What Is Skin Polishing & How Does It Benefit Your Skin?

All of us find it difficult to protect our skin from breakdown caused by increasing stress levels and pollution around us. Isn’t it? Flaunting beautiful and youthful skin all the time might seem like an unachievable dream. But, do not worry! Skin polishing can help you achieve a clear, younger, and glowing face.

In this article, we tell you how skin polishing is done and what benefits it can bring to your skin. Let’s begin!

Highlights:

• What Is Skin Polishing?
• Is Skin Polishing Safe For Your Skin?
• What Are The Benefits Of Skin Polishing?
• How Is The Skin Polishing Treatment Done?
• Post-Treatment Guidelines Of Skin Polishing
• Side Effects Of Skin Polishing
• Frequently Asked Questions About Skin Polishing

What Is Skin Polishing?

Skin polishing treatment involves removing the uppermost layer of your skin (containing dead skin) using mechanical microdermabrasion [1], scrubbing or chemical applications.

“Skin polishing aims to promote fresh, younger and smoother skin by stimulating collagen and new skin cell production,” says Dr. Zeel Gandhi, Chief Ayurvedic Doctor at Vedix.

Is Skin Polishing Safe For Your Skin?

Skin polishing is a non-invasive procedure and it is safe and effective on the skin. It only works to remove dead, old and dull skin which forms the outermost layer of your skin and reveals healthier and younger-looking skin.

What Are The Benefits Of Skin Polishing?

• Skin polishing deeply exfoliates your skin by removing the build-up of dead skin, dirt and pollution. This, in turn, boosts new and healthy skin cell growth.
• It nourishes your skin and provides hydration from the inside by boosting blood circulation in your skin.
• It increases the natural glow of your skin by removing dull and tan skin.
• It evens out your skin tone by controlling pigmentation, dark spots and acne scars.
• It prevents frequent occurrence of acne by keeping your skin pores clean and tight.

How Is The Skin Polishing Treatment Done?

1. Ayurvedic Herbal Skin Polishing

In Ayurvedic terms, Skin polishing is called ‘Utsadana’. Ayurveda recommends Utsadana creams with herbal ingredients that bring balance to your vitiated doshas in your skin. You can choose skin polishing or Utsadana scrubs with ingredients that suit your Ayurvedic dosha Prakriti. Some of such ingredients include:

A. Yashtimadhu, turmeric [2], walnut, almond for Vata-Pitta Prakriti.

B. Manjistha, vana tulsi, karpoora, chandana, rakta chandana, etc. for Pitta-Kapha Prakriti.

C. Ashwagandha, dalchini, narangi, gram flour, etc. for Vata-Kapha Prakriti.

How To Use

Soak the skin polishing scrub for 10 minutes in coconut milk or normal milk. Apply the scrub on your skin and gently massage for 5-10 minutes. After 10-15 minutes, wash your skin with normal water and pat dry using a clean cotton towel.

2. At-Home Skin Polishing Treatments

A. Combine half cup of baking soda and half cup of fresh lemon juice. After a couple of minutes, add 1-2 coconut oil to the mixture. Apply the mixture on your skin and massage gently for 2-3 minutes. Leave on for another 5 minutes and then wash it off thoroughly.

B. Add half cup of sea salt to one cup of coarsely ground oatmeal powder. Add sufficient grapeseed oil to it to form a thick paste. Apply this on your skin and massage it for a few minutes before washing it off.

C. Blend the pieces of two medium-sized cucumbers and add two cups of sugar to the pulp. Add 2-3 spoons of avocado oil to it and use the paste for skin polishing.

D. Add ½ cup of honey and 2-3 spoons of jojoba oil to 1 cup of brown sugar. Mix them well and apply it on your skin. Massage for 2-3 minutes and then rinse it off.

E. Add 1 spoon of rosemary leaves, 1 spoon of honey, ½ cup of coconut oil and 1 spoon of Himalayan rock salt to 1 full cup of bath salt or sea salt. Mix the ingredients well to form a thick paste. Refrigerate the paste for 20-30 minutes and then apply it on your skin. Scrub your skin gently for a few minutes before washing it off.

