“The term 'skin purging' refers to a reaction to an active ingredient that is increasing skin cell turnover rate,” Dr. Deanne Mraz Robinson, a board-certified dermatologist, tells Healthline. As skin cell turnover speeds up, the skin starts shedding dead skin cells faster than normal.
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.
Unbeknownst to most, skin purging is actually quite common and can happen when a new product is introduced into a daily skincare regimen.
When starting a new acne treatment , things can sometimes worsen before they get better... a phenomenon loving referred to as “acne purging.” This initial purge doesn't happen for everyone —just an “extra lucky” group of us—but it is a totally normal thing for roughly 20-25% of people who start a new, medical-grade ...
Be patient for one skin cycle, or about 28 days
Everyone's skin is unique, so that time frame can differ from person to person. Generally speaking, dermatologists say purging should be over within four to six weeks of starting a new skin care regimen.
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.
Unfortunately, purging can be a lengthy process and it can take up to three or so months before results start to show, especially if the treatment is an acne medicated treatment.
Purging can last for anything from one or two weeks to one or two months. Breakouts can last a while; there is no time period that indicates when the breakouts will go away. The cell turnover speed is usual. The purging of the skin starts after a few days of using a new product.
So what's the difference between a skin purge and a breakout? Skin purging is when your skin is adjusting to the new product. Spots appear where you frequently get them and they go away faster than a normal pimple. Purging is a sign that the product is working and you should continue with the treatment as prescribed.
What does it look like? Distinct, acne-like bumps may be purging. However, if you're noticing welts, diffuse redness, or anything resembling a rash, stop what you're doing. Inflammation is a sign of reaction and generally appears as all-over redness rather than individual, blemish-like spots.
Additionally, if you experience any itchiness, redness, burning or pain immediately after applying a new product, these are clear signs you're experiencing an allergic reaction and it's best to wash it off carefully and stop using it altogether.
Breakouts that are the result of a skin purge will heal (read: go away) faster than other blemishes, says Dr. Gonzalez. (Because they're caused by an increase in cell turnover rate, the healing process also happens faster.) In short, keep an eye on how long your newly-formed pimples last.
The process of skin purging again varies from person to person. While you may want to speed up the purging process in order to get to improved skin faster, the average skin cell turnover rate is about a month. Remembering to stay hydrated and moisturized can help you with tolerating the purging process.