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Does Niacinamide Cause Purging? Facts to Know

What is skin purging?

Skin purging is a term used to describe an acne-flare up (breakout) that occurs immediately after you start using a new skincare product that enhances your skin cell turnover.

Purging mostly occurs in areas of the face where you would eventually have a break-out. This is because, while only 0.25 percent of the pores are involved in active acne (in serious cases), over 30 percent of your pores contain microcomedones.

Microcomedones are also called subclinical acne. They are the unseen starting point of an acne pimple. They appear as tiny pouches filled with oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria that cause blocked pores (comedones) and acne breakouts.

It generally takes over 8 weeks for a microcomedone to come to the surface of the skin. However, when there is an increase in the skin cell turnover, they are able to appear and resolve themselves faster. This implies that multiple acne pimples can surface at the same time and lead to a breakout.

It is important to know that skincare products that elevate skin cell turnover can help prevent microcomedones (pimples) from appearing. This means lesser breakouts once the initial purge is over.