Stress and Acne

There has been a long debate about stress acne or whether stress cause acne until last couple of years. But recently many clinical studies proved that stress is an important factor in aggravation and maintenance of acne.
Nowadays 85% of the people from different age groups suffer from internal stressors like tension, anxiety, fear, anger, worry, depression and a variety of other internalized emotions. These internal emotions induce adrenal glands to secrete various stress hormones into the blood stream. These hormones stimulate the sebaceous glands to produce excess oil or sebum. The excess sebum would block the follicular pore. As a result of accumulation of sebum and dead cells, bacteria like Propionibacterium acne starts growing as they obtain sufficient food in the form of sebum. Thus due to the accumulation of sebum, dead cells and bacteria (pus) there is a formation of patch or comedo which is the first step of formation of acne lesion called as Pimple. Thus stress worsens acne.

How Does Stress Cause Acne:
There are two ways by which stress causes worsening of acne as follows.
1) Stress Stimulates Adrenal Glands:
The Adrenal glands are a part of the hormone regulating system called as the Endocrine System. Various internal emotions like stress, tension, anger, worry etc induces the adrenal glands located above the kidneys to overproduce various stress hormones like cortisol, GH, nor epinephrine and a male hormone Androgen. These hormones (mainly Androgen) activate the sebaceous glands to secrete more sebum, which ultimately leads to the formation of acne. This process is referred as a Stress Breakout.

Stress not only leads to the flare up of acne but it can worsen the overall skin condition. Also people who suffer from stress acne generally gets more inflamed, pus filled papules rather than simple whiteheads or blackheads.

2) Stress Slows Down the Acne Healing Process:
It has also been discovered that psychological stress and other internal emotions can decrease the natural acne healing capacity of the immune system up to 40%. As a result of this factor there is a double impact of stress on acne.

Stress Worsens Teen Acne:
Researchers proved that the teenagers who were under high level of stress were 23% more likely to suffer from severe acne outbreaks. It has been studied that students suffer from severe acne at the time of stressful period like Exams. This is because in stressful period, the hormones are secreted which activates the sebaceous glands to secrete more oil on the skin. Thus there are more stress acne outbreaks during exams among teenagers

Stress Causes Cystic Acne:
Some of the German researchers recently found that there exists a possible relationship between stress and cystic acne, as well as other skin disorders. They found that in stressful condition a particular part of the brain called Hypothalamus release a stress hormone called corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH) in the sebaceous gland. These glands are known to produce both CRH and CRH receptors. Thus, when the CRH receptors in the sebaceous glands come in contact with extra CRH, it induces sebum production which ultimately results in exacerbation of acne. Thus stress is an important factor in the initiation, maintenance and aggravation of acne.

Stress Acne Control:
There are many ways by which you can relieve stress and acne as follows:
1) Healthy Diet:
A balanced diet is essential for physical, emotional and psychological well-being. Several vitamins especially vitamin B is essential for mental health. Deficiency of vitamin B leads to depression, lack of concentration, laziness and tiredness. Stress mainly arises when you are mentally unhealthy, depressed and deprived of nutrients. Thus it is very essential to include fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet instead of junk and oily food to avoid stress acne. Never take caffeine or alcohol to relieve from your stress.

2) Physical Exercise:
Regular physical exercise like walking, jogging, cycling, swimming etc is one of the easiest and most effective ways to release stress.

It is because when you exercise, your body begins to release chemicals called Endorphins. Endorphins make you feel good as they are natural pain-killer and are effective in combating stress.

3) Mental Relaxation:
Mental relaxation is another good way to reduce stress and thus improve the health of the skin.

Mental relaxation can be achieved in several ways like meditation, yoga, aromatherapy, massage, by taking 8 hours of sleep, smiling, bathing or by doing whatever that makes you feel happy and calm.

4) Positive Attitude:
Always try to maintain positive attitude and keep yourself away from negative thoughts.