Skin concern
Acne & breakouts
Persistent breakouts in your twenties, thirties and beyond — what drives them and what's realistic to expect from treatment.
What it actually is
Acne is an inflammatory condition of the hair follicle, not a hygiene problem. Follicles become blocked with skin cells and oil, bacteria proliferate in that environment, and the surrounding tissue inflames. Adult acne — particularly along the jaw and chin — behaves differently from teenage acne and often responds to different approaches.
Why it happens
- Hormonal fluctuation, including cycle-related and perimenopausal changes
- Follicles that shed skin cells abnormally, blocking the pore
- Inflammation, which is what turns a blocked pore into a painful lesion
- Products that are too occlusive, or a routine that's too aggressive
- Friction and occlusion — helmets, masks, sports equipment
What tends not to work
Acne is not caused by being unclean, and scrubbing harder reliably makes it worse by damaging the barrier and increasing inflammation. Stripping the skin of all oil tends to backfire too. Most single-ingredient miracle claims don't survive contact with an actual inflammatory acne pattern.
How we approach it
The first job is working out which pattern you're dealing with — comedonal, inflammatory, hormonal, or a mix — because that determines what's worth doing. In-clinic options can help calm inflammation and address congestion, and are usually combined with a simplified home routine rather than layered on top of an elaborate one. Improvement is measured over skin cycles, not days.
When to see a doctor instead
See your physician or a dermatologist for severe, cystic or scarring acne, or acne that hasn't responded to consistent treatment — prescription options exist that a clinic like this one cannot provide, and early treatment of scarring acne matters.
Treatment
How we treat acne & breakouts
Every treatment is performed by Karilee Slubowski, LPN.
Acne Laser Therapy
Targeted laser therapy to calm active acne, reduce bacteria, and improve skin clarity.
Crow & Co.Hydra-Dermabrasion / Crow Royalty™
Deep cleansing, gentle exfoliation, and hydration in one luxurious resurfacing treatment.
Crow & Co.Crow & Co. Apothecary Bar — Customized Microneedling Facial
Collagen-induction microneedling paired with our Crow & Co. Apothecary Bar — you choose the regenerative serums infused into your skin that day, finished with a complimentary near-infrared recovery mask.
Questions
Acne & breakouts — common questions
- Why am I getting acne in my thirties when I never had it as a teenager?
- Adult-onset acne is common and often follows a different pattern — typically along the jaw and chin, more inflammatory, and frequently linked to hormonal fluctuation. It usually responds better to calming and regulating approaches than to the drying regimens marketed at teenagers.
- Will treatment make my skin worse before it gets better?
- Some approaches can bring existing congestion to the surface early on. That should be explained to you in advance and should be temporary — an ongoing worsening is a sign the approach needs changing, not persevering with.
Not sure if this is what you have?
That’s what an assessment is for. Karilee Slubowski, LPNwill tell you what you’re actually dealing with — including when the answer is that you should see your physician instead.
Related: Rosacea & facial redness, Pigmentation & sun damage, Loose skin & fine lines