When starting a new acne treatment, things can sometimes worsen before they get better.
This is known as “acne purging”, now ” This initial purge doesn’t happen for everyone,
but for the 20-25% of people who start a new, medical-grade acne treatment, and are experiencing
skin purging, or retinization, I wanted to make this video answering 4 of the most common
questions in regards to skin purging, going over What exactly is going, how does purging
happen, how to tell if its skin purging, or irritation and finally what you can do to
reduce it, you dont want to miss this.
Stay tuned till the end.
Hi guys, yaseen arsalan, media pharmacist here on youtube where I help you guys make
better and more informed decisions about your health and wellness.
So if thats something your into, Be sure to smash that like button below NOW.
Also, while you're at it, hit that subscribe button too as well as the notification bell
right next to it to stay up to date with new weekly health and wellness videos.
So without further ado, lets get straight into it.
I got a lot questions from you guys about this topic from my differin video I made,
on what you should know before trying out differin, and the video itself did so well,
which im very thankful to guys for leaving such great feedback and watching the video,
I wanted to make this as a follow up to that video, so if you havent watched it yet, Ill
leave the link to it at the upper right hand corner, so definitely go check it out after
this video.
The first question i Get asked is: What is going on during the purge?
Acne purging or “skin purging” is when a person’s acne condition seems to get worse
when they begin an effective topical treatment.
To break the news to you, Your clogged pores may turn into active pimples, your small pimples
may turn into larger pimples or can even form pustules, and you may even start to think
about giving up the product altogether.
This is because the active ingredients in acne treatments, in this video, im using differin
as an example, they have several “side effects” that can initially cause the acne to get worse
before producing significant results.
Number 2: How does skin purging or retinization happen?
Your new products youre using, essentially causes the skin's upper layers to shed off
while “pushing” all the gunk, sebum, and bacteria in your skin out to the outer surfaces.
The pimples and cysts that would otherwise have come to the surface in future weeks and
months start to come out quicker and seemingly all at once, this then triggers an immune
response in your skin, essentially an overreaction of the body to “send help” to the skin,
causing an increase in inflammation, which intensifies the new and existing breakouts.
Which skin care ingredients cause purging the most?
The most common offenders are retinoids, these include: the retinoid family, so something
like differin or adapalane is very popular one to cause them.
Retinols, tretinoin, and even exfoliating acids like your AHAs and BHAs can cause them
too, and in some cases benzoyl peroxide as well.
With our example with differin, you should see some sort of skin purging within the first
or second week, and it gradually subsides around the 28 day mark.
However this will depend on how fast your skin cycle turnarounds are, so dont be alarmed
if it takes up to 6-8 weeks.
Talk to your dermatologist, if your purge has lasted longer than 6 weeks and no improvement
has been seen.
I know it can be very tempting to stop using the retinoid or exfoliating acid altogether,
but try to resist discontinuing, if you want to see the full results.
The third question I get asked: Whats the difference between skin purging and just flat
out irritation?
Unlike normal pimples, acne that results from a purge will tend to grow, and heal, faster.
This different life cycle indicates that your skin is currently cleansing itself.
Also, the breakouts you’ll have are likely to be in areas you normally have clogged pores
or blemishes.
However, If you start to break out or experience inflammation/redness in an area that you’re
usually completely clear, this could indicate irritation rather than a purging.
Also, if any symptoms (like breakouts or sensitivities) seem to be getting worse over time, this could
also be an indicator that it is not the right product for you!
THe fourth question I get asked: What can I do to minimize the effects of purging or
essentially speed it up?
And i get it: Four to six weeks may sound like a long time to wait for the skin of your
dreams.
But I have 3 tips here I want to share.
The number 1 tip, I can give you guys is this: Dont pick any of the acne.
Its going to be incredibly tempting, and there is 2 reasons for this.
Number 1: It will only extend the purge period and 2: it may lead to permanent scarring.
The second tip I have is: Don’t use products that will excessively dry it out, either.
Many spot treatments you could be using are exfoliants like benzoyl and salicylic acid,
Keep them far far away from purging skin.
It’s already in the midst of cell turnover and Any extra stimulation, will probably only
make things worse.
Unless of course, you are prescribed to do so, in the case of epiduo.
And lastly: Check Your Cosmetics: make sure that your makeup and sunscreen are clearly
labeled “oil-free” and/or “non-comedogenic” to ensure they do not contribute to clogged
pores.
And To reduce the severity of a purge, it’s best to slowly introduce a new product.
To do so, start with a lower concentration or a smaller amount.
I know for the differin video I did, a lot of you guys asked me, if I can add in salicylic
acid, benzoyl peroxide, lactic acid, glycolic acid, its like guys!
More active ingredients, is not always better.
The risk of chemical burning is real, and you should not add more products on your face
than what the minimum amount of product is available to bring about the most effective
results.
And a dermatologist who can see your face in person, can answer exactly how many products
you will need.
Differin already is a powerful retinoid, and it works, when used correctly.
But to really sum it up: you got to think of Purging as your way of cleansing the pipes—a
lot of gunk can come up before things start to clean and clear.
And I know it can be frustrating and disheartening, but is a way to indicate that things will
be getting much better in the coming weeks and months!
Its just going to require some patience , but it’ll be worth the clear skin that’s waiting
for you just around the corner.
I hope that this was useful to guys and that you learned something new.
Like the video if you did enjoy it, and subscribe to stay on board with all my other weekly
health and wellness videos.
Thanks for sticking tuned till the end, and as always, see you, yes you right there, ill
see you on the next one.