Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhy Do Stress Hormones Cause Us to Breakout?How to Tell If Your Acne Is Caused By StressIs There a Way to Reduce My Stress?
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Why Do Stress Hormones Cause Us to Breakout?
How to Tell If Your Acne Is Caused By Stress
Is There a Way to Reduce My Stress?
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If it seems as though you experience more breakouts when you’re under a lot of stress, you may be noticing more than a coincidence. But is acne a direct cause of stress? The answer is…not completely.
Stressdoesn’t cause acne outright, but research shows that stress triggers hormonal changes that may worsen acne in people who are already prone to breaking out.
While you may end up needing to take several approaches to clear your skin,reducing your stress levelmay end up being an important one for you for this reason as well as the prevention of other, often more serious health problems.
At a GlanceWe all get stressed and as we know…stress sucks. But what about when our stress starts to have an impact on our skin? While stress doesn’tdirectlycause acne, stress does change hormone levels. Changes in hormones can cause us to breakout more. While we can’t change our genetics, we do have some control over our stress levels.
At a Glance
We all get stressed and as we know…stress sucks. But what about when our stress starts to have an impact on our skin? While stress doesn’tdirectlycause acne, stress does change hormone levels. Changes in hormones can cause us to breakout more. While we can’t change our genetics, we do have some control over our stress levels.
Hormones Help Produce Oil
High population levels ofPropionibacteriumacnes, a bacterium living in human skin that feeds on sebum, put stress on the pilosebaceous duct and catalyze an immune system response.
SebumSebum is a slightly sticky substance we secrete from our pores. People with larger pores may be more likely to have oily skin.
Sebum
Sebum is a slightly sticky substance we secrete from our pores. People with larger pores may be more likely to have oily skin.
White blood cells attracted to this bacterium secrete an enzyme that may damage the wall of the hair follicle, releasing its contents into the hair shaft, and leading to an inflammatory reaction.
Each of these factors individually and together contribute to the ecosystem that gives rise to and perpetuates acne.
Your Gut May Affect Your Skin Too
Can Anxiety Cause a Rash?
It can be pretty hard to figure out if your acne is a result of stress. A dermatologist will be able to offer more insight.
That said, if you are feeling consistently stressed, there is only benefit in considering that it could be a factor in your acne—especially if you’ve focused on other contributors without much success.
Start Tracking Your Breakouts
Try taking note of when you get stressed and when you break out over a few weeks (consider keeping ajournal). Then, compare these time points to see if there are any correlations.
Also consider that the worsening of your acne could be related to stress-driven habits, rather than the stress itself. For example,drinking more coffeeor using other stimulants can also lead to an increase in your production of cortisoland have an impact on your microbiome.
“I Can’t Do This Anymore:” What to Do If You Are Experiencing Burnout
Try to recognize and remain mindful of when you are most likely to get stressed so that you can come up with preventative strategies. This is highly personal, and doing it successfully can take time and more awareness.
Find—and dedicate yourself—to the strategies that work best for you.
Try Time-Blocking
Let’s say you always have really busy Wednesdays and Thursdays. It’s a good idea to plan those days out ahead of time to reduce your stress. You can try thetime-blocking techniqueto help you figure out where all of your time needs to go.
Plan When to Dedicate Time to Your Skincare Routine
On the night before those busy days, see if you can get to bed early and give your skin some extra attention.
Maybe you’ll use a face mask or put on some medicated skin lotion that can help reduce and prevent breakouts. Products containing azelaic acid or benzoyl peroxide are first-line acne treatments.
Doing this can help alleviate stress because you already built this into your day. You’ll feel less rushed and it may even become something you look forward to doing.
Practice Body Neutrality
In a world that’s unfortunately so appearance-focused, having acne can make us feel really down in the dumps about how we look. In the moments we don’t feel so great about ourselves, practicing body neutrality can help.
Body neutralitypractices help us focus on what our bodies can do for us rather than what they look like.So instead of focusing on our acne, we can think about how we appreciate our skin.
Here are some affirmations that you can say to yourself:
Body Positivity vs. Body Neutrality
Consider Seeing a Therapist
If you’ve been trying to reduce your stress to no avail, it might be time toseek professional help. A therapist can assist in creating a more manageable schedule. It also helps to work with a therapist because you’ll have someone holding you accountable so that you don’t get too far off track.
A therapist can also help you work through any body image issues that you may be facing. You deserve to feel beautiful in the skin you’re in.
