Why Your Skin Gets Worse, Then Better

You just got a new pimple product, you slather it on religiously, and . . . your skin completely freaks out. Sound familiar? Here’s what’s happening.

- Erin Stovall

How Acne Products Work

Topical ingredients like adapalene (a type of retinoid used in over-the-counter Differin and Proactiv) and hydroxy acids (such as salicylic and glycolic) help clear and prevent breakouts by boosting your skin’s natural exfoliation process, explains dermatologist Marnie Nussbaum, M.D. “The faster your skin sheds pore-clogging dead skin cells, the less breakouts you’ll see.”