Cellular turnover, often referred to as ‘cell turnover,’ is the process of dead skin cells shedding and being replaced with younger, fresher, and healthier skin cells.
What is The Cell Turnover Process?
The cell turnover process begins with cells remaining plump and filled with moisture. These are positioned in the bottom layer of the epidermis. The epidermis is the outer layers of your skin. As your skin cells mature, they travel through the layers of the epidermis and rise to the surface, becoming flatter and drier. Once they have reached the surface, the cells are then merely dry flakes of keratin protein, which are ready to shed.
How Long Does Cell Turnover Typically Take?
The entire cell turnover process can take different times for different people, depending on many various factors. Some of these include your diet, your UV exposure, your age, hormones, and the environment you live in. Age is the most significant factor that impacts the time cell turnover takes, as babies, for example, have a quick cell turnover rate of under two weeks, which is why their skin is so soft! Teenage cell turnover typically takes three to four weeks. It can then take approximately 45 days to complete in your forties and around 60 days when you’re in your sixties.
Does Increasing Cell Turnover With Skincare Products Improve Skin?
Using skin care products that help to speed up cell turnover can cause your skin appear fresher and more youthful. If your cell turnover takes a long time, then more dead skin cells will be left to build up on the surface of your skin, which can leave your skin looking dull and dry. Using products like exfoliators increase cell turnover works by removing the dead skin cells left on the skin’s surface, reducing breakouts, reducing the appearance of pores, and creating a smoother texture and more even skin tone. Vitamin A also helps speed up the turnover by stimulating the removal of dead cells and then regulates the production of collagen and elastin fibers!