Why Your Skin Is Purging (And How to Tell If It’s a Bad Reaction)

Starting a new skincare product and suddenly breaking out? It might not be a bad thing! Purging vs. a bad reaction can be confusing, but understanding the difference is key to knowing whether to stick with a product or ditch it.

First… How Acne Actually Forms (The 90-Day Rule)

Acne doesn’t appear overnight. It actually starts forming 90 days before you see it on the surface. That means any new breakouts you’re experiencing today were already in the works months ago.

Now, when you introduce a professional-grade product (like a chemical exfoliant or retinoid), it speeds up skin cell turnover, bringing all that trapped acne to the surface faster. This process is called purging, and while it’s frustrating, it’s actually a sign that the product is working to clear your skin.

Signs Your Skin Is Purging (Don’t Panic! 🚨)

✔️ Breakouts appear in areas where you normally get acne

✔️ Small whiteheads, blackheads, or cystic pimples surface more quickly

✔️ The flare-ups start improving after 4-6 weeksI want The Skin Diaries to be a resource for you. A place where you can come back each week and discover new ways to care for your skin, no matter where you’re starting from.

💡 Example: If you start using Face Reality Mandelic Serum for acne, you might see a temporary increase in breakouts, but this is just the congestion clearing out. To achieve fully clear skin, everything that is trapped under the skin must come out.

Signs It’s a Bad Reaction (Stop Using It 🚫)

❌ Your skin is red, burning, or itchy after using the product for 4-8 weeks

❌ Your skin feels excessively dry or flaky ( this can happen due to the active ingredient exfoliating the dead skin off. If you’re not on the proper hydrating serum first you might experience dry flaky skin. If it exceeds the 4-6 week mark we need to enhance the hydration )

❌ The breakouts keep getting worse after 8 weeks

💡 Example: If you try a new moisturizer and suddenly develop red, inflamed pimples in places where you never break out, it might be clogging your pores or irritating your skin. This is a reaction not purging.

What to Do If Your Skin Is Purging..

✅ Stick with it! Purging typically lasts 4-6 weeks, then skin starts to clear.

✅ Keep your routine simple. Avoid adding new products during this time.

✅ Don’t skip weekly exfoliation! Acne prone skin produces more dead skin. The less you exfoliate, the more clogged your skin can become.

✅ Book a facial! Treatments like enzyme peels can speed up the purging process.

If you’re unsure whether you’re purging or having a reaction, book an acne consultation at Syree Aesthetics, and I’ll help you figure it out!