What Causes Acne After Stopping Actives
Many people notice pimples popping up right after they quit using strong skincare ingredients like retinoids, benzoyl peroxide, or acids. These are called actives because they target acne by speeding up skin cell turnover, killing bacteria, or unclogging pores. When you stop them suddenly, your skin can rebel in a few key ways.
One big reason is something called purging rebound or a return of the original problem. Actives were keeping your acne in check by controlling oil, bacteria, and dead skin buildup. Without them, those issues come roaring back, often worse at first because your skin was relying on the treatment.[1][2][3]
Another cause is a damaged skin barrier. Actives can dry out your skin, strip away natural oils, and make it sore or sensitive over time. Your skin barrier is like a protective shield made of lipids and cells that locks in moisture and blocks irritants. When it’s weakened from harsh actives, stopping them leaves your skin vulnerable. It gets dehydrated, produces extra oil to compensate, and clogs pores faster, leading to new breakouts.[3][4][5]
Overusing actives before stopping can make this worse. If you layered too many or used them too often without building tolerance, your skin never fully adjusted. Quitting cold turkey shocks it, sparking inflammation and more acne.[2][4]
Hormones and lifestyle play a role too. Acne often stems from oil glands going into overdrive due to hormones, mixed with dead skin cells and bacteria in pores. Actives masked this, but stopping reveals the underlying cycle, especially if stress, diet, or inconsistent routines are at play.[1][3]
Not easing off gradually adds to the problem. Skin needs time to readjust, just like it needed weeks to get used to actives in the first place. Jumping straight to basic products without transition can trigger flare-ups.[2]
Sources
https://implora.co.id/have-a-regular-skincare-routine-but-stubborn-acne-heres-the-cause
https://www.omsstore.com/blogs/skin-diseases-and-health-issues/why-your-acne-is-not-going-away-despite-using-products
https://www.aboutskinderm.com/skincare-for-teens-tips-for-managing-acne-and-oily-skin/
https://seacra.com/blogs/skin-within/how-get-rid-acne
https://artofskincare.com/blogs/learn/the-truth-about-your-skin-barrier-why-lipids-matter-more-than-moisture-alone
