Back to blog

Content list:

Honeydew vs BreakoutLabs: Treating Acne vs Testing for the Cause

Close-up of pink tablets in a blister pack

Short answer: Honeydew starts with treatment: online dermatology providers diagnose acne and prescribe medication, including isotretinoin (Accutane). BreakoutLabs starts with the cause: an at-home blood test that measures 12 markers linked to hormones, inflammation, nutrients and blood sugar, so you know what may be driving your breakouts before you choose a treatment. BreakoutLabs offers both: the test to find the cause, and access to prescription treatment, including isotretinoin when a physician decides it's right for you, so you can find the cause and get treated in one place.

What Honeydew is

Honeydew is a telehealth dermatology service. You fill out a medical questionnaire and upload photos of your skin. Its site says that in many cases treatment can start without a video consult, and if a visit is needed you can book one within 48 hours. Providers are board-certified dermatologists and licensed nurse practitioners. For acne, the site lists Accutane (full and low-dose), spironolactone, tretinoin, doxycycline, clindamycin and custom compounded formulas. Prescriptions go to a pharmacy or are delivered to your door, and you can message your care team for follow-ups. Honeydew says it is available in all 50 states and Washington DC.

What BreakoutLabs is

BreakoutLabs makes the Acne Root Cause Test, an at-home blood test built around acne. It measures 12 biomarkers: 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). You collect a small sample with a painless device on the back of your upper arm. A CLIA-certified lab processes it, and results arrive 5 business days after the lab receives it, with a personalized Clear Skin Blueprint. BreakoutLabs also offers access to prescription treatment, including isotretinoin when a physician decides it's right for you.

Honeydew vs BreakoutLabs at a glance

Honeydew BreakoutLabs
Main focus Acne treatment by online dermatology providers Finding possible internal acne drivers first, then treatment
What you get Diagnosis, treatment plan, prescriptions, follow-ups Lab results for 12 markers plus a Clear Skin Blueprint
How it works Questionnaire and photos; video consult if needed At-home blood collection, mailed to a CLIA-certified lab
Prescribes medication Yes, including isotretinoin Yes, including isotretinoin when a physician decides it's right
Labs ordered For isotretinoin: lab orders for bloodwork (liver and lipids) and pregnancy tests where required The test itself is the lab work
Acne-related markers (Free T, Total T, SHBG, DHEA-S, Cortisol, hsCRP, Vitamin D, B12, Ferritin, HbA1c) Not listed on their site as part of the service All 10, plus Albumin and Creatinine
Price (as of September 28, 2026) Basic membership: $39/month (3-month minimum), $129 every four months, or $299/year. Accutane membership: $64/month (3-month minimum), $229 every four months, or $299/year plus $25/month. Medication and lab work costs are not included; lab coordination is. $199 for the test kit
Membership Required for care Optional; membership options with retesting are also available
Ages Under 18 needs a parent or guardian at the first video consult; minimum age not listed 14+ (14–17 with a parent or guardian)
Guarantee Not listed on their site 30-day money-back guarantee (terms)

Prices, panels and services change. Check each company's site for current details.

Does Honeydew prescribe Accutane online?

Yes. Honeydew's site says its providers prescribe isotretinoin entirely online, in standard and low-dose courses, and that its care team handles iPLEDGE enrollment, the monthly confirmation window and pregnancy-test logistics. Medication is billed separately from membership. Its Accutane page lists standard-dose medication "as low as $0 with insurance or $50/box cash" as of September 28, 2026.

Isotretinoin is an established acne treatment. The American Academy of Dermatology's 2024 guideline strongly recommends it for acne that is severe, causing psychosocial burden or scarring, or not responding to standard oral or topical therapy (Reynolds et al., 2024). Whether it's right for you is a decision for you and your prescriber.

What blood tests does Accutane require?

Isotretinoin comes with safety monitoring. Every FDA-approved isotretinoin product is part of iPLEDGE, an FDA safety program whose goal is to reduce the risk of life-threatening severe birth defects. It is a central system for prescribers, pharmacies and patients. For patients who can get pregnant, pre-treatment pregnancy tests must be done in a medical setting. FDA-approved changes will let prescribers allow pregnancy tests at home during and after treatment; in June 2026, the FDA said these changes are now planned to take effect November 15, 2026 (FDA).

