What causes acne and what can you do about it?

Acne is one of the most frustrating skin problems. Pimples often appear when you least expect them, remain visible for a long time, and sometimes keep recurring. Many people try everything: scrubs, drying products, spot treatments… but without the right approach, their skin can actually become more irritated.

Acne is not just about “getting rid of pimples”, but about restoring balance to the skin.

What exactly happens with acne?

Acne occurs when several processes become unbalanced at the same time:

Excessive sebum production causes clogged pores.
Accumulation of dead skin cells blocks the skin and forms blackheads.
Bacterial growth and inflammation lead to red, painful pimples.
Irritated skin barrier makes the skin more sensitive and slows down recovery.

You often recognize acne by:

Regularly recurring impurities
Black or whiteheads
Redness or inflammation
Uneven skin texture
Dark spots after pimples

An effective treatment therefore always focuses on reducing blockages , calming inflammation and supporting the skin barrier .

Causes that can worsen acne

Hormonal fluctuations
Stress and sleep patterns
Too aggressive cleaners or too many products
Oily cosmetics or heavy creams
Irregular cleansing of the skin
Climate and sweat (e.g. gym or hot weather)

Acne requires an approach that is gentle, targeted and consistent, no over-treatment.

Ingredients that work against acne

Salicylic acid (BHA)
Penetrates deep into pores, dissolves sebum and helps prevent blockages.

Azelaic acid
Has an antibacterial effect, reduces redness and helps fade blemishes.

Niacinamide
Soothes inflammation, supports the skin barrier and helps regulate sebum production.

These ingredients enhance each other's effects when combined correctly.

The power of a structured routine

Many people use too many different products at the same time, while acne actually needs rest and regularity.
A good routine:

Cleans without stripping
Reduces blockages
Soothes inflammation
Strengthens the skin barrier
Prevents new outbreaks

For those who regularly suffer from acne or recurring blemishes, Prescription Skincare has developed a complete solution:

Acne – Skin Concern Set .

This set has been carefully formulated by our skin specialists to purify pores, reduce inflammation and visibly calm skin, without irritating or drying out the skin barrier.

Meest gestelde vragen

Hoe lang duurt het voordat ik resultaat zie?
De meeste mensen zien binnen 3–6 weken minder verstoppingen en minder roodheid.
Voor langdurige verbetering adviseren dermatologen een consistent gebruik van 8–12 weken.

Mag ik make-up gebruiken tijdens het behandelen van acne?
Ja, zolang je kiest voor niet-comedogene (niet-verstoppende) producten. Reinig je huid ’s avonds altijd goed: eerst make-up verwijderen, daarna reinigen met een milde cleanser.

Verergert salicylzuur acne niet juist in het begin?
Soms kan de huid in de eerste week wat onrustiger lijken doordat verstoppingen loskomen. Dit is tijdelijk en betekent meestal dat de huid reageert op het oplossen van ophopingen. Blijf consistent, maar stop bij echte irritatie.

Kan ik de Acne - Skin Concern Set gebruiken als ik een gevoelige huid heb?
Ja! De set bevat milde maar effectieve ingrediënten zoals salicylzuur, azelaïnezuur en niacinamide. Deze combinatie pakt acne aan zonder de huidbarrière te beschadigen. Bouw het gebruik wel rustig op wanneer je huid snel reageert.

Kan ik deze producten combineren met retinol of andere sterke actives?
Ja, maar met beleid. Gebruik retinol bij voorkeur op avonden zonder salicylzuur om over-exfoliatie te voorkomen. De AI Skin Scan geeft automatisch veilige combinaties voor jouw huidtype.