Exfoliating dry and peeling skin is vitally important. It’s recommended to avoid mechanical exfoliation on dry skin because the process is drying and can result in microtears. Instead, it’s much more effective to use AHAs. These are alpha hydroxy acids, and offer chemical exfoliation as an alternative to manual exfoliation for smoother skin texture.
Some of the most common types of AHAs include glycolic, lactic, and citric acids. These work by targeting the dull and dead skin cells on your skin’s surface and breaking apart the bonds which hold them. This process will naturally cause your skin to shed its dead particles.
For dry skin, glycolic acid helps to remove dead cells sitting on the skin’s surface to facilitate fast-acting, healthy skin turnover. After using glycolic acid, it’s worth following up with a Sun Protection Factor and moisturizer as the chemical exfoliant can make the skin more prone to sun damage.