Beyond pregnancy testing, doctors commonly check liver function and fasting lipids (DermNet). An international expert consensus recommended checking ALT (a liver enzyme) and triglycerides within a month before starting and at peak dose, but not monthly, and advised against routine complete blood counts (Xia et al., 2022). Practice still varies. Honeydew's FAQ says most of its patients have bloodwork at least twice, at baseline and around the 2-month mark, covering a liver panel and lipid profile, with a lab order you can take to a lab of your choice.

These tests keep treatment safe. They are not designed to look for hormonal or nutritional drivers of acne, and they don't overlap much with a root-cause panel.

Testing vs treatment: two different steps

  • Treatment addresses the acne you have now. A licensed provider examines your skin, weighs your history and chooses a therapy.
  • Testing looks for internal patterns that may be contributing, such as high androgens, low SHBG, inflammation or low nutrient levels. It does not treat acne.

Most acne is diagnosed without blood tests (DermNet). Hormone testing is usually considered when there are signs of excess androgens, monthly flare-ups or acne that resists treatment (Elsaie, 2016). In one study of women with persistent acne, low SHBG was the most common hormonal finding (Sardana et al., 2016). For more, see do dermatologists do blood tests for acne? and low SHBG and acne.

Why start with the cause

Most acne care starts with a prescription and adjusts from there. That works for many people. But if your acne is driven by something internal, such as high androgens, low SHBG, ongoing inflammation or low nutrient levels, knowing that first can shape which treatment makes sense and what to watch for if acne comes back after treatment ends. See acne that came back after Accutane.

  • Test first, then decide. Your Clear Skin Blueprint shows which of 12 acne-linked markers are out of range, so you and a physician start from your data, not a guess.
  • Treatment when it's the right call. BreakoutLabs offers access to prescription options, including isotretinoin when a physician decides it's right for you.
  • At home. One collection with a painless device on the back of your upper arm, no office visit.
  • Teens can start here. Available from age 14, with a parent or guardian for ages 14 to 17.
  • A guarantee. The 30-day money-back guarantee is described on our refunds page.

If your acne is scarring, painful or affecting your life, see a clinician now. Don't wait on a test to get treated.

Can you use both?

Yes, and they fit together. You could test first, then share your Clear Skin Blueprint with a Honeydew provider or any dermatologist as background. Or you could start treatment right away and test along the way. If you're on isotretinoin, keep doing the monitoring your prescriber orders. A root-cause test doesn't replace it, and you should never stop or delay a prescribed treatment to get tested.

How BreakoutLabs fits in

The Acne Root Cause Test gives you and your provider a snapshot of 12 markers linked to acne. Collect in the morning after an 8–10 hour fast, Monday to Thursday, and on days 3–7 of your cycle if you menstruate. It does not measure estrogen, progesterone, insulin, glucose, thyroid hormones, or the liver and lipid tests used for isotretinoin monitoring. It informs a conversation with your doctor; the test itself doesn't treat acne.

Frequently asked questions

Is Honeydew a blood test for acne?

No. Honeydew is a telehealth treatment service. It orders labs when a treatment like isotretinoin requires monitoring, but a root-cause blood panel isn't listed as part of its service.

Can I get Accutane online?

Yes, through licensed telehealth services such as Honeydew, as long as you and your prescriber complete iPLEDGE requirements. A provider decides whether isotretinoin is right for you.

Do I need a blood test before starting acne treatment?

Usually not for most treatments. Isotretinoin requires monitoring labs, and hormone testing may help when there are signs of a hormonal driver. Your provider decides.

Can I share BreakoutLabs results with my Honeydew provider?

Yes. Your results and Clear Skin Blueprint are yours to share with any clinician. They can add context, but your provider makes the treatment decisions.

Sources

This article is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Talk to your healthcare provider about testing and treatment.

BreakoutLabs Learning Center

Acne Causes, Tests & Clear Skin Guides