How to Spot the Difference Between Skin Purging and Breakouts
- IMAGE Skincare UK
- Dec 6, 2023
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 20, 2023
Skin purging is a common, temporary reaction to the active ingredients in certain skincare products. This reaction can occur because your products may increase your skin’s cell turnover rate, bringing all the debris under your skin to the surface, which may cause breakouts and redness in the short term. Purging often occurs within the first few days or weeks of using blemish-fighting and anti ageing skincare products like exfoliants, retinoids, and a face wash with salicylic acid. It may cause temporary blemishes, including whiteheads and blackheads that typically disappear in a few weeks after your pores clear out.
Keep reading to learn more about skin purging, including why it happens and how to spot the difference between skin purging and a breakout of blemishes.
Why Skin Purging Occurs
If you’ve ever noticed that your skin seemed worse after starting a new skincare product, you were probably experiencing the effects of skin purging. Ironically, it usually happens with products designed to prevent breakouts and make your skin clearer and brighter, like salicylic acid cleanser. This is because many anti ageing, exfoliating, and blemish-related products stimulate the cellular turnover process and help to slough off dead skin cells. This accelerated shedding or exfoliation of dead skin cells may trigger blackheads or whiteheads.
Many skincare products can cause skin purging, including:
● Retinoids like retinol
● Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) like glycolic acid and lactic acid
● Beta hydroxy acids (BHAs)
● Salicylic acid
● Benzoyl peroxide
● Exfoliants
Can You Prevent Skin Purging?
Since skin purging is your skin’s natural reaction to an increased cell turnover rate, it can be challenging to prevent. Skin purging should be considered a normal adjustment process when using a new product. The initial purging process may rid your pores of old impurities, resulting in a clearer complexion.
However, there are a few ways to lower your chance of reacting when incorporating a new product into your routine.
● Start gradually: When introducing skin to new ingredients, start slowly. Instead of daily use, try using the new product every other day or less frequently to help your skin adjust slowly, potentially lessening the skin purging process.
● Use a lower concentration: Reduce your risk of whiteheads and blackheads by starting with a lower concentration of an active ingredient like retinol or an acid and gradually build up to higher concentrations as your skin adapts.
● Protect your skin: Taking preventative measures, like using gentle cleansers, moisturising your skin daily, and applying sunscreen, can help maintain your skin’s barrier function while trying out a new ingredient.
How to Spot the Difference Between Breakouts and Skin Purging
Knowing whether you’re experiencing a blemish breakout or skin purging can be challenging since they often present with the same symptoms. Here are some ways to differentiate between the two:
Timing: Regarding recognising the difference between skin purging and a blemish breakout, timing is almost everything. Purging happens shortly after introducing a new product, whereas regular breakouts can occur anytime. Acne has many causes, including excess oil production in the skin, hormonal fluctuations, clogged pores, bacteria, and even stress. Meanwhile, skin purging is from using a new product.
Length: Skin purging is temporary, while breakouts may return or never leave.
Location: Depending on the cause, blemishes can appear anywhere on the skin, whereas skin purging is likely to present in a predictable place. Purging occurs when you usually experience breakouts and tends to improve over time, while new breakouts may appear in unexpected areas. For example, using a lip enhancement complex shouldn’t cause skin purging on your forehead.
Type: Skin problems caused by purging are usually limited to blackheads and whiteheads. Other types of blemishes are unlikely to be caused by skin purging, like cysts and nodules.
It’s essential to note that not all skin reactions result from skin purging. Additional symptoms like burning, peeling, redness, or irritation could be signs of an allergic reaction or sensitivity to an ingredient in the product.
About IMAGE Skincare®
IMAGE Skincare® is a global skincare brand founded by an esthetician and plastic surgeon to bring you professional-grade skincare products that deliver real results. With professionals at the forefront of everything IMAGE does, you can trust you’re getting the most effective, science-backed skincare products possible. They collaborate closely with estheticians to design products that deliver outstanding, noticeable results through clean clinical skincare™ with naturally effective, mindful formulas free from parabens, phthalates, mineral oils, artificial fragrances, or synthetic dyes. IMAGE Skincare creates accessible products that are easy to use, integrating seamlessly into any daily regimen. Unsure where to start? Skincare professionals are the heart of IMAGE Skincare, providing an online personal regimen finder with recommended tools and products to address your unique complexion concerns. Embrace your best skin with IMAGE Skincare.
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Original Source: https://bit.ly/483eMML
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