Acne is a chronic condition—which means even if you’ve been clear for a while, flares can still happen. 

I reeeally want you to hear this:
You can do everything “perfect” and still break out. It’s not your fault. And it will clear again.

Think of acne-prone skin like waves 🌊 —sometimes things are calm and clear, and sometimes there’s a temporary surge. It doesn’t mean something is wrong, it just means your skin is moving through a phase.

Flares can truly come from so many different directions, which is why they can feel so random. Some of the most common triggers I see are:

- Hormonal shifts (cycle changes, estrogen fluctuations, etc.)
- Stress (emotional or physical)
- Diet changes or new food sensitivities
- Travel, climate, or seasonal changes
- Inconsistent routines or missing steps
- Starting or adjusting skincare (aka purging)
- Increased sweating or workouts
- New environments (job changes, water, pets, etc.)
- Changes in haircare, makeup, or body products
- Internal shifts like nutrient deficiencies, allergies, or new health conditions

So if you’re trying to find one exact cause and can’t—that’s completely normal. Acne is heavily influenced by internal factors, and unless we’re tracking every single variable (which we’re not doing and talk about adding stress and furthering breakouts 🥴 lol), we won’t always get a clear answer.

The stress of trying to “figure it out” can absolutely make things worse. More stress = more inflammation = more breakouts. A cycle we definitely don’t want.

So first—take a breath. ✨ 

What to actually do when a flare happens:

1. Message your esthetician
Don’t carry the stress alone. This is literally what we’re here for. We can help you zoom out, assess what’s going on, and guide you back to balance without the guesswork.

2. Ice 🧊
Breakouts = inflammation. And cold is one of the simplest ways to calm that down.
Gently ice the skin 1–2x/day after cleansing for 2–5 minutes (as tolerated). It helps reduce swelling, redness, and speeds up the healing process more than most people realize.

3. Stay consistent
People will panic and accidentally make things worse.
Resist the urge to switch everything up trying to “fix” it overnight. Your skin needs stability right now. Keep your routine consistent, it's still working for you. 

The only time to scale back is if your skin feels irritated, sensitive, or burny—in that case, go simple: gentle cleanser, moisturizer, SPF until things calm down and you chat with your Esthetician. 

4. Spot treat (strategically)
Spot treatments can be super helpful—but more is not better here.
Think of them as targeted support, not a way to dry everything out.

Over-drying the skin can actually slow healing and increase the risk of post-inflammatory pigmentation. Use spot treatments early on active breakouts, then pull back as they start to resolve.

Our favorite spot treatments and when to use them ~
invisClear Hydrocolloid Spot Patches - for breakouts with whiteheads on them
Sulfur Spot Treatment - for breakouts with redness and inflammation or when you need something that creates an invisible layer on the skin under makeup
Sulfur Masque - use as a spot treatment for hormonally driven, super swollen, deep cystic breakouts usually along the jawline

5. Use targeted treatments when needed to speed up healing
Think of things like peel pads or treatment masks as your “extra support” during a flare 💪
Well-formulated peel pads can help address congestion, bacteria, inflammation, and pigment all at once. 🏆 

Pair them with hydration—keeping the surrounding skin healthy is a huge part of how quickly (and cleanly) you heal — like a sheet masque for a swift repair duo. 

At the end of the day—most flares are just temporary waves.

And if this flare is connected to a deeper shift, your esthetician will help you figure it out and adjust your plan accordingly.

We are here to help you figure out if any recent lifestyle/internal/literally anything changes are at the bottom of this. 

Either way—you’re not stuck here 💫 

With patience, consistency, and the right guidance… your skin always finds its way back 🩵