18 Effective Stress Relief Strategies
11 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Jović A, Marinović B, Kostović K, Čeović R, Basta-Juzbašić A, Bukvić Mokos Z.The Impact of Pyschological Stress on Acne.Acta Dermatovenerol Croat. 2017;25(2):1133–1141. PMID:28871928Ganceviciene R, Graziene V, Fimmel S, Zouboulis CC.Involvement of the corticotropin-releasing hormone system in the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris.Br J Dermatol. 2009;160(2):345–352. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2133.2008.08959.xJu Q, Tao T, Hu T, Karadağ AS, Al-Khuzaei S, Chen W.Sex hormones and acne.Clin Dermatol. 2017;35(2):130–137. doi:10.1016/j.clindermatol.2016.10.004Dreno B, Gollnick HP, Kang S, et al.Understanding innate immunity and inflammation in acne: implications for management.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2015;29 Suppl 4:3–11. doi:10.1111/jdv.13190Endly DC, Miller RA.Oily Skin: A review of Treatment Options.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2017;10(8):49-55.Dréno B.What is new in the pathophysiology of acne, an overview.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2017;31 Suppl 5:8–12. doi:10.1111/jdv.14374Lee YB, Byun EJ, Kim HS.Potential Role of the Microbiome in Acne: A Comprehensive Review.J Clin Med. 2019;8(7):987. Published 2019 Jul 7. doi:10.3390/jcm8070987Elsaie ML, Aly DG.The Immunogenetics of Acne.Adv Exp Med Biol. 2022;1367:137-154. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-92616-8_6Lane JD, Adcock RA, Williams RB, Kuhn CM.Caffeine effects on cardiovascular and neuroendocrine responses to acute psychosocial stress and their relationship to level of habitual caffeine consumption.Psychosom Med. 1990;52(3):320–336. doi:10.1097/00006842-199005000-00006Eichenfield DZ, Sprague J, Eichenfield LF.Management of Acne Vulgaris: A Review.JAMA. 2021;326(20):2055-2067. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.17633National Eating Disorder Association.5 Steps to Body Neutrality.Additional ReadingO’neill AM, Gallo RL.Host-Microbiome Interactions and Recent Progress Into Understanding the Biology of Acne Vulgaris.Microbiome. 2018;6(1):177. doi: 10.1186/s40168-018-0558-5Salem I, Ramser A, Isham N, Ghannoum MA.The Gut Microbiome as a Major Regulator of the Gut-Skin Axis.Front Microbiol.2018;9:1459. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01459
11 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Jović A, Marinović B, Kostović K, Čeović R, Basta-Juzbašić A, Bukvić Mokos Z.The Impact of Pyschological Stress on Acne.Acta Dermatovenerol Croat. 2017;25(2):1133–1141. PMID:28871928Ganceviciene R, Graziene V, Fimmel S, Zouboulis CC.Involvement of the corticotropin-releasing hormone system in the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris.Br J Dermatol. 2009;160(2):345–352. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2133.2008.08959.xJu Q, Tao T, Hu T, Karadağ AS, Al-Khuzaei S, Chen W.Sex hormones and acne.Clin Dermatol. 2017;35(2):130–137. doi:10.1016/j.clindermatol.2016.10.004Dreno B, Gollnick HP, Kang S, et al.Understanding innate immunity and inflammation in acne: implications for management.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2015;29 Suppl 4:3–11. doi:10.1111/jdv.13190Endly DC, Miller RA.Oily Skin: A review of Treatment Options.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2017;10(8):49-55.Dréno B.What is new in the pathophysiology of acne, an overview.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2017;31 Suppl 5:8–12. doi:10.1111/jdv.14374Lee YB, Byun EJ, Kim HS.Potential Role of the Microbiome in Acne: A Comprehensive Review.J Clin Med. 2019;8(7):987. Published 2019 Jul 7. doi:10.3390/jcm8070987Elsaie ML, Aly DG.The Immunogenetics of Acne.Adv Exp Med Biol. 2022;1367:137-154. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-92616-8_6Lane JD, Adcock RA, Williams RB, Kuhn CM.Caffeine effects on cardiovascular and neuroendocrine responses to acute psychosocial stress and their relationship to level of habitual caffeine consumption.Psychosom Med. 1990;52(3):320–336. doi:10.1097/00006842-199005000-00006Eichenfield DZ, Sprague J, Eichenfield LF.Management of Acne Vulgaris: A Review.JAMA. 2021;326(20):2055-2067. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.17633National Eating Disorder Association.5 Steps to Body Neutrality.Additional ReadingO’neill AM, Gallo RL.Host-Microbiome Interactions and Recent Progress Into Understanding the Biology of Acne Vulgaris.Microbiome. 2018;6(1):177. doi: 10.1186/s40168-018-0558-5Salem I, Ramser A, Isham N, Ghannoum MA.The Gut Microbiome as a Major Regulator of the Gut-Skin Axis.Front Microbiol.2018;9:1459. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01459
