Purging And Breakout: How To Tell The Difference — Simply Skin (2024)

FAQs

How to differentiate between purging and breakout? ›

Purging often results in whiteheads and small raised red bumps on the skin, known as papules. True breakouts are more likely to induce nodules or cysts - larger, swollen, painful pimples that feel like knots under the skin. Purging usually appears where acne is common, like the forehead, cheeks, and chin.

“Purging occurs shortly after introducing a new product, whereas traditional breakouts can happen at any time,” Dr. Yamauchi said. This is because acne has many different causes, from oily skin and bacteria to excessive sweating, hormonal changes, and stress.

The blemishes caused by purging are usually smaller, come to a head quicker and heal faster. Breakouts, however, can vary widely in appearance, including blackheads, whiteheads, deeper cystic spots or hormonal acne along the jawline. They might heal slowly and can range in size and severity.

Skin purging looks like acne breakouts on all skin types and hues. The bumps may be redder on those with lighter skin tones and darker on people with darker skin tones.

Skin purging tends to look like any typical breakout, featuring blackheads and whiteheads (open and closed 'comedones' respectively). This condition might also be accompanied by flaking, rough texture and dullness, which are other signs that your complexion is going through an adjustment period.

If you are thinking, 'Does niacinamide cause purging? Then the answer is No. Niacinamide is unlikely to cause purging as it does not increase cell turnover. However, niacinamide can reduce skin purging with its anti-inflammatory properties.

APPEARANCE: A purge can look like whiteheads and blackheads, but it should not look like tiny red bumps—that's a sign of irritation, not purging. If you're experiencing dry patches or stinging / sensitive skin, that's a sign of irritation.

Retinol purging is a temporary reaction where increased cell turnover brings underlying impurities to the surface, leading to breakouts, dryness, and irritation. Symptoms include flaking, redness, and rough texture.

To tell the difference, purging tends to happen in places you frequently breakout anyway. The purging process is working with the skin's cycle and is a phase that should clear up within 4-6 weeks of starting the new routine but can take up to 3 months - anything longer could be more of a reaction.

For example, skin purging causes acne that disappears quickly and does not leave a scar. Breakouts may cause pimples that slowly shrink away and often leave marks. You may want to stop using it sooner rather than later if your new product does not contain ingredients that cause skin purging.

How to figure out what is breaking you out? ›

Skin purging means your skin is eliminating - on turbodrive - unwanted material that causes spots, pushing everything to the surface to speed up your skin's recovery. The fallout can cause breakouts and you are likely to see a whole manner of spots including: Whiteheads. Blackheads.

Ingredients like retinoids, AHAs, BHAs, PHA, chemical peels, and even lasers can prompt the skin to purge.”

If anything in skin care embodies the phrase “it gets worse before it gets better” it's skin purging. But once you arrive at that “better” stage, it is the absolute best. Although it may not feel like it now, skin purging is a sign of fantastic things to come—namely, stunning long-term skin health.

How long does purging last? The duration of skin purging will vary from person to person. Generally, however, it lasts 4–6 weeks. After 6 weeks, the skin may begin to respond to the ingredients, and a person should be able to see improvement.

Break-outs scattered at random areas of your face where you usually don't get pimples. Break-outs accompanied by irritations like redness, itchiness, rashes, pain, or swelling. Your skin isn't improving within 8 weeks or longer but is actually getting worse. In this case, you have to stop the usage of the new product.

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.

Be Patient and Don't Pick. Picking is the worst thing you can do during a skin purge. Not only will this increase the time needed to heal, but it also increases your chance of scarring, infection, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH).