomfort persists, seek advice from a healthcare professional.

The Step Most People Skip

Moisturising straight afterwards is not optional. Exfoliation temporarily removes some of the lipids that help the skin retain water. In the minutes that follow, applying a moisturiser helps make up for that loss.

On skin that's still damp, straight after your shower, the Urea + Panthenol Body Cream makes the most of that window: it combines humectants (hydroxyethyl urea, glycerin, sodium PCA and sodium hyaluronate) with panthenol and organic sunflower oil, which help the skin retain water. It contains fragrance; on very sensitive skin, patch test on a small area first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I exfoliate my body every day?

It's not recommended. Exfoliating daily doesn't give the outermost layer of the skin time to renew itself. The result tends to be more reactive skin, not softer skin.

Does exfoliating help with ingrown hairs?

It can help. Exfoliating 2 to 3 times a week in hair-removal areas helps keep the skin's surface free of built-up dead cells. But never in the 24 to 48 hours immediately after hair removal – in that window it makes irritation worse.

Should I exfoliate before or after shower gel?

After. Cleansing removes sebum and residue first; the exfoliant then works on skin that is already clean and softened by warm water, with less friction needed.

Does exfoliating reduce cellulite or stretch marks?

No. Both are structural changes in deeper layers of the skin. Exfoliation only works on the outermost layer and improves the texture to the touch, which may make their appearance less noticeable. It is not a treatment.

Should dry skin be exfoliated less?

Not necessarily – it should be exfoliated with a gentler material and moisturised better afterwards. The build-up of dead cells on dry skin contributes to the cycle of ‘I apply cream and it's still rough’.

How many times a week can you exfoliate your body?

For most skin, 2 to 3 times a week; for sensitive skin, once a week. Thicker areas, such as elbows, knees and heels, tolerate more frequent exfoliation, while the chest, inner arms and abdomen need less. Exfoliating every day is not recommended, and it's best to moisturise straight afterwards.

How many times a week can I exfoliate my body?

For most skin, 2 to 3 times a week; for sensitive skin, once is enough. Elbows, knees and heels tolerate more frequent exfoliation, while the chest, inner arms and abdomen need less. Exfoliating every day is not recommended, and it's best to moisturise straight afterwards.