{"id":31647,"date":"2022-08-25T20:11:03","date_gmt":"2022-08-25T20:11:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/?p=31647"},"modified":"2025-01-29T23:48:27","modified_gmt":"2025-01-29T23:48:27","slug":"why-wont-my-acne-go-away","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/why-wont-my-acne-go-away\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Is Acne *So* Hard to Get Rid Of? Dermatologists Explain."},"content":{"rendered":"

Have you ever found yourself wondering, \u2018Why won\u2019t my acne go away?\u2019 You\u2019re not alone. We spoke to a board-certified dermatologist to find out why it\u2019s *so* hard to clear up your complexion.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

To say I\u2019ve been on a rocky journey with my acne would be an understatement. I first dealt with unwelcome blemishes when I was 13\u2014and with every passing month, more seemed to accumulate. By the time I was 15, my face was covered with pimples. I had been to the dermatologist over a dozen times by then and had tried every topical imaginable but saw no results. I completely lost hope: I accepted the fact that it was simply impossible to clear up my complexion.<\/p>\n\n\n

When I turned 16, I went on Accutane (a powerful oral retinoid that dries up your skin\u2019s oil glands). In addition to a host of concerning side effects, it came with a promise: clear skin<\/a>. I excitedly agreed and waited patiently. Normally, people take the medication for four months and see improvement. I was on it for six, and nothing much happened. I continued for a few more months and saw a small difference. But mostly, my skin was just dry, red, flaky, and still covered in pimples. Great.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

After one-and-a-half years, my skin finally cleared up\u2014until the week before my period<\/a> started. I got four giant breakouts on my chin. How was this happening?!<\/p>\n\n\n

Of course, they went away, but they always came back. My skin was clear for three weeks of the year and then would break out. Like many people who deal with acne, I spent most of my teenage years and early 20s wondering what age acne g<\/a>oes away. I\u2019m (not so) pleased to report that even into my mid-20s, I still suffer from regular breakouts. It got me wondering: Why won\u2019t my acne go away? And, in 2022, when we\u2019ve figured out how to reverse sun damage with lasers and grow back thinning hair, how have we not figured out the magic bullet for acne? I spoke to a board-certified dermatologist to find out.<\/p>\n\n\n

Why Won\u2019t My Acne Go Away?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"acne<\/figure>\n\n\n

So, why is acne so<\/em> difficult to get rid of? Caren Campbell, MD, FAAD, <\/a>a board-certified dermatologist with practices in Napa and San Francisco, breaks down everything you need to know.<\/p>\n\n\n

There Are Several Different Causes of Acne<\/h3>\n\n\n

To start, there isn\u2019t just one blanket cause of acne. Sometimes it can be difficult to determine (even for derms) what\u2019s triggering your acne, and without understanding the root cause, treatments might be mismatched. (Read: the slew of products you\u2019re slathering on may not even be the right ones.)\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

These are the main causes of acne:<\/p>\n\n\n

Hormones<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n

\u201cThis is always a driver for acne, which is why we get it with periods, when we hit puberty, and during menopause<\/a>,\u201d Dr. Campbell says. \u201cAndrogen hormones rise during puberty (with testosterone supplementation, etc), which causes increased oil production on the skin from oil glands.\u201d Oil is the ideal environment for acne-causing bacteria to grow in, which is why you notice so many more breakouts during big life stages.<\/p>\n\n\n

As you age and continue through life stages, you might be dealing with adult acne<\/a>. If you\u2019re wondering how it\u2019s possible to still be getting pimples into adulthood, the answer also comes down to your hormones. \u201cHormonal fluctuations that happen during certain times in our lives drive the formation of acne,\u201d Dr. Campbell says. \u201cExamples include puberty, menopause, beginning hormonal types of birth control<\/a> like IUDs and implanon.\u201d This also happens during pregnancy, as the influx of hormones can cause unwelcome breakouts (but there are pregnancy-safe skincare<\/a> products you can use to treat them).<\/p>\n\n\n

Skin Type<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n

Unfortunately, some people are simply more oily than others. If your skin type is oily, you\u2019ll likely be prone to breakouts (since acne-causing bacteria thrives in oily environments).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

Diet<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n

\u201cDairy has been associated with acne, and whey and creatine supplements<\/a> can also cause and worsen acne,\u201d Dr. Campbell says. \u201cOther things like high glycemic foods show correlation but not direct cause in studies.\u201d So, steer clear of the dairy<\/a> and sugar, and opt for a plant-based protein<\/a> powder (like HUM Nutrition\u2019s Core Strength<\/a>, which is made with pea protein). Certain food sensitivities<\/a> may also drive inflammation<\/a> that can lead to increased breakouts. To determine if you may fall into this camp, work with an RD on an elimination diet<\/a> that can help pinpoint triggers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

Skincare Products<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n

Yes, you read that right. The skincare products you\u2019re using could actually be behind your breakouts. \u201cAvoid things that do not say non-comedogenic, which means non-acne forming or non-pore clogging,\u201d Dr. Campbell says. \u201cFace oils also create a good environment for the acne bacteria to overgrow, so avoid them.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

Medications<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h4>\n\n\n

Unfortunately, certain medications can cause acne. Dr. Campbell says corticosteroids, lithium, anticonvulsants, barbiturates, androgenic steroids, DHEA, and medications that contain bromides or iodides can all cause breakouts. In fact, even birth control can cause unwelcome pimples.<\/p>\n\n\n

There Are Several Types of Acne<\/h2>\n\n\n

PSA: Not all acne is created equal. There are actually different types of acne, and each one may require a different treatment. The types of acne include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n