The Truth About Acne: Hormones, Sweat, and Summer Breakouts

You’re not imagining it—acne really does tend to flare in the summer. Heat and humidity increase oil production, while sunscreen, makeup, and sweat can trap that oil in your pores. If you’re spending time outdoors, it’s common to wipe your face more frequently, which spreads bacteria and irritates skin further. Chlorine from pools and friction from hats or sunglasses only add to the mix.

Whether you’re noticing new breakouts or worsening acne, it doesn’t mean your routine is wrong—it just means your skin needs a little seasonal support. That’s where we come in.

Understanding the why behind your acne is the first step to lasting relief.

This type of acne often appears around the jawline, cheeks, and chin. It's driven by internal hormone shifts, including puberty, menstrual cycles, pregnancy, and stress. Hormonal breakouts tend to:

• Be deeper, cystic, and painful
   
• Recur in predictable areas
   
• Be more resistant to over-the-counter treatments

Sweat + Summer Acne

• Show up as small bumps or blackheads on the forehead, chest, or back
   
• Flare during the summer or after workouts
   
• Improve with better post-exercise skincare habits

Both types of acne are common—and treatable. The key is choosing the right approach for your skin.

At Mountain Pine Dermatology, we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all skincare. Whether you're a teen navigating breakouts for the first time or an adult managing flare-ups with kids in tow, our team creates tailored plans based on the type of acne you’re dealing with, not just how it looks on the surface.

Topical Treatments

• Prescription retinoids: Help unclog pores, reduce inflammation, and improve skin turnover.
   
• Topical antibiotics: Reduce surface bacteria and redness.
   
• Azelaic acid: Excellent for sensitive skin or rosacea-prone patients with acne.
   
• Benzoyl peroxide washes: Great for body acne and reducing bacterial load.

• Facials with extractions: Provide deep pore cleansing and can reduce surface blackheads and comedones.
   
• Chemical peels: Help shed dead skin cells, reduce oil buildup, and lighten post-acne discoloration.
   
• Microneedling: A powerful dual-action treatment that improves both active breakouts and post-acne scarring.

You’re not alone; more adults are dealing with acne than ever before. Hormonal shifts, chronic stress, and certain medications can cause adult-onset acne long after the teen years. It often appears with dryness or sensitivity, making treatment trickier.

Our dermatology team takes a gentle, tailored approach, helping you find relief without compromising your skin’s balance.

We see it all the time: patients trying everything under the sun to fix their acne, and accidentally making it worse. Over-washing, scrubbing too hard, skipping moisturizer, or using trendy-but-harsh ingredients can all lead to increased redness, sensitivity, and breakouts.

Our advice? Treat your skin like it’s already healing. Choose gentle cleansers, avoid picking or squeezing blemishes, and don’t skip moisturizer; even oily skin needs hydration. Trusting a dermatology team early on can save months (or years) of frustration.

It’s not unusual for teens or adults to walk into our office frustrated after months (or years) of trying every trending acne product without relief.

One common scenario: A high school student from Meridian comes to us with recurring hormonal breakouts along the jawline. After a professional consultation and starting a gentle, prescription-grade retinoid alongside a customized skincare routine, their skin begins clearing noticeably in just a few weeks. By the start of the school year, their complexion is improved, and so is their confidence.

This kind of result isn’t rare. With professional guidance and a little consistency, clearer skin is not just possible, it’s probable. 

Whether you're heading back to high school, preparing for college, or gearing up for fall photos at work, we believe everyone deserves to feel good in their skin. Treating acne takes time—starting now gives your skin a chance to heal before the busy season kicks in.

Back-to-School Clear Skin Consultation
Call (208) 898-7467 or contact us online to reserve your appointment today. We’ll work with you (and your teen!) to create a clear, manageable skincare plan.