Stress Acne Its Causes, Prevention, and Treatment

Stress Acne: Its Causes, Prevention, and Treatment

According to Mayo Clinic, there are several causes of acne, which are diet, hormonal changes, medications, and stress. They, however, can vary from one person to another.

Truth be told, it’s embarrassing to have a zit come up randomly one day on the face. It is often the first thing people notice when you talk with them whether at your home or your office.

So, in this guide, we’ll delve into the causes of stress acne and what you can do to prevent and treat it. Let’s start!

What is stress acne?

What is stress acne

Acne is a skin condition wherein the person’s hair follicles are filled with oil and dead skin cells. Stress acne is the same thing, but it specifically refers to acne that has been caused by emotional strain.

An acne-prone person can have pimples, blackheads, and whiteheads. Having noticeable blemishes on the face, the person can feel less confident about their overall appearance when going out.

A person can have acne at any age, though this happens mostly in their teenage years. The reason is that their bodies undergo hormonal changes, which for women, could occur during menstruation.

That said, there’s a distinction between stress and hormonal acne, although their effects appear the same. One telltale sign of hormonal acne is when pimples pop up on the same area of the skin on the same day of the month.

What causes stress acne?

What causes stress acne

From the name itself, it’s super easy to guess that stress acne is caused by stress.

A survey was conducted among female medical students in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The result was that 131 out of 178 of them believed stress worsened acne.

Indeed, stress is a large contributor compared to the other factors we mentioned earlier. That’s because whenever you’re stressed, your oil glands become more active as there is an increase in cortisol, the stress hormone.

Stress and cortisol increase affect the whole body, including the immune system, digestive system, endocrine system, and reproductive system. Besides that, it gives you more breakouts on the face, neck, and/or body.

How to Prevent and Treat Stress Acne

How to Prevent and Treat Stress Acne

It’s easier said than done. Most people get acne since they are already stressed out about work, social, or financial matters.

But you can prevent stress acne by doing healthy and positive activities like running, biking, meditating, getting full sleep, reading a book, watching Netflix, feeling grateful, chatting with friends, and so on.

Try to make time for them if your schedule is full.

To treat acne, you can get the right skincare product for your skin, for instance, a moisturiser or toner. But still, we strongly suggest consulting your dermatologist to know the best treatment for your stress acne.

More Skincare Resources

Here are other articles you may be interested in regarding caring for your skin and treating acne: