How to Tell if Your Skin Is Purging or Breaking Out

How Can You Treat Breakouts?

While skin purging is a more temporary problem, breakouts can linger and last for long periods of time if not treated properly. To give your breakouts the proper treatment, Dr. Houshmand explains that this situation is best handled by seeing a board-certified dermatologist to make a customized treatment plan for you.

If you'd like to try over-the-counter products, scan the label for acne-fighting ingredients like benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid.

For general breakouts: We recommend the CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser. Its formula pairs 4% benzoyl peroxide — known for lowering the frequency and severity of blemishes — with barrier-supporting ceramides, moisture-locking hyaluronic acid, and soothing niacinamide. The benzoyl peroxide power makes this cleanser an easy go-to when you want to keep everyday breakouts in check.

For pore congestion and early breakouts: Consider the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Serum. This multitasking formula not only clears active blemishes, helps prevent future flare-ups, and visibly refines enlarged pores, but it also tackles the comedones (whiteheads and blackheads) that often underlie breakouts. Note that its 1.5% salicylic acid may trigger a brief purging phase as it accelerates cell turnover; however, that same exfoliating action makes the serum highly effective at keeping pores clear over time.

For sudden, isolated breakouts: Keep a targeted spot treatment at the ready. We love the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Multi-Target Acne Treatment with Salicylic Acid. It has a concentrated formula that zeroes in on single blemishes, helps clear them faster, and discourages post-blemish marks by exfoliating deep inside the pore. 

It’s also important to know that not all breakouts are the same. There are different types of breakouts, and they all have unique forms of treatment. This is why Dr. Houshmand suggests looking into the causes of your acne before you start trying different treatments. “You want to know what is causing your acne,” says Dr. Houshmand. “If it’s hormonal, it should be treated differently. It also depends on what type of skin you have: dry, oily, sensitive, etc.”