Skin Purging: What Is It And How To Deal With It
Everyone wants clear skin. But sometimes, when you start a new skincare product or a medication, it may get worse before it gets better. This is called “purging” and lets you know that the product is working to rid your skin of impurities from below the surface. It begins to clear up after this process but in many cases, users will see an increase in acne or pore size when starting a new product. Other things could be happening such as the drying out or irritation to different ingredients that are not meant for use on the face. If you have never experienced purging before, it’s important to know how to deal with the process. While not everyone will experience this common skincare phenomenon, here are some useful tips on how to handle it if it happens to you.
What Causes Purging?
Purging occurs when the skin tries to eliminate toxins or other impurities. If you’ve ever cleansed your skin and felt that tight, dry sensation afterward on your face, this was probably also a purge of some sort. Purging is usually seen as an increase in acne because these blemishes are caused by impure skin with bacteria growing deep within pores. This can be due to using skincare products that have harsh chemicals that irritate the surface making it difficult for new cell growth which sometimes starts below the surface level. In addition, if you’re using certain medications, your body will purge itself from excess oils and dirt under the surface since its goal is to clear the skin.
Stay Hydrated and Eat Healthy Foods
As always, it is important to stay hydrated and eat healthy foods which can help provide your body with the nutrients that it needs to heal itself from the inside out. This can also help those who experience dehydrated skin due to purging as drinking lots of water helps skin look plump and hydrated without causing any unnecessary stress on its surface layers. Drinking at least eight glasses of water a day may not be enough for those who have very dry skin so adjust your intake accordingly depending on how much fluid gets trapped in the body through urination. Also, eating healthy will help your body in many ways so if you can manage to get in some leafy greens and colorful fruits, this is very beneficial for the skin.
Include Niacinamide Serum with Vitamin C in Your Routine
Niacinamide serum is known for its ability to reduce redness on the face while providing moisture in dry areas which is great for those with oily skin as this can help balance things out. It also has anti-aging benefits that may reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles over time. Some niacinamide products contain vitamin C which is a great antioxidant and helps provide brightening to the skin without irritating other forms of vitamin C serums. If you’re using a vitamin C serum or other treatment, wait 15 minutes before applying other skincare products so it has time to absorb into the face properly.
Don’t Pick Or Scratch Your Skin
Although tempting, picking or scratching your skin during the purging process will only cause more blemishes to form on top of what you already have so it’s best to just avoid any sort of harsh stimulation on your face. This includes scrubbing, exfoliating, or even washing with hot water as this can further irritate the surface layers of the skin which may result in more oil being produced to heal itself. Using warm water is usually recommended for those with dry types of skin because it helps lock the moisture inside without causing damage due to over-drying. Allowing your pores to breathe and letting them release excess sebum by not touching them is also a great way to go about purging without having to deal with more breakouts after the process ends.
Be Patient And Keep Going
Usually, purging will last between two weeks to three months depending on the type of skin you have and what products you’re introducing. Just like with any breakout, it’s important not to stress about it because this will only cause further problems down the road when trying to heal blemishes or at least make them worse in some cases without seeing results for several months. Since people are more prone to experiencing purging due to harsh ingredients in skincare items, it’s important not to give up on your regimen after just a couple of days or even a week if it looks like there is no change in the number of breakouts occurring. Remember that your skin takes time to produce new cells so do consider this when trying to find the best solution to purging.
As you can see, purging is a natural process that our skin goes through when we introduce new products on it. It is important to be patient and follow a skincare routine that helps nourish the skin instead of harming it during a purge. By understanding the process and how the purging works, you will have a better idea of what to do next before, after, or even during a breakout to help reduce symptoms as much as possible until your skin gets back to normal.
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