Your Acne Is Getting WORSE — Is It Really Purging?

You started tretinoin, adapalene or another acne treatment… and suddenly your acne looks WORSE. Everyone online tells you the same thing: “Don’t stop. You’re just purging.” But are you? As a dermatologist, I think the idea of the “skin purge” has become massively oversimplified online. Not every breakout after starting an acne treatment is purging — and worsening acne is not proof that your treatment is working. In this video, I explain what we actually know scientifically about purging and early acne flares, including: What a microcomedo is and how acne actually begins Why retinoids can change what’s happening inside the follicle What clinical evidence actually says about the famous “retinoid purge” Purging vs a normal breakout vs retinoid irritation Why burning, redness, peeling and stinging matter Why WHERE you’re breaking out can give us a clue Which products can plausibly cause an early flare — and which ones probably aren’t “purging” you How long you should wait before reassessing your treatment Why adding more acids and acne treatments can make everything worse When I would stop “pushing through” and speak to a dermatologist One of the biggest mistakes I see is someone starting a retinoid, breaking out, adding salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide and exfoliating products… and then assuming the resulting red, burning, peeling skin is just a really bad purge. Irritation does not mean your treatment is working harder. Acne treatment requires patience — but patience and blindly tolerating worsening skin are not the same thing. If you’re currently “purging,” tell me in the comments what product you started, how long you’ve been using it, and what changed in your skin. Subscribe for evidence-based acne and skincare advice without unnecessarily complicated routines or skincare marketing nonsense. I’m Dr. Victoria — your older dermatologist sister on the internet. #Acne #SkinPurging #Tretinoin #Retinoid #AcneTreatment #Dermatologist #skincare