Superpower vs BreakoutLabs: Which Blood Test Fits Acne?
Short answer: Superpower is a generalist: a yearly health membership that tests 150+ biomarkers across two lab blood draws, aimed at broad screening, longevity and prevention. BreakoutLabs is a specialist: we only do acne. It's one at-home kit, 12 markers chosen for acne, and a report that reads them for your skin. If you want a whole-body check with add-ons and a care team, Superpower is built for that. If acne is the question, a specialist test is the simpler, more direct way to answer it.
What Superpower is
Superpower sells a health membership. Members get a baseline blood panel and a retest later in the year, adding up to 150+ biomarkers, plus a biological age, health scores, a personalized plan, Superpower AI and an on-demand care team. Blood is drawn at one of 2,000+ Quest Diagnostics locations, or at home by a phlebotomist for an extra fee in most major US metros. Members can also buy add-on tests, supplements and prescriptions through the platform. Membership is for adults 18 and older, and it isn't available in every state.
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.
Superpower vs BreakoutLabs at a glance
Superpower details below come from Superpower's own website, as of September 28, 2026. Prices and panels change, so check Superpower's site for the latest.
| Superpower | BreakoutLabs | |
|---|---|---|
| Main focus | Whole-body screening, prevention and longevity | Acne root causes |
| Biomarkers in the base panel | 150+ across a baseline draw and a 50+ biomarker retest each year | 12 |
| Acne-related markers included | Their biomarker page lists Free Testosterone, Total Testosterone, SHBG, DHEA-S, Cortisol, hsCRP, Vitamin D, Ferritin and HbA1c in the baseline panel. Vitamin B12 is listed on their homepage, while their biomarker page shows it under add-on panels; confirm with Superpower | Free Testosterone, Total Testosterone, SHBG, DHEA-S, Cortisol, hsCRP, Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, Ferritin, HbA1c |
| Other markers | Many, including estradiol, progesterone, thyroid markers, cholesterol panels, insulin, PSA and more, plus paid add-ons | Albumin, Creatinine |
| Sample collection | Standard lab blood draw (their site describes a quick 10-minute draw) | Small blood sample with a painless device on the back of the upper arm |
| Where you collect | Quest Diagnostics lab, or at home with a phlebotomist for an additional cost in most major metros | At home, yourself |
| Results turnaround | "Results in 10 days or less"; their FAQ says about 1 week | 5 business days after the lab receives your sample |
| Price (as of September 28, 2026) | $349 per year; pricing may vary in New York and New Jersey | $199 for the test kit (one-time) |
| Membership/subscription | Yearly membership with two blood draws; cancel anytime, membership stays active through the paid year | One-time purchase; membership options with retesting are also available |
| Acne-specific interpretation | Not listed on their site (their FAQ lists skin health among the areas their protocols cover) | Yes, the Clear Skin Blueprint |
| Ages | 18+ | 14+ (14 to 17 with a parent or guardian) |
| Guarantee | Their FAQ says they don't offer refunds at this time; their membership agreement describes a one-time satisfaction refund for a first-year membership within a set window. Check their current terms | 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 Superpower test?
A lot of them. Superpower's biomarker page lists free and total testosterone, SHBG, DHEA-S, cortisol, hsCRP, vitamin D, ferritin and HbA1c in its baseline panel, along with markers BreakoutLabs does not measure, such as estradiol, progesterone, thyroid markers and insulin. Two notes from their own pages:
- Vitamin B12 appears in the "DNA Health" group on their homepage, but on their biomarker page it's filed under add-on panels (Vitamin Levels and Methylation) rather than the baseline. If B12 matters to you, ask them which draw includes it. For why it might, see vitamin B12 and acne.
- New York and New Jersey members may see different pricing, and their biomarker page notes the panel can differ for those states.
Why these markers matter for acne: in a study of 129 adult women with acne, lower SHBG was linked to more severe acne (Borgia et al., 2004), and in a small study of women with adult-onset acne, DHEA-S was the one hormone that differed from controls in women without excess hair growth (Seirafi et al., 2007). These are associations, not proof of cause. More in low SHBG and acne and adult-onset acne.
Generalist vs specialist: the real difference
A longevity membership is a generalist. It measures a wide range of systems, from heart and metabolic health to cancer-risk markers, and acne is one topic among many. A specialist starts from a single question. Every one of BreakoutLabs' 12 markers was chosen for its link to acne (see blood tests for acne for how the panel was built), and the Clear Skin Blueprint reads hormones, inflammation, nutrients and blood sugar together, so a normal testosterone with a low SHBG doesn't slip through.
The result is less to sort through and a clearer next step: what your markers suggest about your breakouts, and what to bring to your doctor.
Why BreakoutLabs is simpler for acne
- Built only for acne. One question, one focused panel, one report about your skin.
- No appointment, no lab visit, no extra fee for home collection. A painless device on the back of your upper arm, collected yourself, on your schedule.
- Fast to get started. Order the kit, collect at home, and results are ready 5 business days after the lab receives your sample.
- No yearly membership required. $199 for the test kit, with membership options if you want to retest later.
- Teens can use it. BreakoutLabs is available from 14 with a parent or guardian. Superpower's membership agreement says 18 or older.
- A guarantee tied to the acne question. See the 30-day money-back guarantee terms.
When a generalist membership makes sense
If longevity and prevention are your goals, Superpower covers far more than acne: biological age, health scores, a retest built into the year, add-on tests like gut, toxin and cancer screening, and a care team with AI chat. That breadth is the point of a generalist membership.
Can you use both?
Yes. If you're already a Superpower member, your baseline results may already include many acne-related markers, and your doctor can read them. BreakoutLabs adds an acne-specific read of a focused set of markers, which some people want when breakouts are the main concern. Others start with BreakoutLabs for acne and look at a broader membership later for general health.
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. 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 does not measure estrogen, progesterone, insulin, glucose or thyroid markers. It gives you information about what may be driving your acne; it doesn't treat it, and your doctor decides what to do next. See what the test measures.
Frequently asked questions
Does Superpower test for acne?
Superpower doesn't describe an acne-specific test or report on its site. Its baseline panel does list several acne-related markers, including testosterone, SHBG, DHEA-S, cortisol, hsCRP, vitamin D, ferritin and HbA1c.
Is there a Superpower 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 yearly membership.
Do I have to go to a lab with Superpower?
Superpower offers draws at 2,000+ Quest Diagnostics locations, or at home with a phlebotomist for an additional cost in most major US metros. BreakoutLabs is collected by you at home with a device on your upper arm.
Can teenagers use Superpower?
Superpower's membership agreement says members must be at least 18. BreakoutLabs is available from 14, with a parent or guardian for ages 14 to 17.
Sources
- Superpower. Homepage (price, biomarker groups, collection options, turnaround, cancellation). Accessed September 28, 2026.
- Superpower. What we test (baseline and add-on panel contents). Accessed September 28, 2026.
- Superpower. FAQs (what's included, retest, results timing, protocols, refunds, availability by state). Accessed September 28, 2026.
- Superpower. How it works (Quest locations, at-home draws). Accessed September 28, 2026.
- Superpower. Membership Agreement (age requirement, satisfaction refund terms). 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.
This article is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Talk to your healthcare provider about testing and treatment.
