Skin Purging
Skin purging is common after a facial or starting a new skin care product. While new breakouts can be frustrating, skin purging is actually a natural process that leads to healthier skin in the long term.
What Exactly Is Skin Purging?
Skin purging is a temporary reaction that occurs when new skincare products or treatments increase cell turnover, causing the skin to rapidly shed dead cells and bring impurities to the surface. This can lead to a sudden breakout of pimples, blackheads, or whiteheads, especially in areas where you’re already prone to blemishes.
Skin purging isn’t the same as your regular breakouts; it appears and clears faster on your skin and it is localized to the areas that are already prone to breakouts. For example, if you’re prone to hormonal breakouts on your jawline, that’s the area your skin may purge after a facial or new product is introduced into your routine.
What Causes Skin Purging?
Skin Purging is common with products that contain active ingredients like AHAs, BHAs, Vitamin C, Enzymes, and Retinols. These ingredients help increase skin cell turnover, which brings impurities to the skin’s surface.
In spa treatments like facials and peels always stimulate cell turnover because there’s an exfoliation component. You may leave the spa with glowing skin but notice increased breakouts the next day due to skin purging. As you use more active ingredients, your skin will get used to them and potentially purge less often. I even get skin purging sometimes! Last month, I did a Glo2Facial and I woke up the next morning with a couple whiteheads between my eyebrows. They healed after a couple days and my skin was glowing again!
Why Skin Purging Is Actually a Good Sign
Skin purging is a natural process that indicates that the skin is clearing out congestion. This is a sign the product or treatment is working and is helping to renew and refresh the skin on the surface of your face. Once you give your skin a few days to heal, you’ll see a healthy, glowing complexion!
How to Treat and Manage Skin Purging
The biggest thing is to say consistent. While it’s tempting to discontinue a product or treatment when you see a breakout, you need to continue to see results. If you just received a professional treatment, make sure to use soothing, hydrating products to support the skin barrier during the purge, like those found in the Cosmedix Sensitive Skin or Post Treatment Kits. If you started a new product, keep using it at the recommended interval for at least one month to start seeing results; products like retinol can take up to 3 months of consistent use to see results. Also, make sure you avoid over exfoliating since this can further irritate the skin.
How To Know It’s Not a Purge
If you continue a product and you see persistent irritation, sensitivity, or breakouts lasting longer than 4-6 weeks, that may indicate that the product you’re using is not a good fit for your skin. It is also important to note what other changes you have made to your routine during this time since foods and supplements we consume can also cause skin breakouts and irritation. Try discontinuing the skin care product and see if these symptoms disappear.
