Just when you thought you had your breakouts all figured out, you go through a stressful period and notice pimples appearing faster than you can catch your breath. Not only does stress affect your mind and emotions, but it can also wreak havoc on your skin health. This stress often manifests physically as breakouts that stubbornly hang around.
It's important to understand that stress is an inevitable part of life. What we really need to watch and manage, is when occasional emotional stress turns into chronic stress. I’d like to dive into the very real connection between stress and breakouts and answer the question, “Does Stress Cause Acne?” By the end of this article, I want you to know that you are not alone and give you a few simple lifestyle and stress-reduction tips that can help you get back on track!
Is Stress Causing Your Acne?
Stress does not directly cause acne breakouts, but it most definitely affects hormone balance and the skin’s immune function. This, in turn, correlates to acne flares and other inflammatory skin issues.
Apart from the obvious, which would be going through a heightened period of stress, there are a few characteristics that may confirm you are dealing with stress-related blemishes. Stress acne is often accompanied by itching and an increased number of blackheads and whiteheads. They also tend to appear in the same areas as hormonal acne, which makes sense since your breakouts are a result of hormones that are released as a result of stress. The chin and jawline are where these pimples most often manifest, but they can also extend up the cheeks and down the neck.
Cortisol and Acne
I am a firm believer in understanding why something happens before diving into methods to treat the issue at hand. So, first, let’s talk about cortisol.
Cortisol is a stress hormone that is released by your adrenal glands when you are facing stress of any kind. Small amounts of cortisol are important for healthy body functions, from maintaining healthy blood pressure levels to reducing inflammation to protecting you against disease.
However, the ironic thing is that too much cortisol actually increases inflammation, which is the last thing you want for your skin, not to mention your overall health. When cortisol increases internal inflammation, it also triggers and inflames your sebaceous glands, which are responsible for producing oil. Naturally, an overproduction of sebum can cause clogged pores, contributing to breakouts.
I want to mention that cortisol also breaks down collagen, which means that it puts your skin at risk of premature aging as well as increasing your risk of breakouts.
Other Stress Hormones at Play
In addition to cortisol, your adrenals release other stress hormones, including adrenaline, responsible for that fight or flight response in stressful situations, and small amounts of testosterone and other androgens.
Together these hormonal changes can cause a series of reactions to happen. Increased oil production, decreased blood flow, and a weakened immune system are all a result of this combo of hormones. These combined factors can lead to increased breakouts while also decreasing your body’s ability to heal.
Managing Stress Levels
Your best defense against stress-related acne is to find natural ways to decrease stress triggers and improve your overall wellness. It’s not always so easy, but arming your body with what it needs can help your physical and mental health during stressful times without taking any drastic measures.
Adaptogens
Adding adaptogens to your diet is an excellent place to start. They help by counteracting the harmful effects of stress hormones through support to your adrenal glands. They are usually stored in the body and then released when your body encounters stress. Some common adaptogens are ginseng, ashwagandha, reishi, and tulsi. When selecting an adaptogen, make sure to avoid any blends that contain maca. While maca has some great adaptogenic properties, it is known to cause acne in some individuals. I personally like this adaptogen supplement.
Gut Health
Stress can also reduce good gut bacteria. A healthy gut is essential for healthy skin, as well as for a healthy mind, since most of your serotonin (your brain’s happy chemical) is produced in the gut. I highly recommend cutting down on inflammatory foods that may decrease good gut bacteria, like sugar, dairy, and processed foods, and instead, fill your body with foods known to increase healthy intestinal flora. You can also strengthen gut health by adding probiotics to your diet. We have some great options to choose from here.
Sleep
Adequate sleep has been proven to drastically reduce feelings of anxiety while also improving your body’s ability to process stress. When you get a good night’s rest, it also helps naturally reduce your levels of cortisol and other stress hormones, which could be contributing to your acne flare-ups.
Soothing Rituals
Of course, finding ways to take care of yourself through soothing rituals and relaxation techniques is an important part of the process, too. Why not turn your morning and evening skincare routine into one of these rituals that will help to calm your mind as it calms your skin. Also, check out some of our soothing bath and body products to help you unwind.
