Skin Purging vs Breakout: What’s the Real Difference?
Struggling to differentiate between skin purging vs breakout? Learn the causes, and symptoms, and how to identify each, plus get practical tips on managing both.
Ever tried a new skincare product in hopes of getting that glowing skin, but ended up breaking out worse than ever? So frustrating, right?
And to make things worse, figuring out if it’s skin purging or just regular breakouts can feel like playing a guessing game, making it tough to find the right treatment.
In this guide, I’ll break down the difference between skin purging and breakouts. We’ll cover everything from what causes them to the symptoms, and I’ll even give you some tips on how to manage both, so you can finally get your skin looking its best.
How Do Pimples Form?
What’s the actual difference between skin purge and plain old breakouts? It all boils down to how a pimple forms. It starts with a clogged pore, usually because dead skin cells don’t detach properly and make their way to the surface.
When your pores get clogged, these tiny bumps called microcomedones pop up. You can’t see them on your skin’s surface, though. Sometimes they disappear without you even noticing, but other times they transform into different types of acne like whiteheads, blackheads, pimples, and cysts.
Understanding this process is key to telling apart purging from regular breakouts. Let’s dive deeper, shall we?
What is Skin Purging?
Let’s talk about skin purging. You might have heard of it before, but what does it really mean? Basically, skin purging is when your skin starts getting rid of all the gunk (like dead skin cells and oil) that was hiding beneath the surface (microcomedones). It may seem like a sudden breakout, but actually, it’s a good thing.
When you try a new skincare product that promotes cell turnover, it speeds up the process of bringing those microcomedones to the surface. They were already forming under your skin, but the new product helps it happen faster. It’s important to note that these microcomedones were already there, and the new product didn’t cause them.
So why does this happen? Well, your overactive sebaceous glands produce more sebum than necessary, and this excess sebum gets trapped in your pores along with dead skin cells. Over time, it all builds up and bacteria start feasting on it (yum!). Then your immune system jumps in and brings those microcomedones to the surface to get rid of the bad stuff.
Sometimes, if the product is irritating, it can also cause some inflammation and make more microcomedones show up. Inflammation is one of the factors that contribute to acne. But as the product starts working, fewer microcomedones should form. After the initial purge phase, your skin should become clearer than before you started using the product.
So even though it can be frustrating to go through the initial breakout, it’s actually a sign that the product is doing its job of clearing out your skin and preventing future breakouts. Trust me, the angry-volcano stage will pass, and once the purge is over, you can say goodbye to those breakouts.
Just keep in mind that some skincare gurus may dismiss purging as a myth, but scientific studies have proven them wrong. So, if you’re experiencing purging, stick with it!
- Skin purging is the process of your skin removing build-up beneath the surface.
- Trying a new product that speeds up skin cell turnover can bring microcomedones to the surface more quickly, causing a temporary breakout.
- This is a good thing and means the product is working to clear out your skin and prevent future breakouts.
- While the initial breakout phase can be frustrating, it’s important to stick with it.
- Some skincare gurus may dismiss purging as a myth, but scientific studies have proven them wrong.
What are Breakouts?
Breakouts happen when one or more product ingredients don’t mesh well with your skin. There are a few reasons this can happen:
- Comedogenicity: Ingredients are clogging your pores
- Allergies: Your immune system thinks an ingredient is the enemy and fights it off
- Irritation: An ingredient may be too harsh for your skin
If you experience a breakout, stop using the product right away. Continuing to use it won’t help your skin.
If a product is causing new clogged pores or increasing irritation without improving your skin’s function, it’s likely due to an irritating ingredient. New clogged pores lead to more blemishes, while irritation leads to inflammation and more microcomedones flaring up.
While some companies claim that their “all-natural” products cause purging as your skin detoxifies from synthetic chemicals, this is false.
Unless the product contains something that increases skin turnover, the likely explanation for irritation is an irritating ingredient. In some cases, your skin may get used to the product over time, but more often it’s best to find a better option.
- Breakouts occur when one or more ingredients in a product don’t agree with your skin, leading to comedogenicity, allergies, or irritation.
- If you experience a breakout, stop using the product immediately to avoid further damage.
- Additionally, some companies falsely claim that their products cause purging when it’s actually an irritating ingredient giving your skin grief.
How to Tell the Difference Between Skin Purging vs Breakout
It can be difficult to distinguish between if your skin is purging vs. breakout, but by considering a few factors, you can figure out whether you should stick with your product or to stop.
Here’s what you need to know:
What Product Are You Using?
