Purging and reacting are two terms used to describe how your skin may respond to a new skincare product or ingredient, but they have different meanings.
Purging
What is purging?
Purging refers to a temporary worsening of acne or breakouts when first using a new skincare product or ingredient. Usually this will happen with exfoliants such as AHAs, BHAs or Retinol.
Why does purging occurs?
This occurs when a product speeds up the skin’s natural exfoliation process, causing dead skin cells and impurities to be brought to the surface more quickly. This can initially cause a breakout, but it is often followed by an improvement in the skin’s appearance over 2 to 6 weeks as the product continues to work.
How to know if you are purging?
Begin by examining the location of your breakouts. Are they occurring in areas where you typically experience breakouts? If so, it’s likely a result of purging. However, if the breakouts are appearing in a new area of your skin where you don’t usually experience breakouts, it’s probable that you are having a negative reaction to the product.
You can also determine whether it’s purging by observing its duration. If the breakouts start to clear up within 6 weeks, it’s likely a result of purging. Purging is temporary and typically lasts for 6 weeks or less. Over time, you should notice a reduction in breakouts and clearer skin.
You can also distinguish between purging and other skin conditions by examining its physical characteristics. Purging is typically identified by the appearance of small, red, and sensitive bumps, as well as the presence of whiteheads and blackheads. However, this may be confused with rosacea. You can identify rosacea by its occurrence in the center of your face.
what are the ingredients that can cause it?
- Hydroxy Acids (that’s AHAs BHAs and PHAs as well as fruit acids),
- Retinoids,
- Vitamin C,
- any ingredient that speeds up the skin’s natural exfoliation process (cell turnover).
Reactions
What is a Reaction?
Reactions, on the other hand, are negative responses to a new skincare product or ingredient that go beyond purging. These reactions can include redness, itching, burning, or swelling, and may indicate an allergic reaction or sensitivity to a specific ingredient. In some cases, reactions can be severe and require medical attention.
When does a reaction occur?
You can get a reaction if you start using a new product that is irritating to your skin or a product that you are allergic to.
How to identify it?
If you start breakout in areas where you normally don’t breakout you are probably having a bad reaction and you should stop using what ever product you started using because it may not be suited for your skin type.
How to avoid a bad reaction?
It is crucial to conduct a patch test before applying a new product. Begin by patch testing a small area of skin away from your face to determine if you have an allergic reaction. If the patch test goes well, apply the product. To correctly patch test you can check our blog post showing the exact steps.
Never introduce multiple products at once to your routine. Introduce one at the time to now which one is causing the reaction.
It’s important to note that not all new skincare products will cause purging or reactions, and that everyone’s skin is different. If you’re trying a new product, it’s a good idea to patch test it on a small area of your skin before applying it all over your face. If you experience any signs of a reaction, such as redness or irritation, stop using the product and speak with a healthcare professional or a skincare specialist for further advice.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission is you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support!
Leave a Reply