Skin purging is a phenomenon that some people with breakout-prone skin skin can experience after using a leave-on exfoliant or a particular new ingredient for the first time. The theory is that such products 'purge' skin from clogs stuck deep in the pore, pushing them quickly to the surface.
Yes, over-exfoliating can actually cause breakouts. When you exfoliate too often or use harsh exfoliants, it can strip away the natural oils and disrupt the skin's barrier. This can lead to dryness, irritation, and even breakouts. It's important to find a balance and listen to your skin's needs.
Skin purging is said to last 4-6 weeks, however, everyone's skin is different (2). This is only temporary and will eventually subside as your skin adjusts to the new treatment. In the meantime, it is important to cleanse gently and avoid picking at your skin, as this can cause further irritation.
As your over-exfoliation worsens, your skin can become dry and flaky. Dry skin builds up dead skin cells faster, so you're more likely to see a layer of dead skin over the surface of your skin. This layer of dead skin can cause dry skin to look very dull. You may also see more redness than usual with dry skin.
Breakouts often appear more sporadic in your usual problem spots. Purging often results in whiteheads and small raised red bumps on the skin, known as papules. True breakouts are more likely to induce nodules or cysts - larger, swollen, painful pimples that feel like knots under the skin.
During this turbulent time for your skin, it is important to be kind to it. Stick to a gentle and basic skin care routine to avoid further inflammation; a gentle cleanser, a soothing hydrating moisturiser, and sunscreen during the day. Don't stop using the product that has triggered the purge, but do limit its use.
The films present a seemingly normal, crime-free America in the near future. However, the country is a dystopia which observes an annual event known as "the Purge", in which all crime, including murder, is legal for a 12-hour period.
Flaky skin can be made worse by not applying a moisturizing product after exfoliating. If you only remove the dead skin without protecting the new skin underneath, it can lead to rough skin and uneven texture. Some people even experience peeling skin because the texture is so dry and rough.
Esthetician Taylor Worden adds there are other signs your skin is over-exfoliated, including redness, dryness, burning, peeling, rashes, breakouts, inflammation, tenderness, and stinging.
Even with a good skincare routine, breakouts can still happen if the routine isn't matched to your skin's specific needs. Your skin might benefit from tweaking the products you use, possibly changing ingredients or dosages in your acne treatments.
If the skin purging stage is really troublesome, it can be helpful to decrease the frequency of your actives by alternating days of use. Stick with it - in time, things will likely improve. When the frequency of new spots starts to reduce, increase the frequency of your actives again.
At our Skin Health Experts Clinic in the heart of Hollywood, we recommend our clients exfoliate two to three times a week is the recommended regimen. Once you reach a clean base of unclogged pores, it's often easier to maintain and you may be able to reduce your exfoliation frequency to once or twice a week.
Skin purging is a phenomenon that some people with breakout-prone skin experience after using a leave-on exfoliant or certain other active ingredients for the first time. The theory is that such products “purge” the skin from clogs that form and get stuck deep in the pore, pushing them quickly to the surface.
After peeling, your skin is even more sensitive. Therefore, avoid direct sun exposure, which can lead to even more visible signs of aging. If you must expose yourself to the sun, use a broad spectrum physical sunscreen. Avoid strenuous workouts, dry saunas and steam baths.
Scrubbing too hard or using an exfoliator that is too harsh for your skin can cause micro-abrasions, causing breakouts.
Apply a gentle skincare routine
Over-exfoliated skin is very sensitive, which is why it's important to implement a gentle, mild skin care routine to help the skin recover. Given that over-exfoliation can dry the skin out, moisturisers, serums and cleansers formulated for dry skin are usually your best bet.
You can exfoliate wet skin, as many people do with a loofah or a scrub in the shower, but the friction level is different when the skin cells are moist, Karen said. The dry method will help you to more effectively exfoliate, plus it's less messy, Gohara noted.
Yes. Overdoing exfoliation, both chemical and physical, can irritate the skin by causing it to tear and by damaging the cells in the skin, says Alam. He adds that over-exfoliating can also “remove the natural oils and chemicals that keep the skin healthy”.
The only rules during The Purge are that "Level 10" government officials must remain unharmed and usage of weaponry above "Class 4" is forbidden. The Purge is designed to act as a catharsis for the American people, so that they may vent all negative emotions however they desire.
Salicylic acid is one ingredient that may cause a temporary bout of acne. 1 Known as "skin purging," worsening acne is a short-term reaction to ingredients that speed up cell turnover. Salicylic acid helps your body quickly get rid of dead skin cells.
APPEARANCE: A purge can look like whiteheads and blackheads, but it should not look like tiny red bumps—that's a sign of irritation, not purging. If you're experiencing dry patches or stinging / sensitive skin, that's a sign of irritation. Sometimes your skin just needs time to adjust to the stronger active ingredient.