Dealing With Dead Skin:
Causes and Care Routine
What Are
DEAD SKIN CELLS?
Dead skin is a natural part of the human body’s renewal process. Dead cells often appear as rough, dry, or flaky patches on the outermost skin layer. In more severe cases, accumulation can lead to calluses, especially on the soles of the feet. Using different exfoliate techniques can support the skin in shedding effectively.
After exfoliation, dead skin cells tend to show a greyish hue and a flaky appearance.Â
This article explains the causes of dead skin cells, a skincare routine for the face and homemade remedies to remove dead skin cells on the body. Finally, it highlights key ingredients you can add to your routine to help get rid of dead skin cells.
How Does
DEAD SKIN OCCUR?
Across a cycle of around 28 to 42 days, skin cells move from the middle layer (dermis) to the outer layer (epidermis) and then naturally shed, revealing newer cells underneath. This cycle helps restore the skin and replace damaged tissue. Sometimes, however, these dead cells don’t fall off as they should, leading to a build-up that may trigger skin problems.
10 Causes of
DEAD SKIN
Here are 10 reasons why dead skin does not shed properly:
- Age
As we age, skin cell renewal slows down, which means slower shedding and reduced oil production, leading to dryness and dead skin accumulation.
- Inadequate Cleansing
Irregular or improper cleansing can prolong the presence of dead skin cells by leaving oils and cosmetics on the skin.
- Incorrect Exfoliation
Exfoliate only once or twice a week, not daily. Exfoliate speeds up the shedding process, helping new skin cells to emerge.
- Moisturiser Misuse
Using an unsuitable or insufficient moisturiser can trap dead skin cells on dehydrated skin.
- Weather and Climate
Dry environments and indoor air conditioning or heating can parch the skin, encouraging dead skin cell build-up.
- Sun exposure
Unprotected exposure to UV rays can cause dryness, dark spots, and a thickening of the skin’s top layer.
- Hot Showers and Baths
Hot showers and baths can damage your skin’s natural moisture barrier. As a result, your skin becomes less effective at fighting dry skin, which contributes to a build-up of unwanted dead skin cells.
- Harsh Soaps
Aggressive soaps can strip the skin’s oils, causing dryness and accumulation, especially on sensitive facial skin.
- Swimming Pools
Chlorine in swimming pools can irritate and dry out the skin, leading to dead skin cells.
- Other Skin Conditions
Other skin conditions, such as psoriasis and eczema, are prone to cause dead skin. If you think you may have one of these, seek advice from a medical professional or your GP.
How to Remove
DEAD SKIN
Depending on the part of your body and your skin types, you should use different techniques and products to get rid of dead skin.
1. Cleanse
Thorough cleansing and removing excess particles, makeup, and pollutants that build up on your skin during the day is very important. Cleansing helps your skin remain clear, healthy, and radiant. If this step is skipped or done poorly, the skin may be more vulnerable to breakouts, dehydration, and early signs of ageing.
Cleansing the face before you exfoliate is also beneficial, as it opens up the skin’s pores.
The NIVEA Clear Up Wash Gel, enriched with salicylic acid and niacinamide, deeply cleanses the skin by removing excess oil and clearing the pores. The range is mainly adapted to blemished-prone skins and is not advised for sensitive skin.
2. ExfoliateÂ
There are two ways to exfoliate your skin to remove dead cells:
- Chemical Exfoliation: the gentler exfoliation method, which dissolves dead skin instead of brushing it away.Â
The Clear Up Chemical Exfoliator is enriched with salicylic acid and glycolic acid to stimulate the removal and renewal of old and damaged skin cells. The product is designed for blemished-prone skin and not recommended for sensitive skin.
- Mechanical Exfoliation: in contrast to chemical exfoliation, mechanical exfoliation removes dead skin physically. This technique may involve using a soft brush or a washcloth to gently rub in circles on the face. Most effective on Normal skin to oily skin, this tends to be harsher than chemical exfoliation. On dry skin or sensitive skin, it is recommended to avoid mechanical exfoliation.Â
For men’s skincare routine, NIVEA MEN offers Protect & Care Face Cleansing Scrub infused with Provitamin B and aloe vera; it can be used to unclog pores and smooth the skin’s appearance by lifting off dead skin cells.Â
NIVEA offers a range of scrubs and exfoliators, including 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 best suit your skin needs.