Products that contain active ingredients that increase skin turnover are the most likely to cause skin purging. Look out for these guys that speed up skin turnover:
- Hydroxy acids (AHAs, BHAs, and PHAs): These are chemical exfoliants: AHAs include glycolic, lactic, malic, and mandelic acids. BHAs like salicylic acid and lipohydroxy acid. PHAs include lactobionic acid and gluconolactone.
- Retinoids: These are vitamin A derivatives found in anti-aging products. Some examples include retinol, tretinoin (Retin-A), adapalene (Differin), and retinyl palmitate.
- Benzoyl peroxide: Commonly found in anti-acne products, including spot treatments, gels, and cleansers.
- Physical and enzyme exfoliants: Physical exfoliants like scrubs and brushes, as well as peeling gels can be irritating to the skin. Enzyme exfoliants like enzyme masks, bromelain, papain, actinidin, pumpkin extract, papaya extract, and kiwi extract can also speed up skin turnover.
- In-clinic treatments like chemical peels, lasers, and microdermabrasion.
If your product contains any of these active ingredients, then your skin is probably purging. If it doesn’t, then it’s probably a breakout and it’s best to stop using the product.
Where are you breaking out?
When it comes to identifying if your skin is purging or just breaking out, your skin has another clue: location.
A purge usually brings pimples to the surface in areas where you typically experience breakouts. For example, if you usually experience breakouts on your chin, and after using a product with active ingredients that speed up cellular turnover, your chin breaks out in pimples, then it’s likely a purge.
However, if those pimples pop up in areas where you never get breakouts, it’s a sign that there’s something in the product your skin can’t tolerate. It’s best to toss it out and move on to something more suitable for your skin. Remember, location is key in understanding what your skin is telling you.
How long have you been breaking out?
Alright, let’s talk about the timeline of a purge. The purging period typically lasts around a month. This is because your skin’s uppermost layers – the epidermis – require this amount of time to renew themselves fully.
However, if you’ve been using a new product for around 6-8 weeks and your skin is still not showing signs of improvement, it’s probably not a purge. This could be a sign that the product isn’t working for you and it’s time to say goodbye.
Here are the key points to help you determine whether you’re experiencing a purge or a breakout.
It’s a purge if:
- Your skincare product contains active ingredients.
- The pimples disappear within a month.
- The pimples appear on your typical breakout spots.
If this is the case, don’t panic! Keep using the product, because it’s likely that your skin just needs to adjust and the results will be worth it.
It’s a breakout if:
- Your skincare product doesn’t contain any active ingredients that speed up skin cell turnover.
- The pimples appear in places where you don’t usually breakout.
- The pimples stick around for more than a month.
If this is the case, it’s time to ditch the product. Continuing to use it will only continue to irritate your skin and prevent it from healing.
How To Minimize Skin Purging
Want to minimize the pain of skin purging? I’ve got you covered.
Here are some strategies you can use to limit the severity of a purge when introducing a new product with active ingredients:
- Start at a lower concentration.
- Use a smaller amount.
- Use it less frequently, such as once a week at first.
- Wash it off after a few minutes.
If your skin seems to tolerate the new product without any purging or breakouts, gradually increase the usage to the recommended level.
While you’re waiting for the purge to subside, treat your skin like you would with a typical breakout. Here are a few tips:
- Keep your skin hydrated to improve its functionality, reduce irritation, and speed up recovery. You can do this by using moisturizers on a regular basis.
- Avoid picking or popping any pimples
- Limit sun exposure since many purge-inducing ingredients make your skin more sensitive to the sun.
- Wear SPF even inside to protect your skin from UV rays and further damage.
Most importantly – be patient. Just remember, purging is a positive sign that your skincare is working well and doing what it’s supposed to do. Give it a month or so, and you’ll see acne free skin soon enough!
Wrap-Up
Whether you’re new to skincare or an experienced pro, identifying the difference between skin purging vs breakout can be a frustrating challenge.
However, understanding the causes, symptoms, and treatments for each is essential to maintaining healthy and clear skin. Skin purging is a temporary phase of the skin clearing out buildup that was already under the skin’s surface, while breakouts are caused by products that don’t mesh well with your skin.
While experiencing purging may be frustrating, it’s a sign that the product is working to clear out your skin and prevent future breakouts. It’s important to note that some skincare gurus may dismiss purging as a myth, but scientific studies have proven them wrong.
By using this guide, you can learn how to identify skin purging and breakouts and how to manage both, allowing you to achieve your best skin yet.
