Breakout or Purge?

Here are five key things you need to know to differentiate between the two.

1. What Does a Breakout Look Like?

A breakout typically appears as large, painful, red, and often nodular bumps. They usually occur in new areas of your skin where you don’t normally experience acne. Hence, the term "breakout" – it’s like your skin is reacting and "breaking out" in unexpected places.

2. What Causes Breakouts?

Breakouts can result from several factors, including:

• Increased Sebum Production and Bacterial Growth: Similar to regular acne, breakouts often occur when your skin produces excess oil, clogging pores and encouraging bacterial growth.
• Stress and Emotions: Feeling stressed or emotionally overwhelmed can disrupt your hormones, leading to breakouts.
• Diet: Foods high in sugar, processed ingredients, or potential allergens like chocolates, nuts, and seafood can trigger breakouts. Sugar, in particular, is a major culprit.
• Environmental Factors: Hot, humid, or dusty conditions, as well as excessive sweating, can create the perfect environment for bacteria to thrive.
• Unhygienic Habits: Dirty pillowcases, bed sheets, or towels can harbor bacteria, causing breakouts. Simply keeping your sleeping area clean can help reduce acne.
• Allergic Reactions to Skincare Products: Ingredients like essential oils or certain active components may irritate your skin, leading to breakouts.

3. Breakouts Require Treatment

Unlike purging, breakouts don’t resolve on their own. Without treatment, they can spread across your face due to bacterial overgrowth. To manage breakouts effectively, medical intervention is often necessary.

Here’s how breakouts are treated:

• Chemical Peels and Lasers: These can help reduce inflammation and clear acne.
• Antibiotics: Sometimes prescribed to combat bacterial activity.
• Skincare Adjustments: Switching to products suited for acne-prone skin can make a big difference.

4. What Does Purging Look Like?

Purging appears as small, tiny bumps that usually show up in areas where you often experience acne. Unlike breakouts, purging stays localized and doesn’t spread to new areas.

5. What Causes Purging?

Purging happens when you start using new skincare products that speed up skin cell turnover. Products containing exfoliating ingredients like:

• Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, or Salicylic Acid
• Retinol or Azelaic Acid

These ingredients work by exfoliating dead skin cells. However, during this process, dead skin can sometimes clog pores, leading to small bumps.

The goal of these products is to renew your skin by clearing out old, dead cells. While it may look alarming, purging is actually a sign that your skincare is working to improve your skin over time.

How to Tell the Difference Between a Breakout and Purging

The easiest way to identify whether you’re experiencing a breakout or purging is by stopping the new skincare product:

• If it’s purging, the bumps will fade after discontinuing the product.
• If it’s a breakout, the acne will persist and may even worsen despite stopping the product.

Key Takeaways.

1. Breakouts are large, painful, and appear in new areas, while purging consists of small bumps in familiar areas.
2. Breakouts can result from diet, stress, environment, or allergic reactions, whereas purging is caused by exfoliating skincare products.
3. Breakouts don’t go away on their own and need treatment, but purging often resolves as your skin adjusts.
4. Keeping your environment clean, adjusting your skincare, and consulting a dermatologist can help manage breakouts.
5. Sticking with exfoliating products during purging can eventually lead to smoother, healthier skin.