Skin cell turnover rate is the speed with which your dead skin cells shed and new cells form to take their place, giving you that fresh and healthy look. On average, it takes about 45 days for your skin cells to turn over completely, but there are ways to help move this process along. Improving your skin cell turnover rate will not only help you achieve glowing skin, but it can also improve texture and reduce the appearance of acne scars. If you’re ready to finally get on the right track and meet your skincare goals, read on to learn how to increase your skin cell turnover rate.
Utilize Retinoids
Retinoids are made of Vitamin A and are one of the few products that can penetrate deep enough into the skin to stimulate the production of collagen. As you may already know, collagen is one of the primary building blocks of your skin, playing a significant role in forming healthy skin cells.
The more collagen your skin produces, the more healthy skin cells arise, and the smoother, firmer, and healthier your epidermis will look. However, not all retinoids are the same, and while you can find some of them over the counter, if you need something stronger, you’ll have to turn to a dermatologist to get a prescription.
Exfoliate Up to Twice a Week
Exfoliation is a critical part of speeding up the removal of dead skin cells. It produces and reveals newer, healthier skin cells. You can use either physical or chemical exfoliants or a combination of the two, but it depends on what your skin can and can’t handle.
If you have sensitive skin, you may want to stick to physical exfoliants to avoid drying out or irritating your skin, such as a very fine milled face scrub. Chemical exfoliants use skin-safe acids to remove dead skin cells, the most famous being salicylic acid and glycolic acid. Unfortunately, one of the most common mistakes people make when using exfoliators is over-exfoliating. Over-exfoliating can lead to redness, dry skin, and peeling skin, all of which can cause more blemishes and breakouts.
Lifestyle Choices
Improving hydration and getting your body moving are both great ways to increase your skin cell turnover rate. Hydration helps create healthier skin cells, and exercise promotes vascular blood flow. Remember, your skin is your largest organ, and like any other organ, it needs water and adequate blood flow to be healthy. Additionally, it’s important to remember that skin cell renewal rate is at its fastest while you sleep, approximately between 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.
Healthy habits such as drinking enough water, getting enough exercise, and sleeping well will help improve the overall health of your body, and your skin will certainly thank you for it as well.