Acne & Breakouts
Congested, inflamed and unpredictable skin
Breakouts start when pores get blocked with oil and dead skin, giving bacteria somewhere to multiply and setting off inflammation. They range from small bumps and blackheads to deep, painful cysts — and they're not only a teenage problem. Adult acne along the jaw and...
Sounds like
- Blackheads and whiteheads across the nose, chin and forehead
- Red, tender bumps that take days to settle
- Deep, painful lumps under the skin, often along the jaw
- Skin looks oily by midday, especially through the T-zone
- Dark marks that linger long after a spot has healed
- Flare-ups around your cycle or during stressful weeks
What might be causing it
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Hormonal shifts — puberty, your cycle, PCOS, pregnancy, coming off contraceptives
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Excess oil production, worse in humid weather
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Heavy or pore-clogging creams, hair oils and makeup
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Pollution and sweat sitting on skin through the day
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Stress and irregular sleep raising cortisol
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A diet high in refined sugar, and for some people, dairy
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Over-washing or over-exfoliating, which strips the barrier and triggers more oil
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Picking, touching, unwashed pillowcases and phone screens
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Friction from helmets, masks and collars
A routine that works with it
Morning
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Cleanse
A mild, low-foam wash with lukewarm water — never hot
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Treat
A lightweight niacinamide serum across the whole face
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Moisturise
A gel or fluid moisturiser, even on oily days
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Protect
Broad-spectrum SPF 30-50, reapplied if you're outdoors
Evening
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Double cleanse
Only if you wore sunscreen or makeup — oil first, then your gentle wash
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Spot treat
Salicylic acid or a clay treatment on active spots only, not all over
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Hydrate
A calming serum while skin is still damp
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Seal
A non-comedogenic moisturiser to finish
What helps day to day
Lifestyle
Cut back on refined sugar and fried food, and try dropping dairy for four to six weeks to see whether it makes a difference for you. Change pillowcases twice a week, wipe your phone daily, wash your face after sweating — and however tempting it is, don't pick.
Skincare
Go gentle rather than aggressive: a mild cleanser twice a day and a lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturiser. Skipping moisturiser makes oiliness worse, not better. Spot-treat instead of treating your whole face, wear sunscreen daily, and add only one new active at a time.
Ingredients
Look for these
- Salicylic acid
- Niacinamide
- Tea tree
- Kaolin clay
- Zinc
- Azelaic acid
- Green tea
Go easy on these
- Heavy occlusive balms
- Coconut oil on the face
- Alcohol-heavy toners
- Physical scrubs on active spots
- Stacking several actives at once
- Picking and squeezing
What people tell us
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I apply a thin layer of it on the active acne itself (not to be applied on the whole face, obviously) as a last step in my routine and leave it overnight. And follow the same thing for max 3 days and voilà, the magic has been done. It tingles a bit and also provides a cooling sensation for a meanwhile post application but that subsides within a few minutes so that's okay. It effectively dries up and removes all that gunk off your face within these days. Apparently, it doesn't help with those stubborn acne marks, but works great for active acnes. Great and affordable. - @skinrious
What we'd reach for
View all
This information is general and educational, and isn't a substitute for medical advice. Please consult a doctor or dermatologist for a diagnosis.
Questions we get asked
My skin is oily — should I skip moisturiser?
No. Stripped skin compensates by producing more oil, which usually makes congestion worse. Use a lightweight, non-comedogenic gel instead of skipping the step.
How long before I see a difference?
Skin renews itself over roughly four to six weeks, so give any new routine eight to twelve weeks of consistent use before judging it. Changing products every fortnight is the most common reason routines seem not to work.
Does what I eat actually affect my skin?
For some people, yes. Diets high in refined sugar and, for a subset of people, dairy are linked with more breakouts. It's worth testing over four to six weeks rather than assuming either way.
Why am I getting acne in my thirties?
Adult acne is common, particularly along the jaw and chin, and is often linked to hormonal fluctuations, stress and product choices rather than anything you've done wrong.