The Acne Root Cause Test — For Teens

Your teen's acne isn't a skincare problem

It's biology, and it's measurable. Before another treatment, get the information. Our at-home test measures the hormone, blood sugar, nutrient and stress imbalances behind their breakouts, then gives you a personalized plan built for them.

Get Their Answers ★★★★★ 5,117+ Happy Customers
Your teen's acne isn't a skincare problem

Built on research from

Harvard Medical School Stanford University Mayo Clinic Johns Hopkins UCSF
The biomarkers we test What's inside the kit Woman holding the test kit The Acne Root Cause Test box What's inside the kit

The Acne Root Cause Test

★★★★★ 4.8/5 · 5,117+ Verified Customers

A 12-marker at-home blood test that uncovers what's driving your teen's breakouts and a personalized plan to bring their skin back to balance.

Get Their Answers

We've already tried prescriptions
Prescriptions target the breakout, not what keeps causing it. If acne comes back after every round of treatment, the internal driver was never found. This measures the hormone, blood sugar, and stress imbalances that creams and antibiotics can't see.
Their doctor ran labs and everything was normal
Standard labs use generic reference ranges, and normal for a teenager isn't the same as optimal for skin. We interpret their levels specifically for acne, where sitting at the edge of a range can still drive breakouts. And if their panel comes back entirely clean, our 90-day guarantee means a full refund.
Can we use this with their dermatologist?
Yes. The report includes their actual lab values, so you can bring it straight to the appointment. Most teen acne appointments never include this panel, so it makes that visit far more productive.
Is this safe for a teenager?
Yes. It's a painless device on the upper arm, no needles, and the whole collection takes about two minutes. Every panel is physician reviewed and processed by CLIA-certified labs, the same standard as bloodwork ordered by their doctor.

Teens seeing real progress.

Visible improvements within 6-8 weeks of starting their blueprint.

Rachel M., mom of Tyler, 16

“We were one appointment away from starting Accutane. The test showed his DHEA-S and cortisol were both elevated, stress and hormones, not 'bad hygiene' like he'd convinced himself. Six weeks into his plan, his skin is calmer than it's been in two years. I'm so glad we got the data first.”

Rachel M., mom of Tyler, 16✓ Verified member
Dana K., mom of Sophia, 17

“Our pediatrician ran bloodwork and said everything was fine. This panel actually looked at her levels through the lens of her skin. Turns out her vitamin D was way low and her HbA1c was creeping up. Nobody had ever connected those dots for us.”

Dana K., mom of Sophia, 17✓ Verified member
Michelle R., mom of Ava, 16

“My daughter stopped hiding behind her hair at school. That's the whole review. She saw her own numbers, understood why it was happening, and it stopped feeling like her fault.”

Michelle R., mom of Ava, 16✓ Verified member
Veronica, Mom of Marcus, 17

“I'll be honest, I thought this was another gimmick my wife found. But the report was real lab work, reviewed by a physician, with his actual values. We brought it to his derm and she said it was genuinely useful.”

Veronica, Mom of Marcus, 17✓ Verified member

How it works

Step 1

Order their kit

They collect at home in ~2 minutes with a painless arm device.

Step 2

See their results

You both see what their biomarkers reveal, and why they have acne.

Step 3

Follow their plan

A personalized blueprint built for their body, not another shelf of products.

The BreakoutLabs Advantage

Board-certified dermatologist approved

CLIA-certified lab analysis

Painless 2-minute collection

HSA/FSA eligible

Money-back guarantee

What we measure

12 biomarkers across four systems, the ones that surge and shift during the teenage years, analyzed in CLIA-certified labs, interpreted specifically for acne.

Breakout drivers Skin protectors Signals & baselines

Hormones

81% of cystic cases show a hormonal imbalanceTeen hormone levels fluctuate more than at any other life stage, which is exactly why generic ranges miss what's driving breakouts.
Free Testosterone Drives oil production
Total Testosterone Sets hormone baseline
SHBG Buffers excess hormones
DHEA-S Fuels stress breakouts
Albumin Carries hormones

Blood Sugar

elevated levels amplify oil-production hormones
HbA1c Amplifies oil hormones

Stress & Inflammation

behind red, painful, stress-linked breakouts
Cortisol Triggers stress flare-ups
hsCRP Tracks inflammation

Nutrients & Systems

what your skin needs to heal
Vitamin D Helps skin heal
Vitamin B12 Can trigger breakouts
Ferritin Fuels skin repair
Creatinine Checks system health

Built for parents and teens, together

Their Blueprint

Their Blueprint

Guidance from their own lab values, written so a teenager will actually follow it.

