Can you wash your face too much? Apparently, you can, according to a new article from Allure magazine. While washing your face seems like a regular part of daily hygiene, washing your face too often or with the wrong products could lead to skin care woes.

In the article, Allure says that overwashing is a serious concern and can cause the same skin problems you would see if you skipped washing your face, such as breakouts and increasingly oily skin.

Writers recommended washing your face at least once per day in the evening to remove makeup, dirt, oil, pollution and grime that has accumulated on your skin throughout the day. While all that stuff on your face is pretty yucky, overwashing to get rid of it also rinses away some other things your skin needs, such as natural oils. It also negatively affects the skin’s outermost barrier, which means you’re at risk of the dirt, pollution and grime causing blemishes and acne.

That’s not all.

“Skin cleansers can be harsh on your skin and deplete much-needed moisture. This leaves your skin at risk of developing wrinkles, lines and creases,” said Dr. Mayli Davis, an ophthalmologist and cosmetic physician in Colleyville, Texas.

This is because when skin is dry and moves as you make facial expressions, it becomes cracked. Over time, as the cycle continues, the cracks worsen and become full-fledged wrinkles.

So, really, just wash once a day, at night?

The debate about washing your face in the morning is a hot topic among skin care experts and dermatologists. Some feel that it is overkill because the skin does not get dirty overnight.

Others feel that washing in the morning is vital because it removes any irritants, oil or dirt the skin is exposed to overnight.

“If you sweat a lot during the night, you may want to wash your face in the morning, too,” Davis said.

No matter what, experts on skin agree on one thing: Women should remove makeup before going to bed.

“At some point, everyone has forgotten to take their makeup off before going to sleep. While it’s OK if it happens once in awhile, don’t make it a habit,” Davis said.

Sleeping in your makeup can wreak havoc on your skin and leave you at risk of acne and other skin issues. Not washing off your makeup can also pose a serious health risk the May 2018 issue of Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, featured a story about a woman from Australia who slept in her makeup for 25 years without washing it off.

As a result of skipping this critical step of skin care, she developed tiny, hard deposits of mascara on the inside of her lower eyelids, which caused tiny scratches on her eyeballs.

“While this case is extremely rare, it is still a good reminder about the importance of washing your makeup off,” Davis said.

How to tell if you’re washing too much: If your skin feels dry, tight or flaky in the morning, you’re probably overdoing it or using the wrong products.

“Look for gentle cleansers free of alcohol and sulfides,” Davis said.

After cleansing, Davis suggests following with a quality moisturizer.

“Select a product that contains hyaluronic acid to help hydrate skin cells and keep them plump. The result is great-looking skin,” Davis said.

Sources:

Newsweek. Woman who slept in her mascara every night for 25 years has to have emergency surgery. 4 June 2018.

Allure. How to Tell If You’re Overwashing Your Face. 23 October 2018.