Do You Have Acne That Never Goes Away?
You’ve tried it all. Every skincare routine, every acne prescription, every dietary change suggested in those clickbait articles— and still, your acne never goes away.
No, you’re not imagining it. And no, you’re not doing something “wrong.”
The truth is that acne is a complicated condition to treat.
Even if you follow a consistent skin care routine, you may be missing invisible triggers in your makeup, food, or habits that keep the breakouts coming. And because there’s typically 90 days’ worth of acne developing under the surface at any given time, your skin today is the result of choices you made months ago.
Not to mention that breakouts are often driven by genetics. This means you may be predisposed to breakouts even if you are following all of the mainstream acne solutions.
So, now that we’ve established you’re not to blame, we want to assure you that you don’t have to live with acne forever.
At Atlanta Acne Specialists, we have 20+ years of experience helping our clients deal with stubborn chronic acne. While it's not always easy, we promise if you stick with us, we will give you all the tools you need to finally see a difference in your skin!
Why Is My Acne Not Responding to Anything?
First of all, let’s answer the most frustrating question of all:
Why does my acne never go away?
Well, the answer might lie in your approach.
Many of our clients jump from one product or treatment to the next in hopes of finding something that actually works. And while that new spot treatment, facial, prescription, or makeup brand might work eventually, it won’t work if you keep jumping around.
Constantly jumping to the next product makes it really, really difficult to isolate what’s helping and what’s hurting your skin.
To really determine what’s right for you, you need to use the right products, the right way. And keep doing it for at least 90 days. Most people actually need longer- between 3 and 6 months- to see optimal results.
Unfortunately, there is no miracle cure for acne, so once you figure out what works, you need to keep doing these things for as long as you want your skin to stay clear.
Another common reason why your acne isn’t going away is the use of poor quality or pore-clogging products. Even some prescriptions can unknowingly contain ingredients that trigger acne breakouts. Not to mention your diet, which can reverse any of the benefits you get from your skincare routine!
In this next section, we’ll look at some of the different causes of acne to give you a better idea of where you need to make changes to improve the health of your skin.
Different Causes of Acne
Acne isn’t caused by one thing—it’s the result of many overlapping factors, including:
- Genetics
- Diet (Dairy, whey, soy protein powders, peanuts, peanut butter, energy drinks, etc)
- Certain supplements and vitamins
- Pore-clogging ingredients in skincare, makeup, and medication
- Hormonal changes and stress
- Inconsistent or overly complex skincare routines
You could be doing a lot of things right and still causing breakouts without realizing it. While there’s not much you can do about your genetics, the rest of the causes of acne on this list are completely within your control.
Take it from the experts, you can get rid of even the most stubborn acne if you are consistent with your routine.
Here’s how you do it.
How to Manage Acne Long-Term
There is no cure for acne—but there is a way to manage it. And when done correctly, it can be life-changing.
Step 1: Follow a customized, acne-safe skincare routine twice daily
Consistency is the key to managing acne long-term. Finding the right products and building your routine isn’t quick, but it’s fantastically effective.
When you work with Atlanta Acne Specialists, we create a fully-customized skincare routine just for you using the skincare products we know and love.
One question we often get asked is, “Why do you still have acne when you are doing skincare twice daily?” The answer typically lies in the products you use.
If your skincare products contain pore-clogging ingredients, they are causing more breakouts, even if it says “non comedogenic” or “won’t clog pores” on the label. Your products may also be too strong and disrupt your skin barrier, or they’re not strong enough or don't contain any ingredients that will cut through the waxy plugs in your pores.
Step 2: Identify and remove dietary and lifestyle triggers
Skincare alone is not enough to stop your breakouts for good. And unfortunately, a healthy diet can still aggravate your acne. Some foods are not good for acne-prone individuals even if they are considered healthy.
The top offenders are:
- Dairy products
- Whey protein
- Peanuts and peanut butter
- Energy drinks
- Soy protein powders, shakes, and bars
Another commonly missed trigger are your vitamins or supplements. Some cause breakouts because they include very high amounts of B12, biotin, and iodine. These supplements don’t cause breakouts for everyone, but in acne-prone individuals, they very well could be the cause of a flare-up.
Step 3: Avoid product changes unless they are directed by a professional
We know how tempting it is to switch up your skincare when it feels like nothing is working. The problem is that when you jump around too much, you don’t give the products time to work their magic.
When new clients come to us it’s very common to hear they've gone through the following scenario that might sound familiar; you go buy a new cleanser, then try a spot treatment. Get a new prescription from your MD, and then go get a facial. Try new makeup because your bestie said it worked wonders, and then switch it up a week later based on a tik tok you watched.
But all of this does a number on your skin. You’re better off sticking with the same routine for three or more months to see if it makes a difference than to try one new product every month. I know it’s a little boring to use the same products all the time, but when you find something that works you have to be consistent.
Have you heard the expression, too many cooks in the kitchen? It’s kind of like that. Too much advice can confuse your treatment. You’re better off sticking to one thing consistently.
Step 4: Get regular acne treatments to speed up healing and prevent future breakouts
Most people don’t realize that extractions can be a powerful tool in your arsenal when dealing with stubborn acne. But removing the oil and dead skin cell buildup from your pores can really speed up the healing process!
At Atlanta Acne Specialists, an acne treatment is a clinical facial designed specifically for acne-prone skin. By manually extracting clogged pores, we clear out the buildup of dead skin cells and oil that are stuck in your pores. This not only helps prevent future breakouts, but also allows your skincare products to penetrate more effectively and actually do their job.
When combined with a consistent at-home routine and small lifestyle adjustments, acne treatments can significantly shorten the time it takes to clear your skin. For many people, they’re the step that finally turns the corner from frustrating flare-ups to lasting clarity.
The decision you make today will still affect your skin two or three months down the road. The foods you eat, the skincare and makeup products you use, the prescriptions you try… When it comes to getting rid of stubborn acne, you need to play the long game.
How Long Does It Take for Acne to Go Away Naturally?
The short answer: longer than you think.
Any skincare routine or diet change needs at least 90 days to show results. That’s because acne forms deep in the skin and takes time to surface. For most people, 180 days (6 months) is a more realistic timeline for meaningful, lasting change.
This isn’t about finding a miracle product—it’s about sticking with a proven system, consistently using the right ingredients, and eliminating triggers that are unique to your skin. Think of it less like a quick-fix diet and more like a long-term lifestyle shift, the way you'd approach weight loss with healthy eating and movement.
Work with Atlanta Acne Specialists
Our approach is science-backed, tested over 20+ years, and tailored to your unique skin. It’s not flashy—but it works.
If you’d like to learn more about our practice and how we can help you significantly reduce your acne in under 6 months. Visit our website and take our Acne Mini Course or book your Consultation and Treatment today to get on the path to clear skin!