What is stress acne?
Stress acne is a type of acne that gets worse when you feel stressed. When you’re stressed, your body releases corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), which stimulates your oil glands to produce more sebum.
This excess oil clogs your pores and makes you more prone to breakouts on your face and body, especially your forehead, nose, chin, chest, back, and upper arms.
These pimples are often inflamed, making them more noticeable and uncomfortable. Stress acne can happen to anyone, but it’s more common in people who are already acne-prone.
Causes of stress acne
Stress is a major trigger for breakouts, especially when it leads to the release of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), which stimulates sebum production. This excess sebum can clog pores, cause inflammation, and cause acne.
Cortisol levels also rise during stress, which increases oil production and increases pore clogging. This type of acne is often seen in cases of adult-onset acne, where the body’s immune system, digestive system, and reproductive system are all affected by stress.
These changes in the body, combined with hormonal changes, can worsen acne and make symptoms more severe and persistent. Interestingly, stress acne does not follow the same pattern as menstrual cycle-related acne, but is often associated with the same hormones that cause hormonal acne.
The fight-or-flight hormone cortisol plays a key role here, along with androgens, male hormones that also increase oil production. This causes more bacteria to grow, dead skin to build up, and ultimately more breakouts.
Whether you’re dealing with emotional stress at work, home, or school, the link between stress and acne severity is clear. When your body experiences stress, it produces more oil, which clogs your pores and increases acne.
How to treat stress acne
Dealing with stress acne can be difficult, but recognizing how stress affects your acne breakouts is the first step to managing it. First, de-stress by engaging in stress-reducing activities, such as practicing breathing techniques, getting enough sleep, listening to music, and practicing yoga or tai chi.
These habits help lower cortisol levels, reducing oil production and the chance of clogged pores. If your acne is mild, consider using a facial cleanser that contains benzoyl peroxide, glycolic acid, or salicylic acid. These ingredients will help clear your skin and prevent future breakouts.
Proper skin care is important to prevent and manage stress acne. Gently wash your skin with a non-drying soap to remove dirt and makeup before going to bed at night.
Also, avoid picking pimples, rubbing or scratching your face. It may worsen the acne condition. Maintaining a consistent skin care routine is your best defense against hormonal and stress-induced acne.
If your stress is severe, you may find it helpful to make changes in your life, such as seeing a therapist or dealing with unhealthy relationships or toxic workplaces. By incorporating positive habits into your daily life and sticking to your acne treatment plan, you can be on your way to glowing skin.
Q: How can I treat stress acne?
If you’re suffering from stress-related breakouts, but your skin isn’t normally acne-prone, you may need to make some major adjustments to your daily skin care routine. Specifically, we recommend including three key breakout-fighting ingredients: salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and retinol.
How do you know if you have stress acne?
A tell-tale sign of stress-related breakouts is the sudden appearance of multiple breakouts at once (unless you’ve started using a new product), unlike hormonal breakouts, which usually occur one at a time. Stressful situations or events can cause breakouts, even if your skin is normally acne-prone.
