Why is my skin still breaking out?
If you're past your teens and still dealing with spots along the jawline and chin, it can feel frustrating and a bit unfair, especially when you're already doing everything "right". You're in good company: adult breakouts are far more common than most people realise, and they rarely mean you've done anything wrong.
Breakouts tend to flare with hormonal changes, busy weeks and not enough sleep. Pore-clogging makeup or skincare can play a part, and over-washing or harsh, stripping products often make things worse rather than better. Sometimes there's an underlying hormonal cause such as PCOS behind it too. The reassuring part is that congested, blemish-prone skin usually settles with a calm, steady approach instead of more scrubbing.
How we help congested, blemish-prone skin
Your first visit starts with a consultation where we look at how your skin is actually behaving and what might be setting it off, whether that's your products, your routine, your hormones or stress. From there we choose calm, clarifying treatments rather than the harsh, stripping ones that tend to leave breakout-prone skin more irritated.
Our Circadia facials clarify and rebalance without stripping the skin, and we'll often pair a facial with Dermalux LED light therapy, a gentle, non-invasive treatment many clients find helpful for blemish-prone skin, especially as a course. We'll also help you simplify what you're using at home, because that steady, non-irritating routine is what keeps skin looking clearer between appointments.
Treatments we'd recommend
Skin Clarity
Our go-to facial for skin that feels congested, irritated or prone to breakouts. We work to reduce the look of congestion, calm the appearance of redness and help your skin look clearer and feel more balanced, all without stripping or over-drying it.
Best for: congestion, breakouts, blemish-prone and hormonal-breakout skin, post-breakout calming.
LED Skin Session
A relaxing Dermalux LED treatment that many clients find helpful for congested, blemish-prone skin. Includes a double cleanse, targeted LED light therapy and finishing skincare. Often most effective as a course, spaced to suit your skin.
Best for: breakout-prone skin, congestion, post-treatment recovery, overall skin maintenance.
The Skin Studio Signature Facial
A bespoke facial built around how your skin is on the day. A lovely option for mild or occasional congestion, or for keeping skin balanced and healthy-looking once breakouts have settled down.
Best for: mild congestion, ongoing maintenance and anyone wanting a treatment tailored to their skin.
Breakouts & adult acne: your questions
What causes adult breakouts and acne?
For most adults it comes down to hormones and stress more than anything else, though pore-clogging products and over-stripping the skin can add to it, and sometimes there's an underlying cause like PCOS. We'll talk through what's likely behind yours when you come in, so we're not guessing.
Can a facial help with breakouts?
It can. A clarifying facial helps reduce the look of congestion, calm the appearance of blemishes and support clearer, more balanced skin over time. It won't clear acne on its own, but it sits really well alongside a good routine and, where you need it, medical treatment from your GP.
Is LED light therapy good for breakout-prone skin?
A lot of our clients with congested, blemish-prone skin really get on with Dermalux LED. It's gentle and non-invasive, and blue light in particular is often used to support clearer-looking skin, especially when you have a few sessions alongside a clarifying facial.
Will a facial help acne scarring or marks?
Facials and LED can leave skin looking brighter and more even, which tends to soften the look of post-breakout marks over time. For textured scarring, microneedling is now on our menu. Deeper or pitted scarring is usually best looked at by a clinic or dermatologist.
Which facial is best for breakout-prone skin?
We'd usually start you on Skin Clarity, often paired with Dermalux LED. Every skin is different though, so your first visit begins with a consultation and we tailor things from there, always without over-stripping your skin.
Should I see a doctor about my acne?
Yes, please do if it's persistent, painful or cystic, leaving scars, or really getting you down. A GP or dermatologist can offer medical treatments that a facial simply can't, and we're always happy to look after your skin gently alongside whatever they recommend.
Which areas does The Skin Studio cover?
The Skin Studio is a calm home studio in Chelsfield, Kent (BR6), easily reached from Orpington, Petts Wood, Bromley and the surrounding Kent area.
Book a clarifying facial in Chelsfield
Serving Chelsfield, Orpington, Petts Wood, Bromley and the surrounding Kent area. New clients begin with a consultation so we can tailor your treatment to your skin.
Book a £30 skin consultation