What treatment may increase the amount of surface acne lesions?

Chemical peels and other alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) treatments are designed to promote skin cell turnover and improve skin texture by removing the outermost layer of dead skin cells. This process can initially cause an increase in acne lesions on the surface of the skin as it clears away debris and congestion from pores. Essentially, as the skin is treated and becomes more receptive to active ingredients, underlying congestion may come to the surface, resulting in more visible acne lesions.

While moisturizing and facial masks are generally meant to hydrate and soothe the skin, and exfoliation scrubs are used to slough off dead skin, neither of these directly promotes the same level of skin cell turnover that AHAs do. They might not provoke an immediate increase in surface lesions as seen with chemical peels and AHA treatments. In fact, the intent of moisturizers is to help maintain the skin's barrier function and prevent excessive dryness, while facial masks can offer various benefits depending on their ingredients, such as hydration or soothing properties. Exfoliation scrubs work to remove dead skin but don’t typically involve the same intensive chemical process as AHAs, making them less likely to initially surface additional lesions.