Truth be told, good skin doesn’t often come naturally. A lot of work goes into making our skin the best it can be — through practices of healthy eating and a great skincare regime, it should be simple enough, right? Wrong. Unfortunately sometimes your skin will have to go through the ‘ugly’ skin stage before it reaches its peak — this is called purging.
By definition, purging occurs when you start using a new product that increases the skin cell turnover rate. In other words, when using a new product or incorporating certain treatments into your regime, the skin will often begin “purging” all of the gunk left under and on your skin. This includes dry skin, buildup, dirt and sebum, allowing the gunk to quickly reach the surface of your skin.
The important thing to remember is that once you’ve begun to use a new product and notice “acne” symptoms starting, you shouldn’t just stop using the product! This is typically an example of purging, which takes form mostly in blackheads, whiteheads and tiny bumps on the surface of your skin.This process is necessary and your skin will adjust and improve after the initial adjustment period. Don’t freak out though; the worst will be over within four to six weeks.
Easy. Always remember that a breakout is a reaction to a new product, an indication of a clogged pore in areas where you typically would not normally breakout. This can indicate that the product or treatment may not be the best option for you. Purging, however, occurs in areas where acne is already present/occurs and is a good indication that the product or treatment is working.
Not all new products will cause purging. Active products are more likely to cause purging. Such products include retinoids and acids, e.g. salicylic because they contain ingredients that increase the skin cell turnover rate.
Now, while your skin is going through this change, remember that as tempting as it may be, refrain from picking at any breakouts on your face as it will make the healing process longer and more difficult. Also, be sure to avoid products that dry out the skin until the skin is finished purging. Other than that, you should be set! If you have any questions, comments or concerns about your skin, feel free to book a free consultation
with us at at skinstudiotoronto@gmail.com or call us at 416-804-7256 today to know more!
