Take it from someone who’s dealt with acne for more than half her life (wow, what a sad realization): treating breakouts is mad tricky. Because there are as many factors that play into your breakouts as there are pimples on my face right now (i.e. a lot), achieving clear skin once and for all is easier said than done. Just when you think you’ve found a skincare routine that works for you, a new kind of breakout pops up. Or maybe you’ve got recurring acne that keeps showing up in the same place. Whatever the current sitch you’re dealing with, if you’re on the quest for clear skin and you can’t help but come across a few bumps (literally) along the way, there’s a good chance something in your daily routine is contributing to your breakouts. So if you’ve recently found yourself screaming “why am I breaking out?!” at the mirror, we might have some answers for ya.

But first—why is your face breaking out? Here’s the thing: Breakouts are mainly triggered by hormones and the overproduction of oil. Essentially, hormones increase your oil production, which clogs your hair follicle and leads to the growth of the zit-causing bacteria known as P. acnes. Everyone’s skin is different, and genetics play a big role in how your body reacts to acne-stimulating hormones. Because of that, no single ingredient or routine will work across the board for everyone, so a good place to start is with a consultation with your dermatologist. Not only can they help you determine the possible factors that contribute to your specific case, but they can also set you up with all the products and advice you need to manage your acne.

But in the meantime, you might want to reconsider a few patterns you’re probs repeating on a daily basis that could be triggering new breakouts or exacerbating your current cluster of ‘em. Because sometimes even the best skin regimen can’t do its job effectively if you’re constantly repeating bad skincare habits that are working against it. So with the help from two top dermatologists and an aesthetician, we’ve rounded up 15 common (and maybe surprising) acne triggers and little fixes you can make to remedy each one.