Function Health vs BreakoutLabs: Which Blood Test Fits Acne?
Short answer: Function Health is a generalist: a yearly membership with 160+ lab tests that screens your whole body, drawn at a Quest lab or by a visiting specialist in select areas, for adults 18 and older. BreakoutLabs is a specialist: we only do acne. It's one at-home kit, 12 biomarkers chosen for acne, and a report that reads them for your skin. If you want a full-body checkup, Function is built for that. If your question is "what inside my body is driving my breakouts?", a specialist test is the simpler, more direct way to answer it.
What Function Health is
Function Health is a membership that includes 160+ lab tests a year. According to its site, you start with 100+ tests at an annual visit and follow up with 60+ tests 3 to 6 months later. Blood is drawn at one of 2,000+ Quest locations, or at your home or office in select areas. The membership is $365 a year, charged annually (as of September 28, 2026). Clinicians review results and flag issues, and results come with explanations and a personalized protocol. It covers heart, thyroid, hormones, metabolic health, nutrients, toxins, autoimmunity and more.
What BreakoutLabs is
BreakoutLabs makes the Acne Root Cause Test, a blood test built around acne. It measures 12 biomarkers across hormones, stress and inflammation, nutrients and blood sugar. You collect a small blood sample at home with a painless device on the back of your upper arm, the sample is processed in a CLIA-certified lab, and results are ready 5 business days after the lab receives it. Your results come with a Clear Skin Blueprint that reads your markers together through an acne lens. It's $199 for the test kit, and membership options with retesting are also available.
Function Health vs BreakoutLabs at a glance
| Function Health | BreakoutLabs | |
|---|---|---|
| Main focus | Whole-body health screening and tracking over time | Acne: internal factors linked to breakouts |
| Biomarkers | 160+ lab tests a year (100+ at the annual visit, 60+ at the mid-year test) | 12 biomarkers |
| Acne-related markers included | Free Testosterone (calculated), Total Testosterone, SHBG, DHEA-S, Cortisol, hs-CRP, Vitamin D, Ferritin, HbA1c. Vitamin B12 is not listed as a base marker; they list Methylmalonic Acid (MMA), which they label a "B12 proxy" | Free Testosterone, Total Testosterone, SHBG, DHEA-S, Cortisol, hsCRP, Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, Ferritin, HbA1c, plus Albumin and Creatinine |
| Sample collection | Blood draw by a phlebotomist (about 35 to 85 mL, per their FAQ) | Small sample with a painless device on the back of the upper arm |
| Where you collect | 2,000+ Quest locations, or at home or office in select areas | At home |
| Results turnaround | First results typically start arriving within 48 hours of testing (FAQ); around 2 weeks for at-home draws | 5 business days after the lab receives your sample |
| Price (as of Sept 28, 2026) | $365 a year, charged annually | $199 for the test kit (one-time) |
| Membership | Required; no pauses, cancel and rejoin any time | Optional; membership options with retesting are available |
| Age | 18 or older, not currently pregnant | 14 or older (ages 14 to 17 with a parent or guardian) |
| Acne-specific interpretation | Not listed on their site (clinician notes and general explanations are included) | Yes, the Clear Skin Blueprint |
| Guarantee | Their FAQ says they don't offer refunds for prior payments | 30-day money-back guarantee (terms) |
Prices, panels and policies change. Check each company's site for the latest details.
Does Function Health test for acne?
Function isn't an acne test, but its base panel includes most of the markers that matter for acne. Its female and male health sections list Total Testosterone, Free Testosterone (calculated from other lab values), SHBG and DHEA-S, and it also includes Cortisol, hs-CRP, Vitamin D, Ferritin and HbA1c. That overlap is real, and it's worth saying plainly.
Why do these markers matter? In a study of 129 adult women with acne, acne severity was linked to lower SHBG, and most had at least one raised androgen (Borgia et al., 2004). In a smaller study of women with adult-onset acne, the only hormonal difference from controls in women without excess hair growth was higher DHEA-S (Seirafi et al., 2007). These are observational studies, mostly in women, so they show links, not proof of cause. More in our guides to low SHBG and acne and blood tests for acne.
The difference is less about which numbers get measured and more about how they're read. Function's site doesn't list an acne-specific interpretation. BreakoutLabs reads the same kinds of markers together with acne as the question, so a pattern like normal testosterone with low SHBG is called out in the context of your skin.
