When you think of the word “cleansing,” your mind might conjure up images of either dystopian horror movies or pimple-popping videos in which blackheads and open comedies are “cleansed” of all their junk and grime as a specialist he works to squeeze them. outside.
However, a purge is not as crude (or as violent) as it may sound. Cleansing, really, is just the reaction your skin can have to certain products – especially something that contains BHA or retinol. These active ingredients are often referred to as ‘chemical exfoliants’ as they work to gently dissolve the ‘glue’ that keeps dead skin cells stuck in place, helping to gently remove them.
Cleansing is something of a necessary evil when it comes to skincare – it’s a little unpleasant to experience, but it’s ultimately a side effect of your skincare routine that works, as it helps your skin renew itself. Plus, cleansing is completely temporary and can help release blockages in the outer layers of your skin.
However, cleaning is something that many people are not familiar with, even though many of us have experienced it at some point. So today, we clear up all the questions surrounding this natural skin renewal process, starting with the first question: why does clearing happen in the first place?
Why does skin cleansing happen?
While it differs for everyone, skin is usually said to renew itself every twenty-eight days. However, some active ingredients can enhance the process.
When a breakout occurs, it usually signals an acceleration of the skin’s exfoliation process, and so you may notice what appear to be mild acne symptoms. This is because the ingredients in these products exfoliate, which encourages cell renewal. And unfortunately, with great cellular renewal comes great cleansing.
Cleansing can also speed up the rate at which blemishes reach the skin’s surface, and it may even appear that your product is causing a breakout. But don’t panic – it’s perfectly normal for ingredients with exfoliating properties to cause this, as it encourages new skin to be revealed as it sheds old skin cells.
While it can be annoying, it’s completely normal when you’re incorporating a new product – especially when it’s something like an exfoliant, retinol, or niacinamide.
In fact, cleansing is actually a good thing, as increased skin cell turnover helps remove dead skin cells to reveal healthy, glowing skin underneath.
What does skin cleansing look like?
As mentioned above, skin cleansing is what happens when your skin is introduced to a new active ingredient in a product, which prompts skin cells to speed up their turnover. Of course, this can be pretty annoying – especially if you’re using your new product to clear acne in the first place! But it’s important to remember that when your skin clears, it processes the acne that would have eventually appeared, at a faster rate.
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Clearing falls under the category of “inflammatory acne,” which covers a wide range of different characteristics and types of skin condition, including whiteheads, blackheads, pustules, and cysts. Inflammatory acne occurs when sebum mixes with dead skin cells inside a pore, sometimes resulting in a type of bacteria known as P. acnes. When our body recognizes this bacteria, it signals white blood cells to fight the foreign debris. This process is known as inflammation, which is why pimples tend to look swollen and filled with pus. And this is very similar to what you will find in the case of cleaning.
But if your cleansing and daily acne are so similar, how can you tell them apart? In the next section, we break down the differences between a cleanse and a breakout.
Purging vs. Breakouts: How to Spot the Difference
Based on what we’ve discussed about purging, you might be wondering: is it even different from your typical breakout?
In short, yes.
There are a few key differences between a cleanse and a breakout caused by a reaction to a product. While purging is something of a necessary evil, a bad reaction can be prevented entirely. For starters, irritation caused by a new product is likely due to some kind of sensitivity or allergic reaction. Additionally, a rash caused by irritation can affect any part of your skin that you touch.
With clearing, on the other hand, you can usually expect breakouts in the places you normally get them – just at a faster rate. In other words, you may have a tendency to develop breakouts along your jawline. With purging, expect even more outbreaks in such an area.
Fortunately, the cleanup is completely temporary. Additionally, pimples caused by cleansing tend to fade much faster than your typical breakout and also tend to be less noticeable.
How long does skin cleansing last?
While the exact duration will vary from person to person, the time it takes for skin clears to disappear from the skin can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. For the average adult, cell turnover takes about 28 days. In addition, the ingredients that cause clearance in the first place can last the entire skin renewal period, sometimes even longer.
That said, it’s important to contact a dermatologist if your skin doesn’t return to normal after a few weeks, as this could indicate an adverse reaction from a product.
What to do when your skin clears up
When a cleanse is in progress, it’s a sign that a product’s active ingredients are working, and it’s simply removing all the “gas” trapped in the inner layers of your skin.
With this in mind, a gentle skincare routine is key, as this will help ease the inflammation your skin is dealing with – especially when using pure sulfate-free and paraben-free products. A hydrating cleanser that doesn’t strip, followed by a hyaluronic acid serum and nourishing moisturizer will do the trick, along with a mineral sunscreen during the day.
Additionally, continue to use your product by inducing cleansing as directed, but give your skin time to adjust to it. Finally, be sure to avoid using home remedies to clear the skin, as even the most nourishing options have the potential to aggravate the skin, leading to unwanted rashes and breakouts.
Can purging be prevented?
So let’s imagine a scenario where you want to use a new product to improve your skin, but don’t want to deal with the cleanup that might come with it. Is there any way to avoid skin cleansing when introducing a new active into your routine?
Unfortunately, not really. That said, skin experts encourage users to introduce a new product into their routine slowly so your skin has more time to get used to it. For example, you might want to use a new product that contains retinol only once the first week, twice the second week, three times the third week, and so on until you’ve established a daily/semi-daily routine with it.
Frequently asked questions about skin cleansing
How can I differentiate between skin cleansing and breakouts?
Clearing of the skin usually occurs in areas where you have frequent breakouts and clears up faster than normal breakouts. Breakouts can be random and are often caused by external factors such as bacteria, while clearing is a response to internal skin changes.
What ingredients are known to cause skin clearing?
Ingredients that promote cell renewal, such as retinoids, AHAs (such as glycolic acid), BHAs (such as salicylic acid), and vitamin C, are commonly associated with skin cleansing.
Can everyone experience skin cleansing?
Skin cleansing depends on individual skin types and their reactions to certain active ingredients. Not everyone will experience clearing and it is more common in people with acne-prone or sensitive skin.
Are there ways to prevent skin clearing?
While it’s not always possible to completely prevent skin breakouts, gradually introducing new skin care products can help. Starting with lower concentrations of active ingredients and slowly increasing usage allows the skin to adapt more comfortably.
What are the signs that my skin is not clearing but is reacting badly to a product?
If you experience intense redness, itching, burning, or a rash, these are signs of an adverse reaction, not clearance. In such cases, discontinue the product and consult a dermatologist.
