z(it) happens / acne 101
Acne 101
How to Treat Body Acne (Back, Chest, and Beyond)
Facial acne tends to get all the attention—but body acne is just as real, just as frustrating, and just as treatable. Whether you're dealing with bacne, breakouts on your chest, or spots along your shoulders or butt, know this: you’re not alone, and you don’t have to settle. Body acne may look different than facial acne, but it's driven by many of the same factors: clogged pores, oil, sweat, friction, and sometimes the wrong products. Here’s everything you need to know to finally get your body breakouts under control.
-
How to Treat Body Acne (Back, Chest, and Beyond)
Facial acne tends to get all the attention—but body acne is just as real, just as frustrating, and just as treatable. Whether you're dealing with bacne, breakouts on your chest, or spots along your shoulders or butt, know this: you’re not alone, and you don’t have to settle. Body acne may look different than facial acne, but it's driven by many of the same factors: clogged pores, oil, sweat, friction, and sometimes the wrong products. Here’s everything you need to know to finally get your body breakouts under control.
ReadRead more -
What Makes Adult Acne Different?
If you thought breakouts were supposed to end after high school, you’re not alone. But here’s the reality: adult acne is more common than ever—especially for individuals assigned female at birth in their 20s, 30s, and even 40s. And while it may look similar to teenage acne, adult acne is often deeper, slower to heal, and harder to manage with drugstore treatments alone. Let’s break down what makes adult acne different—and how to treat it in a way that’s both effective and supportive.
ReadRead more -
How to Tell If You Have Acne: Acne vs. Rosacea
Not all breakouts are acne. If your skin constantly looks flushed, your “pimples” never form heads, or your cheeks are covered in tiny bumps that don’t respond to typical acne treatments, you might be dealing with rosacea—a chronic skin condition that’s often confused with acne vulgaris. Knowing the difference between acne and rosacea is key to getting the right treatment—and avoiding ingredients that could make your skin worse.
ReadRead more
Latest Blog Posts
“Eventually, I realized the hard truth: there’s no real industry standard for what makes a product acne-safe”
Read the article-
read moreAcne 101
How to Treat Body Acne (Back, Chest, and Beyond)
Facial acne tends to get all the attention—but body acne is just as real, just as frustrating, and just as treatable. Whether you're dealing with bacne, breakouts on your chest, or spots along your shoulders or butt, know this: you’re not alone, and you don’t have to settle. Body acne may look different than facial acne, but it's driven by many of the same factors: clogged pores, oil, sweat, friction, and sometimes the wrong products. Here’s everything you need to know to finally get your body breakouts under control.
-
read moreAcne 101
What Makes Adult Acne Different?
If you thought breakouts were supposed to end after high school, you’re not alone. But here’s the reality: adult acne is more common than ever—especially for individuals assigned female at birth in their 20s, 30s, and even 40s. And while it may look similar to teenage acne, adult acne is often deeper, slower to heal, and harder to manage with drugstore treatments alone. Let’s break down what makes adult acne different—and how to treat it in a way that’s both effective and supportive.
-
read moreAcne 101
How to Tell If You Have Acne: Acne vs. Rosacea
Not all breakouts are acne. If your skin constantly looks flushed, your “pimples” never form heads, or your cheeks are covered in tiny bumps that don’t respond to typical acne treatments, you might be dealing with rosacea—a chronic skin condition that’s often confused with acne vulgaris. Knowing the difference between acne and rosacea is key to getting the right treatment—and avoiding ingredients that could make your skin worse.
-
read moreAcne 101
How to Power Through a Purge (Without Giving Up on Your Routine)
You finally commit to a new skincare routine—one that’s designed for your acne-prone skin, filled with clinically backed actives—and then… your breakouts get worse. Sound familiar? This frustrating phenomenon is called a skin purge—and it’s more common (and temporary) than you think. If your skin seems to be “freaking out” after starting a new skincare product like a retinoid or salicylic acid, there’s a good chance it’s not a setback—it’s a process. Let’s walk through what’s happening, how to tell the difference between the purging process vs. breaking out, and how to power through a purge with your skin (and sanity) intact.
-
ReadAcne 101
Cryotherapy for Acne: Does It Really Work?
Cold plunges, ice rollers, and cryotherapy facials are popular treatments right now—but can these cold therapy trends actually help with acne? The short answer: yes, in some cases—but cryotherapy isn’t a cure-all. For acne-prone skin, cold treatments can calm inflammation, shrink swollen breakouts, and support healing—when used the right way. Let’s break down what cryotherapy for acne actually is, how it works, and whether it deserves a place in your routine.
-
read moreAcne 101
Skin Cycling 101: How to Manage Acne Without Letting It Take Over Your Routine
If you’ve ever layered five active ingredients on your face out of desperation, only to wake up with redness, flakiness, or even more breakouts—you’re not alone. Enter: skin cycling. This simple, dermatologist-approved routine helps you get the benefits of active ingredients—like retinoids, exfoliating acids, and acne treatments—without overwhelming your skin with a multitude of skincare products. It’s not a social media trend. It’s a smarter way to treat acne, support your barrier, and finally get consistent results—especially if your skin is sensitive, acne-prone, or just plain tired. Skin cycling can be adjusted according to your skin type, whether it’s oily, dry, or reactive.
