How to Improve Skin Clarity and Luminosity by Boosting Skin Cell Turnover

If your skin looks and feels different from how it normally does, care from an experienced physician practicing dermatology can help. Naples’ Skin Wellness Physicians team explains that the appearance of your skin can often give clues about what’s happening beneath the surface.

Dermatologists can examine a patient’s skin and provide support for those who have conditions or imperfections such as acne, skin spots, eczema, psoriasis, and thousands of other problems. 

One of the most important biological processes patients should be aware of when it comes to skin conditions such as acne to aging is skin cell turnover. Your skin is constantly exposed to wear and tear from the environment, so your body needs to create new skin cells to counteract the ongoing damage and maintain a healthy barrier against the elements. 

Simply put, new cells must be created as replacements for the old ones when those fall off. Existing dead skin sheds and is replaced by younger, healthy cells that are being produced by the body in a continuous biological process known as skin cell turnover. The cells move from the deepest layer of the epidermis up to the surface, where they are exposed to the air. This cycle helps us to maintain smooth, healthy, and functional skin that looks its best.

This skin rejuvenation process happens automatically, often without us even realizing it. Unfortunately, skin cell turnover slows and becomes less efficient as we age because our body takes a longer time to produce new skin cells. 

Since dead cells remain on the surface for longer time as skin ages, the accumulation can make it more likely for wrinkles and other visible effects of aging to develop—along with acne blemishes as the skin clogs pores and bacteria builds up. Additionally, there is an increased risk of hyperpigmentation (spots or patches on the skin that are darker than the normal skin tone) because older skin cells produce too much melanin (pigment).

Want to make your skin look more youthful and feel refreshed and elastic again? Continue reading to learn more about what can be done to speed up skin cell turnover for more radiant, vibrant skin. 

Make Healthy Lifestyle Changes

One way to ensure that your skin cell regeneration process functions optimally is by making healthy lifestyle choices, such as engaging in regular exercise, consuming a nutrient-rich diet, staying hydrated, keeping your stress levels low, and protecting your skin against environmental stressors whenever possible. Environmental factors such as UV rays, air pollution, and dry climates can be damaging to your skin. Foods that are high in antioxidants and protein are highly beneficial for your skin. Protein is critical in the body for repairing tissue and constructing new tissue. Since your skin repairs and recovers while you’re sleeping, getting plenty of beauty sleep is also essential. 

Skin Care Products

You can look for products that contain ingredients that accelerate the skin cell turnover process such as vitamin B3 or niacinamide, vitamin C, vitamin E, and hyaluronic acid. Vitamin A derivatives called retinoids are powerful ingredients that boost skin cell rejuvenation. 

Exfoliate 

We hear about the importance of exfoliation all the time from skin care experts, but why exactly is this so important for your skin? Exfoliation enhances the regenerative cycle of cellular removal because it helps to shed dead skin cells at a faster rate. There are two options available: physical exfoliation and chemical exfoliation. Physical exfoliation can be done at home with a scrub or dry brushing, while chemical exfoliation at home will involve using ingredients such as alpha hydroxy acids and beta hydroxy acids that loosen skin cells to help them to be removed at a faster rate and in a uniform fashion. Dermatologists can provide more dramatic skin resurfacing results with professional treatments such as chemical peels, microneedling, dermaplaning, and laser skin resurfacing. 

Want more advice about skin care? Learn more about their services relating to medical and cosmetic dermatology by contacting Naples’ Skin Wellness Physicians. Call (239) 732-0044 or fill out a contact form to request a consultation.