Use An Art Sponge For Exfoliating

As a licensed cosmetologist, I can assure you that most any tool can be used on human skin. For a short time, but, unless you are cleaning and soaking it between uses in a sterilizing solution or using an autoclave then storing it dry and sealed, it does contain bacteria that will affect your skin badly.

Exfoliating is rough for the skin and should not be done more than twice a month. The scrubbie are looped in such a way that rinsing even with soapy water will not clean it thoroughly. If not stored in an airtight new baggie when sterilized and dry, it will also accumulate just enough bacteria to cause significant breakout, depending upon the bacteria, mold, or microscopic insects it has picked up.

Hand shaped scrubbie gloves need special cleansing and replacing often. Hands being clean before all cleansings is essential for minimal risk.

Other factors that must be considered are that each person has different natural barriers for their skin, depending upon their food choices, chemicals/lotions used, any rx meds. Taken, production of natural oils with physical activity that provide a natural protective barrier against harmful bacteria that would otherwise harm the skin.

For farm workers, bikers, ditch diggers, actors with heavy makeup and under hot lights for filming, and active children, skin cleansing is needed daily, or twice daily.

For people who do little manual labor, or who seldom go outdoors, once a day scrubbing is too much.

For large pores, extra care must be taken regardless.

For small, tight pores, exfoliating is not recommended at all because the skin is often dry and would suffer with that treatment.

Most folks have mixed skin types and this can be confusing when it comes to exfoliating.

Using an oatmeal-ground nut type of powdered exfoliation is the safest all round process, taking all things into consideration.

Using hot water and/or soaps totally destroy the skin's natural helpful bacteria covering/protection, leaving the skin too exposed and vulnerable that even bacteria under the fingernails can cause all sorts of difficulties and break-outs. Each washcloth should be a clean one, not reused and hanging to dry.

Using tepid (luckewarm) water on the skin for normal activity is the best choice.

Using milder soap, preferably ph balanced liquid cleansers is safer all round, not leaving it on for too long, rinsing well and blotting or blow-drying rather than rubbing with a clean towel each and every time is more successful and safe.

For elders who are not so active, skin cleansing is not necewssary daily, but a soapy water wash between baths is good for those with incontenance or other disfunctions or strong body odors.

For smokers, daily baths are considerate to others because the nicotene comes through the pores of the skin causing a stale cigarette offensive odor which the smoker cannot smell themselves but should be made aware of.

Some people have different diets, different odors, therefore need frequent baths to conform to those around them. Those who eat lots of meat, eat lots of onions/garlic need special care for their body cleansing. Some vegetarians have very little body odors so don't need to cleanse skin daily.

Only alcoholics seem to be able to escape most body odors and need the least cleansings, unless they do heavy manual labor, work in dust, sweating, oily skin to clean.

Remember that the more one touches the facial skin, the more microscopic damage is done. Proveably even blotting causes damage, blow-drying is better. Exfoliating is traumatic to the skin, akin to chemical peeling, and should be undertaken by those who realize the dangers involved and who are willing to take the risk.

Because society is not well educated about bacteria, dust, microscopic life, it is hard to believe just how many elements there are to watch out for.

Best to touch the skin only after sanitizing the hands, only with the cleanest cloths, only wth the proper cosmetics, only with what does not cause allergic reactions, and only with full knowledge of what they are doing. It's a science. This is why every cosmetologist is required to be educated, trained and licensed as to having satisfied these requirements.

There are the lucky ones who never have any problems about anything anywhere on their body. But they are the exceptions, so consider the risks before continuing. Reduce your chances for a flareup and medical expenses with careful homework and light touches, keeping a journal about the results, the products used, and date them, so that you could take your receipts and the products back for a refund if they harm you after careful handling.

Hope this is helpful. God bless and help you. : )