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Does the beauty process of exfoliation inflict more harm to the skin? Many dermatological experts are warning against improper exfoliation as it leads to the permanently damaged skin. The hidden dangers of exfoliation have led to a five-million-dollar lawsuit against a well-known facial scrub, St. Ives Apricot scrub.

The Five-Million-Dollar Lawsuit Against St. Ives' Apricot Scrub

TMZ first reported about the five-million-dollar lawsuit filed against the St. Ives Apricot scrub, one of America's most popular facial scrubs. It has been on the market for around thirty years and comes in different variants.

The plaintiffs, Kaylee Browning and Sara Basile, claim that the St. Ives Apricot facial scrub damaged their skin due to its crushed walnut shells. The plaintiffs also claim that the product is unfit to be sold and used as a facial scrub.

The lawsuit also alleges the "dermatologist tested" label on St. Ives products are false as most dermatologists would not recommend the use of the facial scrub. The plaintiffs cited interviews and blog posts of dermatologists and skincare experts to back their claims.

In a statement, St. Ives' parent company Unilever stated, "As a general practice, we do not comment on pending litigation. We can say that for around 30 years, consumers loved and trusted the St. Ives brand to refresh and revitalize their skin. We are proud to be America's top facial scrub brand and stand by our dermatologist-tested formula."

Exfoliation Damages The Skin If Not Done Right

Exfoliation is the beauty process of peeling off the top layer of the skin to unplug pores and even out skin pigmentation. This can be done either mechanically, scrubbing the skin with a facial brush along with appropriate cleansers or facial scrubs, or chemically, by applying acid on the skin to loosen up the top layer that can be washed off easily.

If done the right way, exfoliation can unclog pores, control acne problems, lessen oily skin, and improve skin texture especially for badly sun-damaged skin. However, people have the tendency to overdo something especially if good results are shown, which can bring about the harmful and possible permanent damages to the skin.

Overdoing exfoliation can prematurely thin the skin which will make it more sensitive, making it prone to problems like acne and blemishes. Exfoliating the wrong way would also inflame the skin speeding up the aging process.

Particles like walnut shells and apricot pits found in facial scrubs have the tendency to create micro tears on the skin. Micro tears on the skin can widen and be infected leading to pockets on the skin.

Rita Lee from JustAboutSkin.com says, "You should always follow the instructions of the product and not exceed manufacturer's recommended frequency or time left on the skin." Most skincare experts also advise seeking professional care in order to ensure exfoliation is done right.