Generalist vs specialist: the real difference
Think of it like seeing a general practitioner versus a specialist. A generalist membership casts a wide net: heart, thyroid, liver, kidneys, toxins and more, with acne as one of many possible topics. A specialist starts from one question and builds everything around it. BreakoutLabs chose each of its 12 markers because of its link to acne, and the Clear Skin Blueprint reads them together with your skin as the whole point.
That focus is what makes it easier to act on. Instead of 160+ results to sort through, you get the markers most tied to acne, what they suggest about your breakouts, and what to bring to your doctor.
Why BreakoutLabs is simpler for acne
- Built only for acne. The 12 markers were chosen for acne, and your results are interpreted for your skin, not for general wellness.
- No appointment, no lab visit. You collect at home with a painless device on the back of your upper arm, in the morning after an 8 to 10 hour fast, Monday to Thursday. If you menstruate, you collect on days 3 to 7 of your cycle.
- Fast to get started. Order the kit, collect when it suits you, and results are ready 5 business days after the lab receives your sample.
- No annual commitment. $199 for the test kit, one-time. Membership options with retesting are there if you want them.
- Teens can use it. BreakoutLabs is available from age 14, with a parent or guardian for ages 14 to 17. Function's FAQ lists 18 or older.
- A guarantee tied to the acne question. The 30-day money-back guarantee applies if we can't deliver results, or if all markers are normal and your acne is unlikely driven by what we measure.
When a generalist membership makes sense
If you want a whole-body baseline anyway, Function covers far more than acne, including markers BreakoutLabs doesn't measure such as estradiol, insulin, glucose, thyroid hormones, zinc and iron, plus a mid-year retest and add-ons like imaging. That breadth is the point of a generalist membership.
Can you use both?
Yes, and some people do. If you already have Function results, you may have values for testosterone, SHBG, DHEA-S and hs-CRP. Our guide to normal bloodwork and ongoing acne explains how to read those numbers with acne in mind. If you're choosing one, start with your goal: a general checkup, or a specialist answer about your skin.
Either way, share results with your doctor. Acne treatment options range from topical therapies to oral and hormonal treatments, and your doctor decides what fits you (Reynolds et al., 2024). Lab results add context to that conversation. They don't replace it.
How BreakoutLabs fits in
The Acne Root Cause Test measures Free Testosterone, Total Testosterone, SHBG, DHEA-S and Albumin (hormones); Cortisol and hsCRP (stress and inflammation); Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, Ferritin and Creatinine (nutrients and recovery); and HbA1c (blood sugar). It does not measure estrogen, progesterone, insulin, glucose, thyroid hormones, zinc or serum iron. The test gives you information to understand your skin and bring to your doctor. It doesn't treat acne.
Frequently asked questions
Is Function Health worth it for acne?
It depends on what you want. Function's base panel includes most acne-relevant hormones and markers, plus a lot more, but its site doesn't list acne-specific interpretation. If you want broad screening anyway, it covers the acne basics; if acne is the only question, an acne-focused test may be simpler.
What is a Function Health alternative for acne?
An acne-focused blood test like BreakoutLabs measures the hormones, inflammation, nutrient and blood sugar markers most tied to acne, collected at home, with results read for your skin. You can also ask your doctor about hormone testing, especially if you have irregular periods or unwanted hair growth.
Does Function Health check hormones?
Yes. Its site lists testosterone (total and free), SHBG, DHEA-S, estradiol, FSH, LH, prolactin and more in the base membership, with progesterone as an add-on. Their FAQ says people on birth control won't have FSH, LH and estradiol run.
Can teens use Function Health or BreakoutLabs?
Function's FAQ says members must be 18 or older. BreakoutLabs is available from age 14, and teens aged 14 to 17 need a parent or guardian.
Sources
- Function Health. Home page. Accessed September 28, 2026.
- Function Health. What we test. Accessed September 28, 2026.
- Function Health. Pricing. Accessed September 28, 2026.
- Function Health. FAQs. Accessed September 28, 2026.
- Function Health. How it works. Accessed September 28, 2026.
- Borgia F, Cannavò S, Guarneri F, et al. Correlation between endocrinological parameters and acne severity in adult women. Acta Dermato-Venereologica. 2004.
- Seirafi H, Farnaghi F, Vasheghani-Farahani A, et al. Assessment of androgens in women with adult-onset acne. International Journal of Dermatology. 2007.
- Reynolds RV, Yeung H, Cheng CE, et al. Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2024.
This article is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Talk to your healthcare provider about testing and treatment.
