Purging is when your skin is adjusting to the new product and persevering with the product will eventually make your skin better. In fact, the sudden crop of acne means that it’s working as intended. Purging generally occurs as small, tiny bumps on your skin. Once you've applied skincare on a particular area, the purging stays on the area and it doesn't really spread further.
Purging is due to over-exfoliation, or skin renewal. Skin renewal happens when yo are using new skincare that contain an exfoliating chemical either glycolic acid, lactic acid, or salicylic acid. You might also be using something like retinol or azelaic acid. Exfoliation is important to remove dead skin cells but sometimes these particular dead skin cells can get trapped in the pores. Once it gets trapped in the pores, it accumulates more and more dead skin hence you get these small tiny bumps. How do you know whether it's a purge or a breakout? Generally after stopping the skincare if it's a purge, it disappears. So here are the five solutions that you can do at home to reduce your skin purge solution.
- Sandwich Technique
First, use a sandwich technique. Similar to a sandwich, after cleaning your face, apply toner then follow up with your skincare routine. Please be aware that the skincare that you have been using might cause you to purge. This is why it's important to have a thin layer of moisturiser before you start applying the rest of your skincare.
What you have to do is, let your moisturiser sit for about 2 minutes before applying any skincare. Then after you have applied your skincare, let it rest for 2 minutes, then reapply another thick layer of moisturiser. The reason for this sandwich technique is, you are trapping the active ingredients in between the two layers of moisturiser, preventing them from having direct contact with your skin. Therefore, the skincare will not really irritate your skin and cause a lot of purging. When you trap the active ingredients between the 2 layers of moisturiser, it reduces the amount being absorbed in your skin, slowing the release of active ingredients to your skin.
- Clay Mask
If you're already using an active ingredient that is causing you to purge, it means that it's an exfoliating active ingredient. If part of the epidermis is already exfoliated, a clay mask will actually protect the epidermal layer while getting into your pores and removing whatever dead skin cell and sebum being stuck in the pores. Plus, there is no harm in using a clay mask daily.
So, in what step do we incorporate clay masks in our daily skincare routine? It is after cleansing and before moisturizer. Apply clay mask for about 15 to 30 minutes then wash it off.
- Reduce The Frequency
If after you have tried the sandwich technique and clay mask, and your skin hasn’t shown any improvement, then you have to reduce the frequency of using active ingredients. Instead of every day, you might want to reduce it to 2 to 3 times a week. This will allow your skin to slowly renew and allow your skin to get used to the new skincare ingredient. And once it's used to it and you no longer purge, then you can increase the frequency.
- Pore Extraction
If you're still purging despite all these steps, you might have to manually extract your pores because the clay mask is now unable to get into your pores. What you need to do is, you need to get an extractor or a comedone extractor. Once you've gotten rid of the sebum being blocked inside, you can then apply the sandwich technique.
- Stop Everything!
If the purging is still continuing for the next 3 months after you have done all of these steps, then lastly what you can do is stop all active ingredients or skincare which is causing your skin to purge. Even though it might potentially give you better skin, due to the purging it is already damaging your skin and you might require more time to fix your skin. So, this particular skincare or active ingredient is no longer worth your time or money.
If you want to know more, we are here to help you! Skynfyx is run by a group of skin doctors and skincare experts who want everybody to achieve flawless skin at the cheapest possible cost. So, if you can’t get an appointment with your usual dermatologist, come and talk to the skin doctors at Skynfyx! Skin doctors like Dr. Ingky have had several years of experience in the skincare field and are happy to assist you and suggest the next steps for treatment via online chat.
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