Does Stress Cause Acne?

Acne is a common occurrence that affects up to 85 percent of people at some point in their lives. When you get a pimple or suffer from more severe breakouts, you likely feel some emotional distress. Because of this, people often associate acne and stress with being linked. But does stress cause acne? Let’s investigate the question further!

What Causes Acne?

Acne is a skin condition common among teenagers during puberty but found in people of all ages. Acne affects the skin’s hair follicles, oil glands, and pores. Pores are small openings in the skin’s surface. Beneath the surface, the pores connect to glands that produce oily sebum through a canal or follicle. A thin hair grows out to the skin’s surface from this follicle. 

Acne occurs when hair follicles become clogged with oil, dead skin cells, bacteria, or trapped hair. In mild to moderate cases, it can form blackheads, whiteheads, allergies, or more inflamed pustules and pimples. In more severe cases, it can lead to nodules and cysts, potentially leading to scarring.

The exact reasons for acne’s development are unknown, though genetics is believed to be a factor determining acne severity. A few things are thought to trigger acne:

• Excess Androgens: A type of hormone active in adolescents/teenagers that causes pores to enlarge and produce more oil. 
• Hormone Changes during pregnancy or menstrual cycles
• Birth Control & Other Medications, such as Corticosteroids
• Touching or picking existing pimples
• Pressure from clothing
• Sweat
• Stress

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Can Stress Cause Acne?

Directly, no. Stress alone does not cause acne, but it could play a role. Other factors, such as age, hormones, acne-producing bacteria, and other factors, are also involved. For people who already have the skin condition, both acute and chronic stress can trigger an increase in breakouts and worsen the severity of the acne. Acne vulgaris, the most common form of acne, is influenced by multiple factors, including hormones, skin oils, and bacteria. When stress enters the picture, it acts as an exacerbating factor, triggering acne-related responses in the body.

How Does Stress Impact Acne?

Researchers have identified several stress-related acne triggers:

• Hormonal Increase in Oil Production
• Stress causes your body to release certain hormones, which can increase skin oil production and, in turn, cause acne.
• Touching/Picking at Skin: Anxiety and stress often make people more likely to touch their faces or pick at existing pimples, which can worsen the condition by introducing bacteria and causing inflammation.
• People unconsciously touch their faces all the time. Stress, in particular, can increase itching, leading people to scratch or pick at their acne.
• Slower Healing: Studies in dermatology show that acne wounds take longer to heal when high stress levels result in prolonged flare-ups and potential scarring.
• When under stress, the body takes longer to repair wounds, including acne
• Unhealthy Habits: Stress often leads to unhealthy habits like poor sleep, eating a diet high in sugar or processed foods, or neglecting skincare routines. Lack of proper hygiene, missing out on exercise, or poor nutrition can exacerbate acne. For example, indulging in greasy foods or skipping your skincare routine can lead to more blemishes.
• Stress causes poor sleep and an increased intake of unhealthy foods. Stress also often stops people from doing their skincare routines, thus further promoting blackheads.

Ways of Treating and Preventing Acne

Acne treatment depends on the severity of the condition. You might treat breakouts in mild cases by washing gently with soap and water and applying over-the-counter ointments or creams to affected skin. These OTC treatments include ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, sulfur, and resorcinol. For example, the acne treatments Liquimat and Rezamid contain sulfur, and the latter also provides resorcinol. These Sumlab products are great acne treatments that will leave your skin clear and healthy.

Here are some approaches:

1. Topical Treatments: For mild cases, over-the-counter products containing salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and sulfur can be effective. 
2. Prescription Medications: More severe forms of acne, such as acne lesions or cystic acne, may require stronger treatments like isotretinoin, hormonal therapy, or antibiotics. A dermatology consultation can help determine the right treatment for each case.
3. Lifestyle Adjustments: Since stress hormones can worsen acne, it’s important to incorporate wellness practices like meditation, yoga, and regular exercise into your routine. These activities can help reduce tension and minimize the impact of stress on your skin.

Techniques for preventing acne breakouts include:

• Using water-based skin products that do not irritate the skin
• Not squeezing pimples or picking at skin
• Wearing loose clothing and keeping things off your face as much as possible
• Practicing relaxation techniques

Keep up with your skincare routine, including applying non-comedogenic makeup and sunscreen.

Keep Calm and Treat It

Based on the current research, stress, and acne are indirectly correlated with one another. Stress alone doesn’t necessarily constitute more acne, but factors associated with the stress do. Many people who are under lots of stress do not have acne. Our ability to avoid unhealthy habits, such as face picking and zit popping, can worsen when we are stressed out, and these bad habits can contribute to more breakouts. Stress tends to affect our hormones, and when we go through hormonal shifts, those can result in more zits or breakouts. Cortisol, a key player in the stress response, may lead to heightened acne symptoms. Still, by managing your stress levels through activities like meditation and maintaining healthy habits, you can reduce the chances of stress-induced acne flares.

If you find yourself less stressed but your acne persists, practice additional hygienic techniques and use water-based skin products, such as Liquimat and Rezamid, to help treat the areas affected by acne.

Remember, you are not your acne; Summers Laboratories offers amazing treatment options. Let Sumlab help your skin be the best it can be!

Conclusion

While stress doesn’t directly cause acne, it plays a significant role in worsening existing skin conditions by influencing hormonal imbalances, increasing sebum production, and triggering unhealthy habits. Managing stress through lifestyle changes like exercise, meditation, and a balanced diet can help reduce acne flare-ups. Adopting a consistent skincare routine with effective treatments, such as Liquimat and Rezamid, can keep your skin clear and healthy. Ultimately, addressing both the physical and emotional components of acne is key to prevention and healing. Remember, you are not your acne; clear skin is within reach with the right approach!

Sources:

https://www.aad.org/media/stats-numbers

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(95)92899-5/fulltext