You've bought a new skincare or cleansing product, and suddenly it seems like your skin is fighting back with all its might. Breakouts and redness are always inconvenient, but especially now? You just wanted to do something good for your skin. We want to explain what's known in professional terms as skin purging in more detail, so you can make the right choice when it comes to products.
Pure... what???
Skin purging isn't a very common term in this country, although most of us have probably encountered it ourselves. We usually talk about skin inflammation or acne. Purging, however, simply means cleansing. More precisely, it's a process that accelerates skin cell renewal. This leads to the formation of blackheads, which appear as white spots on the skin. Both light and dark skin types are affected, although blackheads tend to look slightly different on darker skin, appearing more reddish.
Getting to the bottom of purging
Purging often begins with the purchase of a new product that promises effectiveness, for example, in the treatment of acne. These are frequently products containing retinoids or hydroxy acids, which accelerate cell renewal. Even with our HYPER G[L]O Serum or [W]ASH AWAY Cleanser, it can happen in rare cases that the skin initially reacts with irritation.
Great, you're looking forward to improved skin, and then after a few treatments, you look in the mirror and are horrified to see that you have more pimples than before. Chemical peels and laser treatments can also lead to purging, even though they're meant to refine the complexion. But there's a logical explanation for this.
Stress for the skin
The reason for purging is that certain products or treatments put the skin into a state of stress, as it suddenly demands the rapid production of new cells and the breakdown of old ones. This often occurs when the skin's protective barrier is already compromised before the application begins, for example, in cases of dry, cracked skin or acne. Deep-seated impurities that might otherwise only become visible after one to two weeks are brought directly to the surface during purging.
Hang in there and stay calm.
There's no need to worry, though. The fact is, your skin gets used to the active ingredients after a while. Normally, you only need to persevere for about two weeks until the signs of purging subside. During this time, your skin can adjust its protective barrier, and then the ingredients in the new product can take effect. So, don't immediately condemn creams, cleansers, and the like if they cause your skin to worsen. Support your skin in rebuilding its natural protective barrier with soothing care and plenty of moisture, for example, with... [CUP]U RAW pamper your body with healthy food, drink plenty of water or unsweetened tea and spend lots of time in the fresh air – and voilà, purging will soon be a thing of the past and your skin will glow again.
