Heading back to college is exciting but between late nights, packed schedules, dining-hall food, stress, travel, and a whole new routine, your skin may need a little extra attention. If you notice more breakouts around the start of the semester, you’re not alone. Changes in sleep, stress levels, skincare habits, and daily routines can all make acne feel harder to manage. The good news? You don’t need a complicated 10-step routine to keep your skin on track. A few consistent habits can make a big difference. Here’s our back-to-college acne guide from We Love Acne to help you start the semester with a skincare routine that works for real college life. 1. Don’t Let Stress Take Over Your Skin Between exams, deadlines, roommates, social events, and adjusting to a new environment, college can be stressful. Stress doesn’t necessarily cause acne by itself, but it can contribute to breakouts or make existing acne more difficult to control. Try to build a few stress-management habits into your week: Get regular movement or exercise. Take breaks from studying. Spend time outside. Prioritize sleep when you can. Make time for activities you genuinely enjoy. And remember: having a breakout during a stressful week doesn't mean you've done something wrong. 2. Make Sleep a Priority Consistently getting enough sleep is an important part of taking care of your overall health and can make it easier to maintain healthy skincare habits. Instead of aiming for perfection, focus on creating a realistic sleep routine. Even small improvements can help you feel better equipped to handle busy days. And if you’re tempted to stay up late studying, don't forget to wash your face before bed! 3. Clean Your Pillowcase and Towels Regularly Your pillowcase comes into contact with your face for hours every night. Regularly washing your pillowcases, towels, and other fabrics that touch your skin is a simple hygiene habit worth keeping up with. This doesn't mean your pillowcase is the “cause” of your acne but keeping fabrics clean can help reduce the buildup of oil, sweat, makeup, and skincare products. Pro tip: Keep an extra pillowcase or two in your dorm so laundry day doesn't become an excuse and use an acne friendly laundry detergent! 4. Don’t Forget About Your Hair Products If you're experiencing breakouts around your forehead, hairline, temples, or back, take a look at the products you're using in your hair. Some hair products can contribute to clogged pores in acne-prone areas. Try to keep heavy products away from your facial skin and rinse your face and body after using products that may transfer onto your skin. And if you have long hair, keeping it off your face, especially during workouts, may also help minimize contact with sweat and hair products. 5. Clean Your Phone Your phone spends a surprising amount of time near your face. Give your phone screen a regular cleaning using a method that's appropriate for your device. An alcohol wipe or using a hypochlorous acid spray on the exterior of your phone can help kill acne triggering bacteria. Use speaker phone when you can to help too. It’s a small habit, but an easy one to add to your college routine. 6. Don’t Overreact to a Breakout One of the biggest acne mistakes we see is trying to “attack” a breakout with every product imaginable. Scrubbing, drying, picking, and layering multiple strong acne treatments can leave your skin irritated and uncomfortable. Instead, stick with your established routine from your acne expert and give your skin time to respond. More products doesn't always mean better results. 7. Be Smart About Makeup College means more events, parties, photos, and nights out and there's nothing wrong with wanting to wear makeup. Double check all your makeup products in our Ingredient Checker on our website to make sure your products don't contain any pore clogging ingredients. Also, don't forget to regularly clean makeup brushes and applicators. And never share makeup or makeup tools with friends. Your skin deserves the same care at 11 p.m. after a night out as it does at 8 a.m. before class. 8. Build an Acne Emergency Kit for Your Dorm You don't need an entire skincare store in your dorm room. A few essentials can make maintaining your routine much easier. Consider keeping: Your regular cleanser Your prescribed or recommended acne treatment A lightweight moisturizer SPF Clean towels or washcloths Makeup remover, if needed A few hydrocolloid patches for skin picking prevention Extra pillowcases Having your essentials easily accessible makes it much easier to stay consistent—even when you're rushing to class. 9. Remember That Everyone's Skin Is Different What works for your roommate, best friend, or favorite TikTok influencer may not work for you. Acne has many contributing factors, and treatment should be personalized to your skin, your type of acne, and your goals. If you've tried product after product without seeing the results you want, that doesn't mean your skin is hopeless. It may simply mean you need a different approach. Your Back-to-College Acne Checklist Before you head back to campus, remember: Keep it simple. Stay consistent. Don't pick. Get enough sleep when you can. Manage stress. Clean the things that touch your face. And don't be afraid to ask for professional help. Most importantly, don't let acne keep you from enjoying college. You deserve to go to class, meet new people, take pictures, go out with friends, and make memories without constantly worrying about your skin. At We Love Acne, we believe acne deserves real solutions; not shame, frustration, or endless trial and error. If your acne is holding you back, we're here to help you create a plan designed specifically for your skin. Ready to make this semester the start of a better relationship with your skin? Let's get your acne under control so you can get back to college life!