Yes, The Retinol Purge Is Real — Here's How To Deal, From Experts

Unfortunately, sometimes things have to get worse before they get better. This is true with plenty of things in life, and sometimes even in skin care too. The famous "retinol purge" is a perfect example—if you break out for a few weeks after you start using retinol, that actually might be a good thing in the long run.

"Because retinol speeds up cell turnover of the skin, in the beginning it is possible to experience a temporary worsening of acne," board-certified dermatologist and YouTube creator Andrea Suarez, M.D., FAAD, tells mbg. "It is basically acne that is down below the surface of the skin, coming to the surface all at once," she explains.

So retinol is not simply causing your skin to break out point-blank but rather expediting the process. Think of it like this: You have some breakouts on queue when you start using your retinol serum. Maybe they would come to the surface in a week, two weeks, a month, etc. Now, they're just popping up at a faster pace.

It can be hard to differentiate between skin purging and a day-to-day breakout. However, if you have just recently incorporated retinol into your routine, it's probably the cause of your new breakouts.

That being said, it's important to note that this is common and expected for retinol but not so much for other products. If you just started using a new hydrating serum or moisturizer, your skin shouldn't be breaking out excessively. In that case, the product may simply be irritating your skin or clogging your pores.

Further, timing can help you decipher if it's a breakout or purge. If it happened within the first few weeks of starting your new retinol, that's an indication your skin is purging. But if you've been using the same retinol for more than eight weeks, your breakout is likely caused by something else. "​​Once the purging is done, the skin should remain clear," Zeichner previously said.

Overusing retinol will only cause more irritation. If you slowly incorporate retinol into your nighttime skin care routine (we repeat: don't use it every night), your skin will adjust to it better than if you dive in full force.

"In general, it's a great idea to switch to all gentle sensitive skin products while adjusting to a new retinol," celebrity aesthetician Joshua Ross tells mbg. If you want to exfoliate the skin, opt for a gentle AHA, and never use it on the same night as your retinol.

If you're just starting to use retinol, it's not the best time to incorporate other new actives. It's best to keep the rest of your routine simple and hydrating to avoid irritation and ingredient interactions.

"For example, you can switch from a foaming cleanser to creamy cleanser. From an exfoliating toner to a hydrating one. Skip the vitamin C serum and switch to a hyaluronic acid serum," Ross says.

The sandwich method calls for a layer of moisture under and over your retinol. This will prevent the retinol from penetrating as deep into the skin, which will help minimize the irritation. Of course, post-purge you can apply retinol straight to clean, dry skin, but this extra step may help ease you into the process.

"Basic facials can be helpful during a retinol purge to help gently encourage the purging process. However, avoid heavy exfoliation and extractions, which could lead to blemishes," Ross explains.