Rythm Health vs BreakoutLabs: Which Blood Test Fits Acne?

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Short answer: Rythm Health is a monthly at-home blood testing subscription built for tracking general health markers over time, with results in under 48 hours. BreakoutLabs is a one-time at-home test built around acne, with a panel and a report chosen for what can drive breakouts. If you want broad monthly tracking of heart, thyroid, hormone and metabolic markers, Rythm fits that job. If your main question is "what inside my body might be behind my acne?", BreakoutLabs is built for that question.

What Rythm Health is

Rythm Health sells an at-home blood test on a monthly subscription. Each month you get a kit, collect a small capillary sample at home with an FDA-cleared collection device, and send it back by FedEx. Their panel lists 25+ biomarkers across hormones, thyroid, heart health, metabolic markers, blood counts, and kidney and liver health, with an AI Coach and biomarker trends in their app. Rythm says its services are for adults 18 and older and that it does not diagnose, treat or prescribe.

What BreakoutLabs is

BreakoutLabs makes the Acne Root Cause Test, a one-time at-home blood test with 12 biomarkers picked because they relate to acne: hormones (Free Testosterone, Total Testosterone, SHBG, DHEA-S, Albumin), stress and inflammation (Cortisol, hsCRP), nutrients and recovery (Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, Ferritin, Creatinine) and blood sugar (HbA1c). Results come with a personalized Clear Skin Blueprint that reads those markers together in the context of acne. It's for ages 14 and up, with a parent or guardian for teens 14 to 17.

Rythm Health vs BreakoutLabs at a glance

Rythm details below come from Rythm's own website, as of September 28, 2026. Prices and panels change, so check Rythm's site for the latest.

	Rythm Health	BreakoutLabs
Main focus	Monthly tracking of general health markers	Acne root causes
Biomarkers in the base panel	25+ (men's and women's panels differ slightly)	12
Acne-related markers included	Free Testosterone, Total Testosterone, SHBG, Cortisol, hsCRP, Vitamin D, Ferritin. DHEA-S, Vitamin B12 and HbA1c are not on their listed panel (they list fructosamine as their average blood sugar marker)	Free Testosterone, Total Testosterone, SHBG, DHEA-S, Cortisol, hsCRP, Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, Ferritin, HbA1c
Other markers	Estradiol, progesterone (women), TSH, Free T3 and Free T4 (women), cholesterol and ApoB, triglycerides, uric acid, liver and kidney markers, and more	Albumin, Creatinine
Sample collection	Capillary sample with an FDA-cleared device; where on the body is not listed on their site	Small blood sample with a painless device on the back of the upper arm
Where you collect	At home	At home
Results turnaround	Under 48 hours per their homepage; their FAQ also says within 3 business days of the lab receiving the sample	5 business days after the lab receives your sample
Price (as of September 28, 2026)	$79 per month plus shipping and tax; a 25% off promotion showed $59.25	$199 for the test kit (one-time)
Membership/subscription	Monthly subscription; skip up to 90 days or cancel anytime without fees	One-time purchase; membership options with retesting are also available
Acne-specific interpretation	Not listed on their site	Yes, the Clear Skin Blueprint
Ages	18+	14+ (14 to 17 with a parent or guardian)
Guarantee	30-day money-back guarantee on first-time purchases; you must complete the test and ask within 7 days of receiving results	30-day money-back guarantee if results can't be delivered, or if all markers are normal and your acne is unlikely driven by what we measure

Which acne-related markers does Rythm Health test?

Rythm's listed panel covers several markers that matter for acne: total and free testosterone, SHBG, cortisol, hsCRP, vitamin D and ferritin. That's a solid overlap. SHBG is worth singling out: in a study of 129 adult women with acne, lower SHBG was linked to more severe acne (Borgia et al., 2004). Read more in low SHBG and acne.

A few acne-relevant markers aren't on Rythm's published list:

DHEA-S, an adrenal androgen. In a small case-control study of women with adult-onset acne, DHEA-S was the only hormone that differed from controls in women without excess hair growth (Seirafi et al., 2007). See adult-onset acne.
Vitamin B12. See vitamin B12 and acne for what the research does and doesn't show.
HbA1c. Rythm lists fructosamine as its average blood sugar marker instead. Both are ways of looking at average blood sugar over time.

