Does Curology make your skin worse? If your Curology cream has new active ingredients in it that you've never used before (like retinoids or acids), then yes, your skin might “purge," aka temporarily break out while your skin adjusts to the new exfoliating ingredients.
So if you notice your skin breaking out more in your first few weeks of using Curology, don't be alarmed: it's not uncommon to see an uptick in breakouts when starting any new acne medication. Counterintuitive as it may seem, this is evidence that the acne-fighting ingredients are doing their job!
“It might get worse before it gets better.”
When you start your custom Curology formula, you may notice your skin breaking out more at first. Counterintuitive as it may seem, this means the acne-fighting ingredients are doing their job! This unpleasant process is called purging.
You might see anything from small, superficial bumps to deep, inflamed pimples. It usually starts 1-2 weeks after beginning treatment with one of these ingredients, and it can last up to 8 weeks, but not to worry — once your skin adjusts, you should start seeing improvement! As this can take time, patience is key.
Unfortunately, many members find that if they stop using Curology once their skin clears up, their old acne will start sneaking back in. Don't let it! Keeping your skin healthy is like going to the gym. You'll need to keep up the habit in order to maintain the positive changes in your body.
Most Curology formulas should be used every night (and morning, if you have the dark spot formula). Follow your Curology provider's instructions to help minimize any potential irritation. If you do experience irritation, you can check out our tips here or reach out to your medical provider—they'll be happy to help!
After washing the day away, apply 1-2 pumps to your fingertips, dab on the affected areas, and rub in gently with your fingertips. It's that simple!
Many Curology patients start seeing results within the first 4–8 weeks. So it can take at least 2 months to assess if acne medications like your Curology formula work for you. Don't forget: many people will still experience an occasional pimple from time to time, even when they're no longer consistently breaking out.
Skin purging typically looks like tiny red bumps on the skin that are painful to touch. They are often accompanied by whiteheads or blackheads. It can also cause your skin to become flaky. The flare ups caused by purging have a shorter lifespan than a breakout.
“Purging is neither good nor bad. It can happen after using excellent products but, equally, it also frequently occurs when the skin barrier is compromised prior to starting with a product or treatment.
Skin purging is a process that happens when certain skincare ingredients increase skin cell turnover. This encourages shedding of old, dead cells and growth of new, healthy ones. Unfortunately, this process often makes the skin look worse before it looks better.
Skin purging refers to a reaction to an active ingredient that is increasing skin cell turnover in order to improve acne. When using prescription-strength acne medications, it's reasonably common for your skin to get worse before it gets better.
Generally speaking, dermatologists say purging should be over within four to six weeks of starting a new skin care regimen. If your purge lasts longer than six weeks, consult your dermatologist. It could be that you need to adjust the dosage and/or frequency of application.
Peeling, redness, and irritation are common onset reactions for some people when they first start to use retinol. Some reactions get so bad that the common term used to describe the list of effects has been dubbed the “retinol uglies”. Note from a skincare expert: Many things in life get worse before they get better.
Purging pimples do not leave marks or blemishes on your skin. It actually heals the skin to form fresher skin cells. Breakouts don't benefit the skin; they leave marks and blemishes when they go. The cell turnover is faster to remove dead cells.
A purge can last as long as two months, and you should start seeing an improvement by the six-week point, if not sooner. On the other side of a purge is cleaner, clearer skin!
You can apply moisturizer in the morning and a few minutes before or after you apply your Curology medication in the evening. If your medication contains tretinoin, we recommend using a moisturizer once or twice daily. If your medication does not contain tretinoin or if you have oily skin, a moisturizer is optional.
The skin will not worsen if you stop using Curology. It may take a little more time for your skin to heal and improve on its own, but the process has not been accelerated by the use of Curology. When can you stop Curology? Curology is a subscription service, so you can cancel your membership at any time.
All Curology members get a small bottle with their free trial that typically lasts 30 days with regular use. After the trial period, you will receive a large, two-month bottle every 60 days.
This bottle is 27 ml., almost twice as big as my first bottle (14 ml.). The bottle stated my name, my provider, and the 3 active ingredients in my formulation (each user's personalized prescription consists of 3 of Curology's 6 basic ingredients, which you can read about here).
Skin purging occurs because newly introduced skincare ingredients increase the rate at which your skin cells turnover, causing you to shed more dead skin cells than usual. This, in turn, pushes layers of dead skin off and also brings clogged pores to the surface, Chang says, resulting in more breakouts.
If you want to prevent skin purging or limit a purge's severity, make sure you introduce your new acne treatment products slowly into your routine. This is true of other skincare products for most skin conditions! Slow and steady usually wins the race.
Skin purging occurs when you start using a new product that contains chemical exfoliants such as alpha-hydroxy acids, beta-hydroxy acids, and retinoids, all of which speed up the rate of skin cell turnover (the rate at which you shed dead skin cells and replace them with new cells), says Dr. Gonzalez.
Why do I still have acne in my late 20s? At its root, adult acne is caused by the same things that cause teen acne: excess skin oil and bacteria. Any changes in hormones, including those brought on by pregnancy and menstruation, can trigger excess oil. Women who smoke also seem to be more prone to acne.