Can You Detox Your Skin?

Can You Detox Your Skin? The Truth About Skin Purging and Toxins

Every few months, a new skincare ‘detox’ trend pops up promising to rid your skin of toxins. But can you actually detox your skin, or is this just another skincare myth?

At Springs Health, Wellness & Beauty Clinic, we believe in science-backed skincare, not fads. Let’s break down the truth about skin detoxing, purging, and what your skin really needs to stay clear and glowing.

Can Your Skin Actually Detox?

Short answer? No, not in the way marketing makes you think. Your skin doesn’t flush out toxins—that’s your liver’s job. The body has built-in detoxification systems, mainly through the liver, kidneys, gut, and lymphatic system.

But your skin does play a small role—it helps regulate temperature through sweating and can release some waste by-products. However, sweating is not a major detox route, and your skin isn’t eliminating toxins in the way your liver and kidneys do.

What Happens When Your Skin Breaks Out?

Clients often ask, “If detox isn’t real, why do I break out when I start a new product or after a cleanse?”

What’s happening is either:

Skin purging – Increased cell turnover from active ingredients (like retinol or exfoliating acids) brings clogged pores to the surface faster. This isn’t detox; it’s your skin adjusting to a new routine.
Inflammation – Diet, stress, or poor gut health can trigger inflammation, causing breakouts. This isn’t your body detoxing—it’s a sign of internal imbalance that needs addressing.

Is Smelling Alcohol, Garlic, or Spices on Your Skin Detoxification?

Short answer? Not exactly.

When you eat or drink certain things (like alcohol, garlic, onions, spicy foods), your body metabolises them in the liver, gut, and kidneys. During this process, some by-products of digestion (volatile compounds) enter the bloodstream.
These compounds are excreted through your lungs (breath), urine, and sweat glands. That’s why you can sometimes smell garlic or alcohol on someone’s breath or skin. It’s not really “detoxing” in the sense of removing toxins—it's just your body processing and excreting metabolic waste.
Sweat isn’t a major detox route. It helps regulate body temperature, and yes, some waste products like urea, ammonia, and salt come out in sweat—but it’s minimal. About 1% of bodily waste is excreted through sweat.

So, when you hear someone say, “I can smell it coming out of my pores,” it’s their body eliminating metabolic by-products, not necessarily a detox. The real detoxing (breaking things down safely and clearing them from the body) is happening in their liver and kidneys, not in their skin.

How Does the Body Detox? (The Science Without the Jargon)

Your liver processes toxins, turning them into compounds your body can eliminate through bile or urine.
Your kidneys filter waste from your blood, excreting it through urine.
Your gut and colon move waste out of the body. If you’re constipated, toxins can be reabsorbed back into the bloodstream.
Your lungs exhale carbon dioxide and other volatile compounds (yes, bad breath can be a clue).
Your lymphatic system transports waste from your cells to be filtered and removed.
Your skin plays a small part by sweating, but this is primarily about cooling you down, not detoxing.

What You Can Do to Support Your Body’s Detox Process

Hydrate – Drink plenty of clean, filtered water (2-3 litres per day) to support your kidneys and digestion.

Eat fibre-rich foods – Fibre keeps your gut moving and helps carry toxins out of your body.

Move your body – Exercise promotes lymphatic drainage and supports circulation.

Support your liver – Eat foods like beetroot, leafy greens, turmeric, and take it easy on alcohol and processed foods.

Get enough sleep – Deep sleep is when your body does its best repair and detox work.

Your skin isn’t the primary way your body detoxes. Instead, focus on supporting your liver, kidneys, gut, and lymphatic system with healthy habits. That’s where real detox happens!

At Springs Health, Wellness & Beauty Clinic, we focus on an inside-out approach to skincare, combining nutrition, treatments, and lifestyle changes for radiant, healthy skin.

Book a consultation today and let’s create a holistic plan to support your skin and overall health.