Acne 101 – Causes, Tips, and Routines to Help Ease Breakouts

America, with more than 85 percent of people experiencing some form of it in their lifetime. But there is good news: there are ways to manage acne. Below, we dive into what acne is, what causes it, and how to help treat it.

What is acne?

Acne forms when pores become clogged with excess oil, dead skin cells, and sometimes, bacteria. The resulting inflammation is typically a swollen, red pimple. The origins of acne are fairly unknown, but scientists theorize that our prehistoric ancestors may have lost their fur faster than their sebaceous glands could adapt, leading to an overabundance of oil.

What causes acne?

Though it’s more common in teens due to a surge in hormones, anyone can get acne, even babies can experience acne. It’s most often caused by fluctuating genetics, hormone levels, environment, and lifestyle — factors that can affect anyone.

Pores are the small openings on the top layer of your skin that release sweat and oil, and they tend to be most visible on the oily areas of your face, like your T-zone (forehead, nose and chin). Clogged pores occur when your skin is regenerating new skin cells during its natural renewal process and the dead skin cells become trapped in your skin, which leads to an increase and buildup of oil production, dirt, and dead skin cells. This can be caused by a variety of factors including bacteria, sweat, hormones, makeup, or incorrect skincare products.

These dead skin cells, dirt, debris, and sebum (also known as excess oil) then clog pores by sticking to their sides—which results in breakouts and blemishes such as pimples, blackheads, and whiteheads.

It’s also worth considering other factors when breakouts suddenly occur. The Japanese skincare ritual isn’t about overnight transformations or aggressive treatments. Rather, it’s about meditative moments attending to your skin and to yourself, every single day. To truly care for your skin, you must go beyond trying to eliminate a pimple or splashing away makeup. Think of your skin as a reflection of your body. Could it be stress that causes a breakout? A lack of sleep that results in dry or dull skin? Skincare can only go so far if you aren’t paying attention to the state of your soul.

What products can help treat blemishes?

Everyone's skin is different, and your skin can be ever-changing. Consult it daily to assess how it’s reacting to any rituals or treatments. It can be so satisfying to focus on one skin issue until it’s gone, but it would save you lots of effort to try and prevent the issues from occurring in the first place. By purifying, polishing, plumping, and nourishing your skin with a classic Japanese skincare ritual each and every day, you can help minimize those issues that irritate you, whether it’s a breakout, dry texture, or sunspots. The building blocks of a beautiful skincare ritual, particularly for those that are experiencing breakouts, start with the basics: cleansing, exfoliation, treatment, and moisturizing.

Cleansing

Cleansing is one of the most important aspects of your daily skincare ritual, no matter your skin type. Removing excess oil, sebum, makeup, sunscreen, and debris is vital for happy skin. Particularly if you have oily skin or an oily T-zone area, your skin produces extra sebum that can lead to clogged pores and eventually breakouts. Cleansing with The Deep Cleanse is a great start to your morning and end of your day. The gentle gel cleanser lathers into a creamy foam to lift away oil without over-drying. Skin is left feeling refreshed and comfortable afterward.

Exfoliating

Rice is the basis of our exfoliants. We love this humble dietary staple because it effectively removes impurities while providing skin-nourishing oils, which is perfect for those experiencing blemishes. A natural enzyme exfoliant, rice bran boasts potent antioxidants and nourishing moisturizers, and when activated with water, rice powder can not only decongest your pores, but also brighten skin tone, diminish the look of hyperpigmentation, and help enable skin to better absorb the next steps in your ritual.

Many conventional Western exfoliants contain seeds, salt, or ground shells that can tear and tug at the skin, with even weekly use causing irritation. Rice powders are beloved because they can be used every day without stripping or pulling at your skin. Instead, the foam delicately removes the dead skin cells that make your complexion appear dull. Try our bestselling Rice Polish Deep —it’s composed of finely ground rice bran, papaya enzymes, and wild rose to promote healthy, natural skin turnover. To activate the powder, simply add a drop of water to create a creamy foam.

Serums and Treatments

For your night routine, we recommend our Violet-C Brightening Serum , a clean, kind-to-skin formula with two types of Vitamin C and antioxidant-rich Japanese beautyberry. Mild fruit AHAs also work to resurface and exfoliate dull skin. The brightening serum helps to reveal a translucent, radiant glow. A brightening serum can also help lighten the appearance of scarring.

Similar to our Violet-C Brightening Serum, our Violet-C Radiance Mask is formulated with Japanese beautyberry, two types of Vitamin C, and AHAs from seven fruits. This creamy, rinse-off mask helps treat dullness, uneven skin tone, and texture—and helps provide antioxidant protection from sun damage while revealing softer, glowing skin.

Moisturizing

Those experiencing blemishes and breakouts may be tempted to skip moisturizers altogether, thinking it may cause even more to appear. However, a lack of hydration will cause a dryness imbalance, thus causing the skin to create excess oil, and increasing the potential for additional blemishes. Look for a moisturizer that hydrates but doesn’t leave skin coated or greasy. The Water Cream was created for congested skin specifically, as it’s a lightweight, clarifying cream that releases a burst of hydrating nutrients and pore-refining botanicals for healthy, balanced skin. The unique water-burst formula breaks upon application to deeply deliver treatment benefits and hydrations without leaving skin sticky or greasy.

“When I talk to women with acne or eczema, they often tell me that they feel as if their skin has betrayed them,” says Tatcha founder Vicky Tsai. “I understand that because I thought of my skin as being out of control, too,” she says. “But perhaps the most valuable lesson the Japanese approach to beauty has taught me is that skincare is about caring. Your skin works hard for you. If you show it attention and love, it will reward you with a healthy radiance.”