Is my skin purging, or is it just breaking out?
Purging is short-lived, shows up where you already tend to break out, and only happens with actives that speed up skin turnover — anything else is probably just a reaction.
"Purging" gets used to excuse almost any new breakout, but it has a specific, narrow definition: it only happens with ingredients that speed up cell turnover (retinoids, AHAs/BHAs), it surfaces breakouts in areas you already break out in (bringing existing congestion to the surface faster), and it resolves within 4-6 weeks. A new redness, itching, or breakouts in a new area after starting a product that isn't a turnover-accelerating active is much more likely a straightforward reaction, not purging.
Genuine purging: recently introduced retinoid or acid exfoliant. Anything else, in a new area, is more likely irritation or a reaction to the new product.
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