Help! My face is exploding with acne
As the title says, my face is exploding with acne and I’m incredibly sad because for many years I had relatively clear skin and now I think my skin barrier has been compromised. The pimples/acne seems to be mostly around the lower part of my face and chin area, and have had cystic-like acne. I’ve seen the dermatologist but I feel like my skin has been purging more, and I’m not sure how to feel about it! I did play around with some skincare a few months ago and I’m not sure if that caused the breakout (e.g. Azelaic acid, Decorte serum). I’m of Asian descent and just turned 30 this year. For now, this is my skincare routine, can someone help out this poor soul who just wants to have clear skin again? :(
Morning/night routine
Vitamin A cleanser
Torriden Dive In Toner
Glycolic acid (have stopped for a while because it was drying my skin although it’s great for acne scarring)
Golden lipid (oil-like, recommended by dermatologist)
Niacinamide (have stopped for a few days as it was causing more purging and cystic-like acne?)
Rozex topical metronidazole gel on chin and jaw line
Torriden Hyaluronic acid serum
Dermatologist-recommended moisturizer
Vitamin A 0.01% cream on T-zone (only at night, recommended by dermatologist)
Sun block (morning)
Salicylic acid on pimples/acne (night)
Posted Aug 5, 2026, 1:25 PM UTC