What skincare products cause purging?

Author: Brice Turner  |  Last update: Monday, March 21, 2022

Retinoids such as Tretinoin, acids such as salicylic, and benzoyl peroxide are just a few of the products that cause purging. These products contain active ingredients that increase the skin cell turnover rate, therefore causing your skin to purge.

What skincare ingredients cause purging?

What active ingredients cause skin purging?
  • Retinoids (retinol, tretinoin, adapalene, tazarotene, isotretinoin, retinyl palmitate)
  • Hydroxy Acids (citric, hydroxycaproic, mandelic, salicylic, gluconolactone, glycolic, lactic, lactobionic, and tartaric)
  • Benzoyl Peroxide.
  • Chemical peels, lasers and microdermabrasions.

Is purging normal when using new skincare?

When you start a new skin care routine or you incorporate new products into your current regimen, you may experience breakouts or skin flaking. This process is sometimes called purging. This is a normal, short-term condition where the skin will rid itself of underlying oil, bacteria, or dirt, according to Dr.

Can any product cause purging?

Generally, you can keep using the active product that's causing the purge, but don't use anything else that contains active ingredients (including products specifically for acne or breakouts).

What ordinary products cause purging?

Products and treatments that increase skin cell turnover and cause 'purging' include:
  • Retinoids (e.g. tretinoin, retinol, retinaldehyde, etc.)
  • AHAs (e.g. glycolic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, mandelic acid)
  • BHAs (e.g. salicylic acid)
  • Lasers and chemical peels.
  • Physical exfoliation (e.g. scrubs, microdermabrasion)

Which Products Cause Skin Purging? ? Tips for All Skin Types

Can niacinamide cause skin purging?

Though some people do report experiencing irritation and breakouts after using the ingredient, niacinamide is unlikely to cause purging. That's because it doesn't affect the skin in a way that usually triggers purging.

How do I stop my skin from purging?

How to treat skin purging. “If the skin barrier is compromised when you see purging then start ingredients which help with barrier repair, such as ceramides and hyaluronic acid in a non-comedogenic formulation. If you are using a treatment or product continue with a slower approach.”

What does skin purging look like?

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.

Does salicylic acid make your skin purge?

Retinoids such as Tretinoin, acids such as salicylic, and benzoyl peroxide are just a few of the products that cause purging. These products contain active ingredients that increase the skin cell turnover rate, therefore causing your skin to purge.

Does retinol make you purge?

Skin purging happens when new ingredients, like retinol, promote increased cell turnover, which causes clogging and worsening breakouts. This is particularly the case as oil and debris that is trapped deeper underneath the skin comes to the surface.

How long do skin purges last?

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.

Does salicylic acid bring pimples to surface?

Salicylic acid also improves the shape of the pore lining, and once the pore is normalized, the backed-up, smaller clog can more easily come to the surface, appearing as new clogged pores (blackheads or white bumps).

Can vitamin C serum cause purging?

Retinoids, vitamin C, AHAs and BHAs (glycolic, malic, lactic, and salicylic acid) can also activate the skin's purging. Retinoids are the major ingredient that can cause Skin purging. Retinol is found in most of acne skin care products, is an active ingredient that is known to cause a skin purge.

Can hyaluronic acid cause purging?

These “can cause an increase in skin cell turnover which can lead to purging—a breakout of spots in areas where you would normally get acne. However, hyaluronic acid does not increase skin cell turnover; it's purely a hydrating skincare ingredient.”

Can a new skincare routine cause breakouts?

When introducing a new skincare product into your routine, you can sometimes experience an adverse reaction like an increase in breakouts or dry, flaky skin. While this may seem like you should stop using a new product, it may actually be a sign that it's working. This process is known as skin purging.

Why does your skin purge after a facial?

Why do some people break out directly following a facial? During a facial, skin is well stimulated and much of what's below the surface is encouraged to come up and out. If extractions are not done well then pores and pimples may have left over debris that come to a head in the following days.

Can skin purging last 3 months?

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!

Are skin purges real?

Many have questioned whether skin purging is real. It may seem contradictory that continuing to use a product through breakouts and holding on through some serious bad skin days can result in your complexion eventually clearing. But purging is absolutely real—especially if you have acne-prone skin to begin with.

How can you tell the difference between Breakout and purge?

Purging is a sign that the product is working and you should continue with the treatment as prescribed. After a few weeks of purging, your skin and acne will have noticeably improved. Breaking out is when your skin is reacting because it is sensitive to something in the new product.

Can moisturizer cause purging?

You Breakout A Lot

This is also a common sign and goes in junction with clogged pores. If you find yourself breaking out a lot, that typically is a good sign that you're using too much moisturizer for your own good.

Does AHA BHA cause purging?

Here are the commonly used active ingredients and treatments that can amp up cell turnover and pave the way to skin purging: Acids - The most common acids that can cause skin purging are AHA's and BHA's, which include salicylic acid, malic acid, glycolic acid, and mandelic acid.

Why do serums break me out?

Some serums can be too oily, which can exacerbate bumps and cause excessive buildup in the pores; other serums may contain high amounts of acids or exfoliants that can irritate the skin and worsen the condition—especially if your skin is sensitive, she explains.

Can I use niacinamide everyday?

As it's well tolerated by most people, niacinamide can be used twice a day everyday. It works at any time of the year although it comes in particularly handy in winter during cold, dry weather and frequent use of central heating. Use it in the run-up before starting your retinol treatment and alongside it, too.

Does glycolic acid make your skin purge?

These products are actually removing excess dead skin and oil (sebum) from the skin. Q. Does glycolic acid cause purging? Yes, glycolic acid can sometimes cause purging in acne prone skin.

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