Dryness, flaking, or peeling are well-known side effects of some skin care ingredients, such as retinoids. But some people also anecdotally report an increase in acne. Some say this “purging” is the skin eliminating toxins or impurities.
If you've recently introduced new skincare products only to experience an increase in blemishes, don't panic. While a breakout can be a sign a product is unsuitable, in many cases a fresh crop of blackheads or bumps may indicate your skin is purging – and that smoother, clearer skin could be waiting around the corner.
Skincare products may not improve the skin for several reasons. Mismatched ingredients, an incomplete routine, inconsistent use, and low-quality products can all play a role. Environmental factors and underlying skin conditions also contribute, and unrealistic expectations or impatience may hinder results.
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.
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.
Skin purging looks like: Red bumps on skin and accompanying facial redness. Breakouts and blemishes dotted along where you've applied the chemical exfoliant or retinoid product to your skin. Dryness and flaking can appear alongside bumps and breakouts.
Generally, it takes about a month or one full skin cycle for your skin to adjust to a new skincare routine. A skin cycle is the process by which skin cells are formed and travel up to the surface of the skin, and then are shed off.
Skin purging can show itself as red bumps, whiteheads and blackheads on the face. In addition, it causes dead skin cells to surface, which results in flakiness and dryness. These signs can also indicate your skin is getting accustomed to a product.
You can often tell easily if your skincare routine is not working for you, as you will notice either old symptoms return (such as acne or dry skin), or you may notice new symptoms you haven't had before.
You may see an increase in oil production, and the oil produced by your face may be thicker. Your pores may look larger. This can lead to clogged pores and more acne. Stress also plays a role.
An improper skincare routine
For example, if your skin is prone to dryness and dullness, using formulas with ingredients that strip the skin of excess oils may make dull skin look even more flat. Skipping moisturizer, too, can leave your skin dull and contribute to a dull complexion.
You may be using the best face cream or top-notch face serum, but if your face is not cleaned well, the product is not going to do much for you. In worst cases, you are likely to get clogged pores, dull skin and acne. Just like food, skin care products also expire, making them not as effective as they once were.
Stress acne typically presents as an array of small, red or pink pimples that can be scattered across various areas of the face. These facial acne pimples often take the form of whiteheads or blackheads and can progress into pustules, which are red, pus-filled bumps, or papules, which are small, raised bumps.
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.
When your barrier is weak because you don't have enough lipids in your skin, Vaseline acts as a substitute for these lipids. Remember the brick-and-mortar analogy? Vaseline fills in the cracks in your skin's “mortar” so that your barrier starts to act in a healthy way again.
Vitamin C is known to keep the skin barrier intact by improving the keratinocyte cell type's capacity to specialize its role within the cell. To treat disorders that impair the skin barrier, vitamin C is combined with other substances found in skincare products.
For those of us who do suffer from purging, it can look like: breaking out in pustules (pimples), the appearance of flaky, peeling skin, irritation and dry patches. Getting these symptoms can be demotivating, especially if you're already feeling unconfident about your skin.
Acids, vitamin C serums and retinoids can all cause purging. Purging is an initial acne breakout that can occur when you're starting a new active skincare product—one that causes your skin cells to turn over more quickly.
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.
The 4-2-4 rule is a detailed cleansing routine that involves a four-minute oil massage, a two-minute cleanse with a water-based cleanser and a four-minute rinse with warm and cold water. Read ahead to know about the Japanese double cleanse routine, and what experts have to say about it.
However, when you put in work and remain consistent in your skin care routine, your skin will respond in kind. The bumpiness disappears, your skin produces less sebum (the body's natural oil), and it becomes naturally hydrated. When you run your very clean hands along your skin, it should feel smooth and velvety.
acne breakout. It is very difficult to say if a person's acne is due to a skin care product or a regular breakout according to appearance alone. However, people may be reacting to a specific product if the symptoms: shortly begin after they introduce a new product to their routine.