This is the reason you get spots after trying a new skin product…and it’s not all bad
This makes total sense
THERE'S nothing more annoying than splashing out on the latest 'It' beauty product, only to wake up with a full-on breakout the next day.
But before you bin your beauty buy, dermatologists have revealed exactly why this happens - and it's actually not so bad.
Dermatologist Dr Justine Kluk has revealed that treatments with certain active ingredients can boost skin cell turnover, which leads to "purging" - a breakout that occurs after the use of a new product.
She told that initially, the products can accelerate the shedding of dead skin cells which results in a short-term breakout.
"Purging is a non-medical term generally used to describe breakouts that occur after starting a new skincare treatment or product containing certain active ingredients,” Dr Kluk explained.
"In the shorter term...this accelerated shedding, or exfoliation of dead skin cells may trigger more blackheads or breakouts."
The skin expert explained that "purging" should end within a month, at which point the product should be very effective in the long run.
"The reason that certain treatments can trigger an initial breakout or “purge” is that they increase cell turnover. This means that they help us to shed our dead skin cells more effectively in the long run so that they don’t build up and clog our pores," Dr Kluk explained.
"Retinoids are a good example of a treatment that can have this effect to start off with, but they are incredibly helpful for most people who persevere and any increase in breakouts tends to settle with continued use."
According to Dr Kluk, you should see benefits of a new product within around 12 weeks.
Of course, it's not always clear whether your breakout is from purging, whether the product is unsuitable for your skin or if there's another factor causing aggravation.
Cystic acne is a condition where cysts form underneath your skin.
Dr Sweta Rai, a spokeswoman for the British Association of Dermatology, said the best way to treat cystic acne is with medication.
"You have to treat them with an antibiotic and you have to unblock the pore," Dr Rai said.
"For that we often use a topical retinoid, which is a topical vitamin A cream, and if an antibiotic doesn't work then we use an oral vitamin A drug called Roaccutane.
"But we would always try an antibiotic first."
It's always best to speak to a dermatologist so the underlying cause of the spots can be diagnosed and to determine which treatment is best for you.
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