Acne around the chin and jawline is often hormonal, according to clinical facialist Kate Kerr. "Your oil glands may become sensitive to the levels of hormones you’re naturally producing. You can expect to see more breakouts mid-cycle,"

As you've probably already noticed, these breakouts aren't just annoying — they're painful, too. They sit deeper within the skin and create more inflammation closer to the nerves, which is why they're so sore.

Because the acne lives under the skin, there's nothing to "pop." "If you exert any pressure on the surface, you can cause trauma underneath, leading to more breakouts and scarring," Kerr says. So what should you do?

Topical products won't get you far, either, again because the problem is under the skin. So what *does* help?

Accutane, or a lesser known medication called spironolactone might be able to hlep.

If you have a lot of persistent breakouts, and if they result in scarring or affect your mental health and self-esteem, a prescription can help. Talk to your derm!