Is it possible to harm my skin by scrubbing too vigorously?

Ever found yourself in a situation like this? One moment you're just nudging your husband to take his career more seriously. The next thing you know, he's murdered the king to claim the throne, and you're left with the bloody daggers to frame the servants. Soon, he's mumbling about prophecies while you're frantically trying to scrub off imaginary blood from your hands.

While those guilt-induced stains may seem permanent, your skin doesn't have to be. On the extreme end, over-scrubbing can actually erode your skin just like using sandpaper. People with obsessive-compulsive disorder, for example, might wash their hands to the point of redness, soreness, or even bleeding. If you're dealing with similar consequences from constant grooming, it may be time to consult a healthcare professional.

Scrubbing isn't the only potential risk for your skin. Keep in mind that skin thickness and sensitivity differ across your body. While it's fine to use a pumice stone on the soles of your feet (though even that can be overdone), you’d never want to apply the same routine to your face, where the skin is much thinner and more prone to damage. Similarly, some skin care products are specially designed for sensitive areas like the face, featuring gentler ingredients and exfoliants.

Even with the gentlest cleansers, there’s only so much scrubbing your face can tolerate. Fortunately, scrubbing isn’t a major cause of skin damage or wrinkles. According to Everyday Health, the real culprits are smoking, chemical irritants, and—strangely enough—facial expressions.

However, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention caution that scrubbing and washing can only go so far in keeping you clean. After a certain point, your skin can become "too clean." For this reason, irritant contact dermatitis is a common risk for healthcare professionals who frequently wash their hands and wear gloves. Over-scrubbing can erode the stratum corneum, your skin's outermost barrier. When this barrier is damaged regularly, it can lead to dryness, irritation, cracking, and other issues. Additionally, damaged skin is more prone to harboring harmful pathogens [source: Larson].

So, don’t go overboard with your hygiene routine and definitely avoid being too rough. Otherwise, you might end up with diminishing returns on cleanliness—and you might even find yourself wandering around a gloomy Scottish castle in a sleepwalking haze.