Today, exfoliating acids play a number one function in lots of skincare routines. They are often present in virtually any kind of product, from at-home peels and serums to toners and cleansers. The advantages of exfoliating acids are broad—they will enhance pores and skin texture, high quality traces and wrinkles, discoloration, enlarged pores, and breakouts.
Exfoliating acids have come a good distance since I began within the enterprise. Formulation have grow to be gentler but extra refined, and we’re beginning to see manufacturers develop past simply the traditional acids resembling lactic, glycolic, and salicylic.
Regardless of all this, it’s nonetheless not unusual for me to get questions from individuals questioning why they’re breaking out after beginning to use exfoliating skincare merchandise. On this submit, I’ll clarify whether or not or not that is regular, when it may be anticipated, and what you are able to do about it. Let’s dive in!
How Do Exfoliating Acids Work?
As a fast refresher, exfoliating acids work by dissolving the bonds that maintain pores and skin cells collectively. This loosens lifeless pores and skin cells to allow them to simply be sloughed off. Common exfoliation additionally prompts faster pores and skin cell turnover. The cell turnover course of could be naturally sluggish in those that expertise a whole lot of clogged pores, and it tends to decelerate as we age. Because of this exfoliation is nice for addressing breakouts, dullness, and different indicators of getting older.
Why Do Exfoliating Acids Make You Break Out?
In case you’re new to utilizing exfoliating acids (or simply began utilizing an exfoliating product for the primary time), it may be regular to expertise some breakouts initially.
Principally, there are two causes this may very well be occurring. The primary is that you’ve clogged pores, and the acids are inflicting these to “purge” the gunk within them. The second is that the product doesn’t agree along with your pores and skin and is inflicting some kind of irritation or response.
1. Purging From Exfoliating Acids
As I discussed, you’re extra prone to get away from exfoliating acids if you happen to’re somebody with clogged pores. Clogged pores usually are small, closed bumps which may be white or flesh-colored. They are often the results of earlier massive, pustular blemishes the place the an infection did come to the floor however some residual oil and micro organism stayed behind inside the pore. They may also be the results of lifeless pores and skin cells falling into the pore lining as an alternative of being sloughed off and getting trapped. This creates a buildup inside the pore and might ultimately additionally result in a crimson, contaminated blemish.
Clogged pores are thought of non-infected bumps, so they simply hold round and don’t actually resolve or come to the floor. By rising the speed of cell turnover, nevertheless, exfoliating acids encourage these clogged pores to return to the floor. This can usually manifest as a whitehead that may simply be squeezed out. Alternatively, there could be some redness surrounding the whitehead. This alerts an an infection and means you’ve received a pustule in your palms.
If purging is the offender, breakouts ought to usually be minor and will subside inside 2-4 weeks. In case you’re somebody with extreme clogged pores, it might probably take somewhat longer and chances are you’ll require further remedies, resembling a retinoid. Additionally, take into account that purging usually happens in areas of the face the place you’re already susceptible to breakouts. In case you begin getting breakouts in new areas, it may very well be irritation as an alternative.
Learn: Renée’s Full Information to Clogged Pores
What To Do
In case you suspect your exfoliating acid merchandise are inflicting you to purge, maintain going! Whereas it’s not probably the most nice course of, it means clearer, smoother pores and skin is awaiting you on the opposite facet. To take care of blemishes as they crop up, go for spot-treating (simply be sure you’re spot-treating the appropriate method). This can help you sort out particular person breakouts with out drying out the remainder of your pores and skin.
In case you’re experiencing a big quantity of breakouts because of a number of clogged pores, chances are you’ll wish to in the reduction of on how usually you utilize your exfoliating acid product. This can decelerate the purge to make it extra manageable.
2. Irritation From Exfoliation Acids
In case you’re getting a number of crimson, indignant breakouts (particularly in areas the place you don’t usually get away), it’s probably the exfoliating acid product you’re utilizing is irritating your pores and skin. Moreover, in case your “purge” lasts greater than six weeks, both the acid product you’re utilizing isn’t agreeing with you or it isn’t enhancing your pores and skin.
Irritation from acids could be a results of both the components or person error. The product you selected could be too robust and aggressive in your pores and skin, wherein case you may search for a delicate kind of acid or go for a product with a decrease focus of acids. In any other case, the product could also be an excellent match, however you can be overusing it. I usually advocate that folks exfoliate 2-4 occasions every week, and it actually is dependent upon your pores and skin so some trial and error could be vital.
Along with breakouts, be looking out for signs resembling redness, itching, burning, or tightness. These could be tell-tale indicators {that a} product is irritating your pores and skin.
What To Do
In case you begin to suspect irritation, cease utilizing the product instantly. In case your breakouts enhance, this can be a nice indication that it wasn’t a fantastic match for you. In case you’re new to exfoliation and undecided the place to start out, try my newbie’s information to exfoliation. In case you nonetheless want further steerage, you may at all times e-book a digital session with one in all our in-house estheticians to get customized product suggestions in your pores and skin kind.
Lastly, exfoliating acids aren’t the one merchandise that may make you get away. Be taught which different substances could cause purging.

Superstar Esthetician & Skincare Knowledgeable
As an esthetician skilled in beauty chemistry, Renée Rouleau has spent 30 years researching pores and skin, educating her viewers, and constructing an award-winning line of merchandise. Her hands-on expertise as an esthetician and trusted skincare professional has created a real-world answer — merchandise which can be formulated for 9 various kinds of pores and skin so your face will get precisely what it must feel and appear its finest. Trusted by celebrities, editors, bloggers, and skincare obsessives across the globe, her huge real-world information and fixed analysis are why Marie Claire calls her “probably the most passionate pores and skin practitioner we all know.”