What Does Skin Purging Look Like? How to Tell You’ve Got It
If you’ve started using a new skincare product and suddenly you’ve started breaking out, it’s easy to assume that you’re reacting to it. It’s totally normal to get a reaction to something new – it happens all the time, right? While that might be true, it could also be something known as purging. Naturally, you’ll want to know what it is and what does skin purging look like?
That’s our focus here, as we examine what you’ll go through when experiencing this temporary state of being, so you don’t mistake it for a reaction and stop using it. Knowing the difference between purging and a regular breakout can help you stick with a routine that’s working, even when you think your skin is telling you something different.
So, What Does Skin Purging Look Like?
Essentially, skin purging is a short-term reaction often experienced by people who are beginning their use of acne-control products that contain ingredients like salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide (BPO).
It can also happen when using exfoliants like glycolic acid, lactic acid, and retinoids, which encourage your skin to shed dead cells faster than it usually would. So, what does skin purging look like?
Well, purging usually looks like a flare-up of your usual breakouts, but there are some key signs that you need to keep your eye out for that point toward purging.
- Sign #1 – It Happens Where You Normally Break Out – If, after using a BPO product or something similar, you’re seeing blemishes in your regular trouble zones (like your T-zone or chin), it’s more likely to be purging than a reaction.
- Sign #2 – Your Zits Heal Faster Than Normal – If the breakouts you’re getting while using an acne-control product tend to be smaller than normal and quicker to heal, that’s almost certainly going to be purging.
- Sign #3 – It Begins Directly After Starting a New Product – If the breakouts you’re getting are different from usual and they worsen just after using a new exfoliant or acne product, it’s more likely to be related to it than not. There’s a chance it’s not purging, but it likely is.
- Sign #4 – It Starts to Clear Up In 4-6 Weeks – You’ll also find with purging that the breakouts you’re getting will start to clear up within a few weeks of starting to use an acne foaming wash or something similar. You won’t immediately be zit-free, but you should notice purging clearing up gradually, but noticeably.
Why does purging happen? Acne control products sometimes speed up cell turnover, which encourages your skin to begin shedding dead skin cells faster than it usually would. Also, the process pushes out blockages that were already there, forming beneath the skin’s surface before you started using the product. It just brings them all to a head at once, resulting in telltale blackheads, whiteheads and other small pimples.
Conversely, if it’s not purging, you’ll probably notice that a) you’re getting breakouts in areas you don’t usually get zits and b) your skin isn’t getting better, even gradually. If either of these applies, it might be worth stopping the product you’re using and speaking to a dermatologist.
What Does Skin Purging Look Like? It’s Important That You Know
Skin purging can be discouraging, especially when you’re excited to see improvement. But if the product you’re using is known for boosting cell turnover, and you’re seeing breakouts in your usual spots, there’s a good chance it’s a purge, not a problem. The knowledge we’ve covered here should help you determine what’s actually going on with your skin and give you the confidence to stick with it.
Just remember to keep your routine gentle and give your skin time to adjust. Sometimes, clearer skin really is just around the corner. It just has to get a little worse before it gets better.