Rythm also measures things BreakoutLabs does not, such as estradiol, progesterone for women, and thyroid markers. BreakoutLabs does not measure estrogen, progesterone, thyroid, insulin or glucose. If those are what you want to track, that's a point for Rythm.

When Rythm Health is the better fit

You want frequent tracking. Rythm is built around testing every month and watching trends, which suits people changing training, diet or medications.
You want a broad health picture. Heart markers like ApoB and cholesterol, thyroid markers, liver and kidney markers, and estradiol are on their panel.
Speed matters most. Rythm advertises results in under 48 hours.
You're on hormone therapy or a GLP-1 and want regular numbers to share with your prescriber. Rythm names these users among the people it serves.

When BreakoutLabs is the better fit

Acne is the reason you're testing. Every marker on the panel was chosen for its link to acne, including DHEA-S, B12 and HbA1c alongside the androgen markers. See blood tests for acne for how the panel was built.
You want results read through an acne lens. The Clear Skin Blueprint reads your hormones, inflammation, nutrients and blood sugar together, so patterns like normal testosterone with low SHBG don't get lost.
You want a one-time answer, not a subscription. $199 for the test kit, with membership options if you want to retest later.
You're a teen. BreakoutLabs is available from age 14 with a parent or guardian.
You want a guarantee tied to the acne question. If all your markers come back normal and your acne is unlikely driven by what we measure, the 30-day money-back guarantee applies.

Can you use both?

Yes. Some people use a broad tracking service for general health and an acne-specific test when breakouts are the question. If you already test with Rythm, you may already have your testosterone, SHBG, cortisol, hsCRP, vitamin D and ferritin results. The markers BreakoutLabs adds on top are DHEA-S, B12 and HbA1c, plus an acne-focused read of the full set. Share results from either with your doctor.

How BreakoutLabs fits in

The Acne Root Cause Test measures 12 biomarkers from a small blood sample you collect at home in the morning, after an 8 to 10 hour fast, Monday through Thursday, with a painless device on the back of your upper arm. If you menstruate, you test on days 3 to 7 of your cycle. Samples are processed in a CLIA-certified lab, and results are ready 5 business days after the lab receives your sample. The test gives you information about what may be driving your acne; it doesn't treat it. Your doctor decides what to do with it. See what the test measures.

Frequently asked questions

Is Rythm Health good for acne?

Rythm's panel includes several acne-related markers, including testosterone, SHBG, cortisol, hsCRP, vitamin D and ferritin. Its site does not describe acne-specific interpretation, and DHEA-S, B12 and HbA1c are not on its listed panel. It can be useful context, especially if you already subscribe.

Is there a Rythm Health alternative for acne?

BreakoutLabs is an at-home blood test built specifically for acne, with 12 markers and a Clear Skin Blueprint that interprets them for acne. It's a one-time purchase rather than a monthly subscription.

Which is faster?

Rythm advertises results in under 48 hours. BreakoutLabs results are ready 5 business days after the lab receives your sample.

Can teenagers use Rythm Health?

Rythm's terms say its services are for people at least 18 years old. BreakoutLabs is available from 14, with a parent or guardian for ages 14 to 17.

Does either test replace seeing a doctor?

No. Both companies say their tests don't replace medical care. Bring your results to your doctor or dermatologist.

Sources

Rythm Health. Homepage (price, turnaround, guarantee summary). Accessed September 28, 2026.
Rythm Health. What we test (biomarker panel, subscription terms). Accessed September 28, 2026.
Rythm Health. FAQ (collection device, fasting, shipping, results timing, panels by sex, who it's for). Accessed September 28, 2026.
Rythm Health. Refund and Skip Policy. Accessed September 28, 2026.
Rythm Health. Terms and Conditions (age requirement). Accessed September 28, 2026.
Borgia F, Cannavò S, Guarneri F, Cannavò SP, Vaccaro M, Guarneri B. 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.