Retinol is the most talked-about skincare product at the moment, and for good reason. This is an ingredient added to various skincare products and is hailed as working wonders.
Retinol is a form of Vitamin A and is used for anti-aging, as well as tackling breakouts and helping skin to regenerate. It works by increasing skin cell production, unclogging pores, exfoliating, and stimulating collagen production.
However, some retinol users experience the retinol purge. Read on to find out what it is and how you can manage it if it happens to you.
Why purging happens
Retinol purging happens when you start a new retinol treatment regimen. Your skin can often have an initial reaction where you experience breakouts, flakiness, irritation, and dry patches. It may seem alarming, but be assured, it is normal.
This happens because retinol increases cell turnover, which removes dead skin cells and oils that block pores. When this happens, those impurities are pushed to the surface of your skin, causing flare-ups.
Photo by Ron Lach
How long a purge usually lasts
A retinol purge is different for everybody, but it typically lasts for 4-6 weeks. This is roughly how long it takes for oils and dead cells to come to the surface and be expelled by your body.
Before you begin, complete a patch test of professional retinol cream a couple of days ahead of time. As long as there isn’t any redness combined with itchiness, you can add it to your routine and embark on the purge. It takes roughly 1-2 weeks for the purge to start, if it does at all.
If the purge continues longer than 6 weeks, or your skin appears to be getting worse rather than better, consult a dermatologist.
How to ease the transition
First, think about the way you are applying retinol. Start with a lower concentration of retinol, such as 0.25%. Don’t jump in too regularly, either. Begin with 1-2 times a week and keep it gentle.
The sandwich method is helpful for minimizing retinol discomfort. Apply a lightweight moisturizer before and after application. Just be sure to let it dry thoroughly before applying retinol. This helps to cushion your skin without affecting the retinol’s magic.
Finally, do not pick! It is so tempting to exfoliate or pick at dry or irritated skin, but doing so could make it much worse. Let the purge run its course.
When to rethink your routine
Once the retinol purge is over, you can start to think about increasing your usage. As with other additives, this should be done slowly to prevent discomfort.
If you aren’t seeing signs of improvement, it may be time to switch strengths or formulas. Make sure you give your current products time to work, though. Retinol does not work overnight, so you may have to wait to see results.
Retinol is the most talked-about skincare product at the moment, and for good reason. This is an ingredient added to various skincare products and is hailed as working wonders.
Retinol is a form of Vitamin A and is used for anti-aging, as well as tackling breakouts and helping skin to regenerate. It works by increasing skin cell production, unclogging pores, exfoliating, and stimulating collagen production.
However, some retinol users experience the retinol purge. Read on to find out what it is and how you can manage it if it happens to you.
Why purging happens
Retinol purging happens when you start a new retinol treatment regimen. Your skin can often have an initial reaction where you experience breakouts, flakiness, irritation, and dry patches. It may seem alarming, but be assured, it is normal.
This happens because retinol increases cell turnover, which removes dead skin cells and oils that block pores. When this happens, those impurities are pushed to the surface of your skin, causing flare-ups.
How long a purge usually lasts
A retinol purge is different for everybody, but it typically lasts for 4-6 weeks. This is roughly how long it takes for oils and dead cells to come to the surface and be expelled by your body.
Before you begin, complete a patch test of professional retinol cream a couple of days ahead of time. As long as there isn’t any redness combined with itchiness, you can add it to your routine and embark on the purge. It takes roughly 1-2 weeks for the purge to start, if it does at all.
If the purge continues longer than 6 weeks, or your skin appears to be getting worse rather than better, consult a dermatologist.
How to ease the transition
First, think about the way you are applying retinol. Start with a lower concentration of retinol, such as 0.25%. Don’t jump in too regularly, either. Begin with 1-2 times a week and keep it gentle.
The sandwich method is helpful for minimizing retinol discomfort. Apply a lightweight moisturizer before and after application. Just be sure to let it dry thoroughly before applying retinol. This helps to cushion your skin without affecting the retinol’s magic.
Finally, do not pick! It is so tempting to exfoliate or pick at dry or irritated skin, but doing so could make it much worse. Let the purge run its course.
When to rethink your routine
Once the retinol purge is over, you can start to think about increasing your usage. As with other additives, this should be done slowly to prevent discomfort.
If you aren’t seeing signs of improvement, it may be time to switch strengths or formulas. Make sure you give your current products time to work, though. Retinol does not work overnight, so you may have to wait to see results.
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