Instant reply

Klara Ai

They can ask questions themselves, anytime, without feeling lectured.

Why is my skin worse during finals? ClaraYour cortisol was high on your last panel, and stress weeks push it higher. That's what shows up on your skin. Here's what helps…
Replies within 24h

You stay in the loop

You see the results, join the specialist calls, and talk to real humans about their plan.

Verify progress every 90 days

Verify progress every 90 days

A free retest shows whether their numbers are actually moving, so you're never guessing whether the plan is working.

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Why Start With The Acne Root Cause Test?

BreakoutLabs
Typical route
Upfront cost
$149
$150–$400+ plus copays
12-marker skin panel
✓ Included
✗ Rarely ordered
Skin-specific interpretation
✓ Blueprint
✗ Trial and error rounds
Time to answers
~7 days
Months between appointments
Progress retesting
✓ Every 90 days
✗ No way to verify
Support between visits
✓ Calls + Klara Ai
✗ None between visits
Escalation decisions
Made with their actual data
Made by guessing

Approved by board-certified dermatologist

Dr. Akash A. Patel
“A useful tool to help determine whether hormonal imbalances may be contributing to a patient's acne.”
Dr. Akash A. Patel
Board-certified dermatologist
Dr. Mi Hye Elisa Song, MD, FAAD
“This test is designed to identify internal factors that may be contributing to acne - the ones topical routines can't see.”
Dr. Mi Hye Elisa Song, MD, FAAD
Board-certified dermatologist
Dr. Manhong Ma, MD
“A custom approach built on your own lab values is better than guessing via trial-and-error.”
Dr. Manhong Ma, MD
Board-certified dermatologist

Get Their Answers Today

12-marker blood testClear Skin BlueprintKlara AiWeekly specialist callsFree 90-day retests
$149$249Save $99 today

then $49/month · skip or cancel anytime

Get Their Answers

One test. Real answers. A plan built for their body.

Frequently asked questions

What ages is this appropriate for?
The Acne Root Cause Test is designed for teens through adults. For anyone under 18, a parent or guardian places the order and provides consent, and the teen does the simple at-home collection. If you have questions about whether it's right for your child's age or situation, our care team can help before you order.
Is the collection safe for my teen? Does it hurt?
Yes, collection uses a painless arm device, not a syringe or vein draw. There are no needles, no lab visits, and no appointments.
How does billing work?
$149 today for your teen's first kit ($249 as a one-time test). The membership renews at $49/month, which covers their Clear Skin Blueprint and updates, weekly specialist calls, unlimited access to Clara, and a free 12-marker retest every 90 days so you can see whether their numbers are actually moving.
Can I skip or pause?
Yes, anytime, from your account.
Why not just get bloodwork at our pediatrician or dermatologist?
A typical acne appointment never includes a blood panel, and standard lab reports use generic reference ranges with no skin-specific interpretation. A level that's "normal" on a standard report can still be at the edge of a range that matters for breakouts. We run the full panel from home, interpret it specifically for acne, and retest every 90 days for free.
Can we share the results with our doctor?
Yes, and we encourage it. Your teen's report includes their actual lab values, so you can bring it straight to your pediatrician or dermatologist.
We've already tried prescriptions. How is this different?
Prescriptions target the breakout not what keeps causing it. If your teen's acne comes back after every round of treatment, the internal driver was never identified. This test measures the hormone, blood sugar, stress, and nutrient imbalances that creams and antibiotics can't see, so any decision you make next is made with their actual data.
Do I join the specialist calls, or does my teen?
Either or both. Many families join together, especially for the first call.
Can I use HSA/FSA funds?
Yes - testing and the plan are HSA/FSA eligible, so you can pay with pre-tax dollars.
What's in the kit?
A painless arm-collection device, prepaid return shipping, and step-by-step instructions. Collection takes about 2 minutes - no visits, no vein draws.
What do you test?
12 markers across four systems: hormones (Total T, Free T, SHBG, Albumin, DHEA-S), blood sugar (HbA1c), stress & inflammation (Cortisol, hsCRP), and nutrients (Vitamin D, B12, Ferritin, Creatinine).
30Days

Find the answer or pay nothing

No guessing. No risk. No fine print. If your panel comes back entirely clean, you get a full refund - fewer than 1% of customers ever use it.

Get Their Answers
$149 todaythen $49/month Get Their Answers