Understanding Glycolic Acid and Skin Purging vs. Acne

When you add a new product to your trusty skincare routine, it is not always smooth sailing! Let’s further discuss the role glycolic acid has a skin care ingredient and also what role it can play in the purging process.

Skin care products featuring active ingredients like glycolic acid (a type of Alpha Hydroxy Acid) can stimulate the skin’s renewal process, while removing dead skin cells and many other proven benefits. But any (sudden) change, positive or otherwise, typically requires some kind of ‘normal’ initial adjustment period.

What is Glycolic acid?

Glycolic acid is a fruit acid and can be found naturally occurring in plants like sugar canes, pineapples, and sugar beets.
It offers many benefits when applied to the skin in the right concentration and acidity (pH) levels and at the right time.
Skin care products containing glycolic acid are the most beneficial to the skin in low concentrations with the right acidity (pH) level and when combined with the right skin care process to enjoy its full benefits.

How It Works

But first, you should know that glycolic acid breaks down the top layer of the skin by dissolving sebum and other substances binding the cells together. This helps the skin renew itself. Also, this process helps reduce growth of acne causing bacteria. Read more about this here!
It’s able to easily penetrate the skin deeply. This makes it effective for combating fine lines, acne, blackheads, and oily skin. Leaving you with glowing, healthy skin!
Note that product formulation of any skin care product and how they are designed to be used is very important. Glycolic acid is also more effective in lower concentrations (anything over 10% is considered high and or with  excess pH acidity should be used with caution).

How Glycolic Acid is used in Skin Care

On the skin, glycolic acid has rejuvenating and moisturizing properties. It is a popular ingredient in many chemical peels due to it being highly effective in skin treatments- even for sensitive skin.
Glycolic acid can be effectively used during exfoliation for removing the outermost layer of dead skin cells from the complexion.- Hello glowing skin!!
It often appears as an ingredient in facial washes and cleansers without irritation and known to treat skin conditions like melasma, psoriasis, and seborrheic keratosis. However, in these applications where glycolic acid is washed away, there’s really not enough time for the skin to gently exfoliate over time for any full benefit.
It can also be found in products used to treat scarring, skin discoloration, aging, and wrinkles!

The best way to apply glycolic acid is to apply the product containing it formulated at the right acidic (pH) level, so it is gentle enough to be tolerated by the skin, yet powerful enough to help accelerate the skin’s renewal process.

Benefits of Glycolic Acid

Glycolic acid in your skin care products can help reduce acne by accelerating the healing and recovery cycle from pimples and other skin issues. By helping the skin accelerate the removal of dead skin cells and natural sebum secreted by your skin, the application of this acid as part of your skin care routine, helps reduce acne and pimple causing bacteria, helping the skin stay as clear and healthy in its appearance.

It also helps:

• Boosts collagen production
• Designed to minimize the appearance of acne scarring, dark spots, wrinkles, & uneven skin tone
• Stimulates cell turnover for a brighter complexion
• Glycolic has the smallest molecule of all the acids (even lactic, salicylic and retinol!!) and that makes it easier to get into the skin

How To Use Glycolic Acid Properly:

Glycolic application should also ideally applied at night so its effects can work together with your skin’s natural exfoliation and renewal process when you’re sleeping. This application also avoids possible harmful exposure to the sun while your skin undergoes an accelerated exfoliation process with the aid of glycolic acid.

Top Tip:

Take notice of glycolic acid and any past reactions or adjustment you may have had to new products or ingredients when introduced to your skin and maybe test or limit its use to let your skin more slowly adjust.

What is Skin Purging?

Definition:

“Skin purging refers to your skin’s reaction to a specific active ingredient that triggers cell turnover, “[Causing] your skin to exfoliate and bring congestion to the surface,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Sapna Palep. Skin purging most commonly occurs in reaction to chemical exfoliants and retinoids.

Skin purging occurs because a newly introduced skincare ingredients increase the rate at which your skin cells turnover, causing you to shed more dead skin cells than usual. This, in turn, pushes layers of dead skin off and also brings clogged pores to the surface
You shouldn’t be afraid of purging as it’s not your body rejecting or having a bad reaction to skin care just accelerating what’s already happening! They throw out all the accumulated dirt, dead cells and chemicals absorbed and stored by your skin. So, though you may have a breakout initially, purging is actually good for your skin.

Skin Purging vs. Acne

It may be difficult to tell the difference between skin purging and acne, as the both involve breakouts. However, the key difference between acne and skin purging is that skin purging is typically a temporary skin response to new stimuli and usually occurs after you have incorporated a new ingredient in your skincare routine, whereas acne and pimples are related to skin inflammation in response growth of acne and pimple causing bacteria.

Here are some key differences to look out for when you are trying to figure out if your skin is purging or if you are having a breakout:

DURATION:

The cell turnover is faster to remove dead cells. Skin Purging can last for anything from one or two weeks to one or two months.
Breakouts can last a while; there is no time period that indicates when the breakouts will go away. The cell turnover speed is usual.

TYPE OF BREAKOUT:

A breakout caused from skin purging can be, whiteheads, blackheads, cysts, dryness or flaking skin. An acne induced breakout can look like whiteheads, blackheads, cysts, papules, pustules, cystic lesions and nodules

LOCATION:

Skin Purging is usually located where you already experience breakouts whereas acne can  happen in the same area or a new area of the skin where you never experienced a breakout!
While the initial use of glycolic acid may lead to the unwanted skin purging, glycolic acid is a proven, effective and very helpful ingredient full of many valuable properties. The use of the glycolic acid can help improve overall skin health when used within a proper skin care routine using well formulated products.

Incorporating Metrin Revitalizing Glycolic Complex (the first step in the Accelerated Performance System) into the time tested Metrin Skincare System you can achieve healthy, smooth and glowing skin! It is the perfect skin care product that won’t burn your face or cause a bad reaction – we promise! Still not convinced? We offer a 30 day money back guarantee! Even if you use the whole bottle and wish to return it, we will give you your money back. No questions asked! We are here for you and your skin!

Try the Accelerated Performance System for yourself today!  Shop Now
Are you a new customer? Use the coupon code ACCELERATETODAY to get a discount on your first order of the Accelerated Performance System today! *Please note this coupon code can only be used by new customers*

Interested in learning more about active ingredients- such as Retinol? Check out this post!