Acne can be a frustrating condition. It can be hard to figure out exactly what’s causing it and what treatment works specifically for your skin (many people have to try multiple treatments before finding an effective one). 

It’s even more frustrating when it keeps coming back, despite your best efforts. If you’ve had acne that refuses to permanently go away, here are five possible reasons why it keeps coming back and what you can do about it.

1. There’s an Underlying Health Problem 

There are medical conditions that can cause an acne outbreak. This outbreak either persists or comes and goes no matter how well you take care of your skin 

Most of the health conditions that have acne as a symptom are hormone-related. They include polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), androgen-secreting tumors, hypothyroidism and cushing’s syndrome. 

If you have tried acne medication, changing your skincare routine and adjusting your lifestyle but you still get acne breakouts, talk to your doctor. This is especially important if you have other symptoms like missed periods, fatigue and weight gain. 

2. You Need to Overhaul Your Skincare Routine

Usually, recurring acne is not due to anything as serious as an underlying health problem. Often, it’s about how you take care of your skin. 

The first thing to check is whether you are doing the basics. 

• Cleaning your skin at least twice daily, ideally using a gentle cleanser. 
• Exfoliating your skin 2-3 times a week to remove dead skin cells, which are a major acne trigger. 
• Keeping your skin well moisturized. 

If you are doing this and you still keep getting acne, the next thing to check is whether you are using the right skincare products. Maybe there’s something you are using that’s triggering acne. Be especially careful about oil and alcohol based skin products. 

Try eliminating or switching some of your skin products to see if the breakout stops. When shopping for skincare products, look for those formulated for your skin type. 

3. There’s a Trigger You’ve Not Addressed 

Other things beyond your skincare products can also trigger acne. For instance, some drugs like steroids can cause acne. 

Clothes and other items that you wear on your body can also cause friction or sweat acne. This type of acne often occurs only on a particular spot like your back, neck or shoulders. 

Your bedding can also cause acne. If you don't wash your bed sheets and pillowcase often, they can harbor sweat, bacteria, dead skin cells and other debris that can trigger acne. 

If you have particularly acne-prone skin, we recommend getting the Hercleon Jax sheets and pillowcases. They are antibacterial and will greatly reduce the risk of bacterial acne.

Other common acne triggers include stress, touching your face frequently, pollution, sun exposure and makeup among others. 

It can be hard to nail down which trigger is affecting you. You may have to do various lifestyle changes (e.g. avoid prolonged sun exposure, reduce stress, wash bedding) and see what works. A dermatologist can also help you figure out what’s causing the breakouts.  

4. Diet & Lifestyle 

Your lifestyle is heavily involved in your skin health and various factors can cause recurrent acne. These include: 

• A diet heavy on high-glycemic foods like rice, white bread, potatoes, cake and sugary drinks can cause or worsen acne. 
• Smoking and alcohol consumption also affect the skin. 
• Lack of adequate sleep can also trigger acne by increasing stress levels, causing more inflammation and worsening hormonal imbalances. 
• Sun exposure causes skin damage and can trigger acne and other skin problems. 

5. It’s Hormonal 

For a lot of women, stubborn or recurrent acne is often hormonal. Hormonal imbalances trigger the skin to produce more oil, which clogs skin pores and leads to a breakout. 

That’s why acne breakouts are common during certain periods of the menstrual cycle, during pregnancy and in menopause.  

There are ways to treat or manage serious hormonal imbalances, so talk to your doctor if you suspect your acne is hormone related.