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Jović A, Marinović B, Kostović K, Čeović R, Basta-Juzbašić A, Bukvić Mokos Z.The Impact of Pyschological Stress on Acne.Acta Dermatovenerol Croat. 2017;25(2):1133–1141. PMID:28871928Ganceviciene R, Graziene V, Fimmel S, Zouboulis CC.Involvement of the corticotropin-releasing hormone system in the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris.Br J Dermatol. 2009;160(2):345–352. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2133.2008.08959.xJu Q, Tao T, Hu T, Karadağ AS, Al-Khuzaei S, Chen W.Sex hormones and acne.Clin Dermatol. 2017;35(2):130–137. doi:10.1016/j.clindermatol.2016.10.004Dreno B, Gollnick HP, Kang S, et al.Understanding innate immunity and inflammation in acne: implications for management.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2015;29 Suppl 4:3–11. doi:10.1111/jdv.13190Endly DC, Miller RA.Oily Skin: A review of Treatment Options.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2017;10(8):49-55.Dréno B.What is new in the pathophysiology of acne, an overview.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2017;31 Suppl 5:8–12. doi:10.1111/jdv.14374Lee YB, Byun EJ, Kim HS.Potential Role of the Microbiome in Acne: A Comprehensive Review.J Clin Med. 2019;8(7):987. Published 2019 Jul 7. doi:10.3390/jcm8070987Elsaie ML, Aly DG.The Immunogenetics of Acne.Adv Exp Med Biol. 2022;1367:137-154. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-92616-8_6Lane JD, Adcock RA, Williams RB, Kuhn CM.Caffeine effects on cardiovascular and neuroendocrine responses to acute psychosocial stress and their relationship to level of habitual caffeine consumption.Psychosom Med. 1990;52(3):320–336. doi:10.1097/00006842-199005000-00006Eichenfield DZ, Sprague J, Eichenfield LF.Management of Acne Vulgaris: A Review.JAMA. 2021;326(20):2055-2067. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.17633National Eating Disorder Association.5 Steps to Body Neutrality.
Jović A, Marinović B, Kostović K, Čeović R, Basta-Juzbašić A, Bukvić Mokos Z.The Impact of Pyschological Stress on Acne.Acta Dermatovenerol Croat. 2017;25(2):1133–1141. PMID:28871928
Ganceviciene R, Graziene V, Fimmel S, Zouboulis CC.Involvement of the corticotropin-releasing hormone system in the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris.Br J Dermatol. 2009;160(2):345–352. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2133.2008.08959.x
Ju Q, Tao T, Hu T, Karadağ AS, Al-Khuzaei S, Chen W.Sex hormones and acne.Clin Dermatol. 2017;35(2):130–137. doi:10.1016/j.clindermatol.2016.10.004
Dreno B, Gollnick HP, Kang S, et al.Understanding innate immunity and inflammation in acne: implications for management.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2015;29 Suppl 4:3–11. doi:10.1111/jdv.13190
Endly DC, Miller RA.Oily Skin: A review of Treatment Options.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2017;10(8):49-55.
Dréno B.What is new in the pathophysiology of acne, an overview.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2017;31 Suppl 5:8–12. doi:10.1111/jdv.14374
Lee YB, Byun EJ, Kim HS.Potential Role of the Microbiome in Acne: A Comprehensive Review.J Clin Med. 2019;8(7):987. Published 2019 Jul 7. doi:10.3390/jcm8070987
Elsaie ML, Aly DG.The Immunogenetics of Acne.Adv Exp Med Biol. 2022;1367:137-154. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-92616-8_6
Lane JD, Adcock RA, Williams RB, Kuhn CM.Caffeine effects on cardiovascular and neuroendocrine responses to acute psychosocial stress and their relationship to level of habitual caffeine consumption.Psychosom Med. 1990;52(3):320–336. doi:10.1097/00006842-199005000-00006
Eichenfield DZ, Sprague J, Eichenfield LF.Management of Acne Vulgaris: A Review.JAMA. 2021;326(20):2055-2067. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.17633
National Eating Disorder Association.5 Steps to Body Neutrality.
O’neill AM, Gallo RL.Host-Microbiome Interactions and Recent Progress Into Understanding the Biology of Acne Vulgaris.Microbiome. 2018;6(1):177. doi: 10.1186/s40168-018-0558-5Salem I, Ramser A, Isham N, Ghannoum MA.The Gut Microbiome as a Major Regulator of the Gut-Skin Axis.Front Microbiol.2018;9:1459. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01459
O’neill AM, Gallo RL.Host-Microbiome Interactions and Recent Progress Into Understanding the Biology of Acne Vulgaris.Microbiome. 2018;6(1):177. doi: 10.1186/s40168-018-0558-5
Salem I, Ramser A, Isham N, Ghannoum MA.The Gut Microbiome as a Major Regulator of the Gut-Skin Axis.Front Microbiol.2018;9:1459. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01459
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