 3. SerumÂ
Serums contain a higher concentration of active ingredients and are able to reach the skin’s surface for better and faster results.Â
NIVEA offers a range of Serum products to address a variety of concerns such as anti-aging, dark spots and dry skin. The Cellular Expert Filler Replumbing Hyaluronic Acid Serum is an advanced solution to bounce back signs of ageing, help you maintain hydrated skin and support cell regeneration.
4. Hydration (day/night cream)
Since dry skin can cause dead skin, hydration is an important step in your skincare routine. You want to nourish your skin with the right components depending on your skin types.
NIVEA offers day creams and night cream to include in your skincare routines, with products for all skin types. Both ranges are designed to ensure that all skin types are addressed with carefully formulated creams.
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5. SPF (morning)
In your morning routine, it is important that you finish with the application of an SPF. UV rays can be very harmful to your skin, damaging the cells on the surface and increasing the chance of dead skin production.
How to Remove
DEAD SKIN ON THE BODY
Using a natural body scrub and exfoliating your skin with a brush, sponge, or glove is one of the most effective methods to get rid of dead skin cells from the surface of your body. Thorough scrubbing removes dead cells and helps promote blood flow.
Arms and legs
Using a brush, sponge, or glove to exfoliate your arms and legs is the simplest method. This can promote circulation and help with the removal of dead skin cells.
The NIVEA Rich Nourishing body lotion is enriched with almond oil for skin and vitamin e, providing 48-hours of Deep Moisture Serum, leaving a Non-greasy, healthy-looking effect on the skin.
Feet and hands
A pumice stone can be used to scrub and help remove hard skin feet.
Spend around 10 minutes soaking the area of skin that has toughened in warm water. This will make it easier to scrub off dead skin cells by softening them. Then exfoliate your skin to eliminate the dead skin cells with a gentle body scrub that suits your skin types. After drying your skin, nourish it with a body lotion.
Dead skin
Causes: Dead skin cells are natural and occur due to a number of factors such as age, weather and climate, sun exposure, inadequate cleansing and more.
Solutions: To remove dead skin, you can follow a skincare routine that helps your skin look more radiant by allowing new skin to breathe.
Best ingredients: AHAs and BHAs are very effective ingredients to help with dead skin removal.
Home Remedies to
REMOVE DEAD SKIN CELLS
- Coffee scrub
Coffee grounds make an effective exfoliant for removing dead skin cells. Additionally, coffee has plenty of flavonols, which can enhance skin texture and maintain the glow when applied directly to the skin.
- Oatmeal scrub
All skin types can benefit from oatmeal’s gritty, granular texture for removing dead skin. Along with excess sebum and other pollutants, it can help remove any built-up dead skin.
- Orange peel powder
To use orange peels as an effective exfoliant, keep them and let them dry in the sun for a few days. Put the dehydrated peels in a blender to powder them, then store in a sealed bag. An orange peel scrub can help make your complexion look fresher by removing impurities as well as dead skin cells.
- Gram flour
Another staple that is easy to find in your kitchen cupboard is gram flour, often known as besan. Gram flour helps exfoliate your skin, leaving it smooth and radiant. Using besan can also help remove excess oil from oily skin.
- Dry brushing
Dead skin cells can be effectively removed by dry brushing. With a dry brush, you can gently remove dead skin cells and help open up the pores. By doing this, you can remove dead cells and let your skin find 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 aid in removing dead skin cells, especially for dry to Normal skin types.
AHAs work by targeting the adhesive bonds that bind skin cells together, resulting in a smoother rejuvenation of fresh skin.
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Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHAs)
BHAs like salicylic acid exfoliate from deep within pores, making them suitable for oily skin, combination skin, and Acne-prone skin.
If a build-up of dead skin cells is causing breakouts and blemished skin, then NIVEA Clear Up could help you address these concerns. Concentrated with niacinamide, salicylic acid and glycolic acid, these products support dead skin removal and help prevent new blemishes from appearing. Note that the Derma range is not recommended for sensitive skin conditions.
Dead skin removal
at a glance
Dead skin cells are natural and part of the skin regeneration process. However, they still have an impact on the skin, and it is beneficial to support your skin by removing dead skin cells. Common causes of dead skin cell build-up include skin ageing, inadequate cleansing, and environmental conditions. A skincare routine for both face and body is therefore important, with a focus on cleansing, exfoliation, Serum application, hydration and sun protection. Additionally, homemade remedies for dead skin removal, and the effectiveness of alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs), are worth considering when addressing dead cells.