Vedix Tip: Do not put too much pressure on your skin while you do skin polishing using scrubs. Also, avoid scrubbing in the regions of active acne as it may cause bursting of the pimples.

3. Clinical Treatments

A. Crystal Dermabrasion

In this treatment, aluminum oxide crystals are used to clear the dead skin cells from your skin surface. A skin polishing specialist uses a hand-held device that shoots these microcrystals at high speed on your skin to lift dead skin and dirt which is simultaneously eliminated using a gentle vacuum.

B. Diamond Dermabrasion

In this treatment, a handheld device with a diamond tip is used to exfoliate your skin gently. It also sucks away the dead skin and dirt from your skin at the same time. Diamond dermabrasion is mostly used for polishing sensitive areas such as the under-eyes.

C. Chemical Peeling

Chemical peeling involves treating your skin with fruit-based acids or skin-friendly chemicals such as glycolic acid, lactic acid, carbolic acid, salicylic acid, or trichloroacetic acid.

“These chemicals, when applied as a mask for a few minutes, make the top layer of your skin peel away gradually over the next few days,” says Dr. Zeel.

Post-Treatment Guidelines Of Skin Polishing

• Avoid direct exposure of your skin to sunlight. Always apply sunscreen before you go out in the sun.
• Do not wash your skin for the next 6-8 hours after skin polishing. Later, cleanse your skin twice a day with a mild herbal cleanser [3]. Stay away from harsh soaps and cleansers [4].
• Do not use any cosmetics or put on any makeup on your face for the next 3-4 days after the treatment.
• Avoid steam treatments, sauna or sunbathing for the next 7-10 days after skin polishing treatment.

Side Effects Of Skin Polishing

There are little to no side effects for skin polishing treatments. In rare cases, you may notice the following side effects which may last for 2-7 days:

• Itchiness
• Slight redness
• Mild inflammation
• Skin peeling

Frequently Asked Questions About Skin Polishing

1. Can All Skin Types Get Skin Polishing Done Safely?

Yes, skin polishing is suitable for all skin types and can be done safely by an experienced professional. However, people with sensitive skin must take utmost care with post-treatment guidelines to prevent any unwanted irritations. You should not overdo skin polishing.

2. How Long Does Skin Polishing Take?

Skin polishing treatments may take 6-12 sessions with a gap of 3-4 weeks in between to show remarkable improvements in your skin. Depending on the area and condition of your skin, each session may last up to 45-60 minutes.

3. How Long Does Skin Polishing Last?

Typically, the effects of clinical skin polishing may last up to 1 or 1 ½ months. Ayurvedic and at-home skin polishing effects may last up to 1-2 weeks.

“It may also last longer if you follow the post-treatment guidelines correctly, cleanse off dirt and residue of pollution from your skin from time to time. Besides, a healthy skin care regimen consisting of suitable products for your skin will also help,” says Dr. Zeel.

4. How Is Skin Polishing & Brightening Different From Facials?

While facials work to enhance the appearance of the topmost layer of your skin surface, skin polishing works to exfoliate the dead skin layers for the healthier skin to resurface. Also, skin polishing and brightening are more effective than facials in terms of addressing a wide range of skin issues.

5. Who Is Eligible And Not Eligible For Skin Polishing Treatment?

Any adult who wants to revive their skin from fine lines, age spots, open pores, uneven skin tone, acne or chickenpox scars, and other symptoms on the surface of the damaged skin can undergo skin polishing treatments. However, more advanced treatments are recommended for people with deeper acne scars [5] and wrinkles.

Those who have extremely sensitive and allergy-prone skin, injured skin with cuts or sunburns, or have deep-seated skin lesions such as nodular acne, must not opt for skin polishing treatments.

Important Note:

Please seek your dermatologist’s advice before undergoing any of the skin polishing procedures discussed in this article.

The Last Word

Now that you know how skin polishing benefits your skin, try to include the procedure in your monthly skincare routine. Opting for Ayurvedic skin polishers with the suitable ingredients for your skin type can help you boost the overall health of your skin naturally.

At Vedix, we customize an Ayurvedic skincare regimen by evaluating your unique skin type, specific skin concerns, and the responsible dosha imbalances in your skin.