What is acne purging?

“The term 'skin purging' refers to a reaction to an active ingredient that is increasing skin cell turnover rate,” Dr. Deanne Mraz Robinson, a board-certified dermatologist, tells Healthline. As skin cell turnover speeds up, the skin starts shedding dead skin cells faster than normal.

Is acne purging good?

Purging pimples do not leave marks or blemishes on your skin. It actually heals the skin to form fresher skin cells. Breakouts don't benefit the skin; they leave marks and blemishes when they go. The cell turnover is faster to remove dead cells.

What does acne purging look like?

Skin purging typically looks like tiny red bumps on the skin that are painful to touch. They are often accompanied by whiteheads or blackheads. It can also cause your skin to become flaky. The flare ups caused by purging have a shorter lifespan than a breakout.

What happens during acne purging?

Skin purging occurs because newly introduced skincare ingredients increase the rate at which your skin cells turnover, causing you to shed more dead skin cells than usual. This, in turn, pushes layers of dead skin off and also brings clogged pores to the surface, Chang says, resulting in more breakouts.

How do you treat acne that is purging?

How to treat skin purging. “If the skin barrier is compromised when you see purging then start ingredients which help with barrier repair, such as ceramides and hyaluronic acid in a non-comedogenic formulation. If you are using a treatment or product continue with a slower approach.”

A Dermatologist's Guide To Acne Purging

How do I know my skin is purging?

How long does purging skin last?

Be patient for one skin cycle, or about 28 days

Generally speaking, dermatologists say purging should be over within four to six weeks of starting a new skin care regimen. If your purge lasts longer than six weeks, consult your dermatologist.

How can you tell the difference between Breakout and purge?

So what's the difference between a skin purge and a breakout? Skin purging is when your skin is adjusting to the new product. Spots appear where you frequently get them and they go away faster than a normal pimple. Purging is a sign that the product is working and you should continue with the treatment as prescribed.

Does skin purging cause blackheads?

Rather than being a reaction to a product, purging is an indication that the product is speeding up that process of skin cell turnover. Again, in comparison to the red irritated pimples of breakouts, purging takes form in blackheads and flesh-colored bumps on the skin.

What ingredients cause skin purging?

Skin purges typically result from chemicals that exfoliate your skin, like retinols, alpha and beta hydroxy acids, and acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide.

Does your skin purge with niacinamide?

Though some people do report experiencing irritation and breakouts after using the ingredient, niacinamide is unlikely to cause purging. That's because it doesn't affect the skin in a way that usually triggers purging.

Does salicylic acid make skin purge?

The comedones triggered when skin purges happen at the start of using a product known to cause purging. Dr. Beth McLellan recommends sticking with a product that is known to cause purging but not breakouts, such as a leave-on exfoliant that contains 1–2% salicylic acid.

Can salicylic acid make acne worse?

Acne treatments — especially those that contain active ingredients like benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid — are drying and a bit harsh on your skin. If you use too many treatments at the same time, your skin may become irritated, and you may actually suffer more breakouts as a result.

Is my skin purging or reacting?

What does it look like? Distinct, acne-like bumps may be purging. However, if you're noticing welts, diffuse redness, or anything resembling a rash, stop what you're doing. Inflammation is a sign of reaction and generally appears as all-over redness rather than individual, blemish-like spots.

Can moisturizer cause purging?

Most other products, like moisturisers and cleansers without these actives, won't be able to cause purging and you should switch to a different product.

How do you know if acne treatment is working?

Give an acne treatment at least 4 weeks to work.

If a treatment works for you, you should notice some improvement in 4 to 6 weeks. It can take two to three months or longer to see clearing. If you notice improvement, keep using the treatment. Even when you see clearing, you'll want to keep using the acne treatment.

How do you know if salicylic acid is working?

Salicylic acid penetrates into your skin and works to dissolve the dead skin cells clogging your pores. It can take several weeks of use for you to see its full effect. Check with your dermatologist if you aren't seeing results after 6 weeks. Your skin is affected by more than what you put on it.

Should I moisturize at night if I have acne?

If you're using topical creams to combat acne-related symptoms, apply at night after cleansing and moisturising for maximum benefits. Retinol, which is a great active ingredient for treating acne, has a keratolytic action, which lifts dead skin cells off the surface of the skin and exfoliates pores.

Does vitamin C cause purging?

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. Products that can trigger purging include: Hydroxy acids (AHAs, BHAs and PHAs) and fruit acids.

How can I control my hormonal imbalance acne?

Can salicylic acid and niacinamide be used together?

Can niacinamide and salicylic acid be used together? The simple answer is yes. They complement each other well. Being oil soluble, salicylic acid can penetrate deeper into the skin layers, but it can also dehydrate and irritate skin.

Why am I breaking out after using niacinamide?

Most niacinamide products also contain a variety of other ingredients. If any of these ingredients increase skin cell turnover then they may be behind any 'purging'. Some ingredients can also be 'comedogenic' which means that they are more likely to clog pores and cause breakouts.

Can niacinamide make acne worse?

Niacinamide, also called Nicotinamide is an amide of Nicotinic Acid. The Latter is often present as a residual impurity during purification of Niacinamide. However, high concentrations of Nicotinic acid are associated with various possible skin side effects such as redness, irritations, and acne exacerbation.

Can too much niacinamide cause acne?

Niacinamide, however, does not increase cell turnover and thus any sign of purging—which appears as inflammatory acne-like pustules or whiteheads—is not due to niacinamide itself, but other active ingredients like retinoids (e.g. retinol, retinyl esters, retinaldehyde).

Is it good for your skin to purge?

Here are some of the benefits of skin purging: Your treatment is working – The sudden increase of blemishes means that the product is successfully increasing the skin cell turnover rate. Your breakouts will subside – These particular breakouts aren't the ones you suffered through in high school.