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The link between stress and acne has been explored for decades. Only recently, however, have studies actually confirmed what scientists always suspected – that stress does have a role in acne. Whether stress causes acne is not yet fully known, however, but it certainly can exasperate the condition.
How Does Stress Cause Acne
When your body is under stress, a whole host of hormones are released by your adrenal glands and endocrine system. These hormones then go on to cause inflammation in the tissues throughout your body. In the case of your skin, the inflammation may break pores which are already clogging with sebum. Your bodies immune system reponse then causes the common red, irritated, pus filled acne zit that we’re so used to seeing.
Another possible way stress causes acne is that stress increases sebum production itself. While this factor has not been demonstrated in any studies, some of the hormones which are released under stress are known to affect sebum production – such as the androgens. And of course more sebum means more clogged pores.
Finally, the hormones released by your body under stress impact the immune system itself. It is said that these hormones can reduce immune system response by as much as 40%. This means that bacteria will have plenty of time to collect in pores and cause acne before the immune system can respond.
Factors which Increase Stress in Everyday Life
During our busy lives, it is often difficult to tell when we are under stress. But the signs are still there – stress is often accompanied by a range of emotions. These include:
- Anger
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Fear
- Low self confidence
And many others. When you are feeling stress of this nature, it’s helpful to take a break from whatever you are doing and just relax. There are also physical forms of stress in our lives which are less obvious. These include anything which taxes our body:
- Lack of sleep
- Overly busy lifestyle
- Sedentary lifestyle (not enough exercise)
- Smoking, Drinking (alcohol), Drugs
- Too much Exercise (with too little rest)
How to Reduce Your Stress Levels
There are four primary ways in which you can reduce your levels of stress. By practicing stress reduction techniques and healthy lifestyle habits each day, we can dramatically reduce stress and acne.
1. Diet
The role of diet in acne has been explained in many recent studies. It is now known that sugar is actually a stressor on the body. It causes inflammation through hormone production as the other acne stressors listed previously. In addition to sugar, diets high in starch may also play a role. Any ‘junk’ food item has the potential to stress the body.
2. Exercise
Exercise is a proven technique to reduce stress. By exercising, your body balances hormone production and neurotransmitters. This improves your mood, regulates digestion, balances blood sugar, improves circulation, and boost immune system activity. You’ll feel much better and your body will be in much better shape to confront stress and acne.
3. Meditation
This ancient art from the east is more than just chanting while in a sitting position. Meditation has proven effects on both the brain and body. Another technique highly effective in managing mood and reducing stress, meditation can be practiced every day without danger of overexertion.
4. Sleep
This is one of the most critical factors in our society today. More people than ever get too little sleep. Yet a lack of sleep can cause as much stress as any of the previous factors. Sleep impacts everything – our mood, our levels of stress hormones, our bodies ability to repair itself. When we miss sleep or get irregular sleep, we are asking for a breakout. Not to mention increased risk of diabetes and mental illness.
Regardless whether stress causes acne or just exasperates it, know that you can dramatically improve the complexion of your skin by following a healthy lifestyle. Reducing stress in combination with good washing habits can reduce acne almost 100%.
Acne is a skin disorder that’s prominent during teen-age years, stimulated by overactivity of the sebaceous glands. The face, chest and back tend to be the worst. Acne sometimes also affects babies and adults.
Sebaceous Glands - In mammals, these tiny glands in the DERMIS of the skin give protection by secreting Sebum. Sebum is a naturally oily substance that lubricates and waterproofs the hair and skin.
Skin follicles, also known as pores, can become blocked. When this happens, the Sebum (oil) which normally drains to the skin surface forms a blockage in which bacteria such as Propionibacterium grows. These blockages then form microcomedones – non-inflamed skin blemishes. Later they become Comedones, what you know as a whitehead or a blackhead.
3 Common Types of Acne
Whiteheads and Blackheads
Whiteheads form when trapped sebum and bacteria stay below the skin surface. They can be either very tiny white spots in appearance, or be totally invisible. Whiteheads are probably the most common type of acne.
A blackhead forms when a pore opens to the surface, and the sebum oil, which contains melanin (a skni pigment), oxidizes and turns brown or black in color. Because it is not loose on the surface like dirt, it can’t be simply ‘washed off’. Blackheads tend to last a long time as they form slowly on your skin surface.
Papules
Papules form when the follicular wall breaks open. At this point, white blood cells from your immune system move in to fight infection and the pore becomes red and irritated (inflamed).
The papule becomes a pustule some days later when white blood cells get to the skin’s surface. At this stage is when we usually refer to it as a ‘zit’ or ‘pimple’.
An inflamed papule lesion can sometimes implode or break open, irritating and inflaming surrounding skin tremendously and engulfing other nearby follicles. When this happens, it is called a nodule or cyst. When a follicle breaks open at the bottom, it can totally collapse which results in a large, inflamed bump that’s sore to the touch. Depending on how irritated it becomes, it can grow to become a large pus filled legion.
Milia
Milia are tiny white bumps that come about when skin cells that would normally be shed are trapped in small surface pockets. These are common in newborn babies near their nose and upper cheeks. They also sometimes occur on adult skin. As dead skin cells are shed and the surface breaks up, the bumps tend to go away on their own. This process usually takes a few weeks in newborns, after which they do not return.
For this reason, treatment is usually not indicated in children. In adults, however, milia can be ongoing for life. Adults can have them removed by a physician for cosmetic improvement. Fortunately, this is not a very common type of acne.
Rosacea, also known as ‘curse of the celts’ by western Europe, is a skin disease characterized by varying degrees of redness, inflammation, irritation, papules and postules, rhinophyma, and other similar symptoms. Symptoms are classified according to their characteristics into subtypes.
Rosacea Subtypes:
1. Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea
This type has long lasting redness, trend towards blushing, small surface blood vessels visible, and some itchiness or stinging.
2. Papulopustular rosacea
Also has long duration redness in addition to papules and pustules. For this reason, it looks similar to the common acne vulgaris.
3. Phymatous rosacea
Characterized by rough, thick, and enlarged skin – similar to rhinophyma. Affected areas include your t-zone areas (chin, forehead, cheeks,) along with eyelids and ears. Small blood vessels may also be noticeable.
4. Ocular rosacea
This one appears mainly in your eyes. Redness and irritation. Tiny Blood vessels visible. You may also feel stinging, burning, itching, and other weirdness.
5. Neuropathic Rosacea
This is the newest subtype, characterized by symptoms from Phymatous rosacea combined with extreme bouts of pain and itching – lasting longer than 25 minutes. Pain can occur in response to both irritants contacting the skin and inflammation of the blood vessels themselves. Pain can become semi-permanent as damage starts to reach nociceptors (nervous system receptors).
Unfortunately, Rosacea symptoms worsen as you go longer without treatment. This eventually progresses to permanent disfiguration of your facial skin tissue.
Stages of Rosacea Severity:
1. Pre-rosacea
In stage one, frequent blushing and flushing happens in response to many possible causes. Some of these include high temperatures, face washing, and embarrassment. While that seems innocent, this is when blood vessels in the face first start becoming abnormal. They expand and dilate for increasingly longer time periods until eventually the second stage is reached.
2. Mild rosacea
In the mild stage, symptoms are simply increased versions of pre-rosacea. Blushing occurs more often and lasts much longer – often more than 20 minutes! Skin tone may begin to change, and blood vessels start taking on damage.
3. Moderate rosacea
In this stage, tissue and blood vessels begin taking heavy damage. Blushing and Flushing become permanent, lasting up to weeks at a time – especially in the T-zone. Swelling, Burning, breakouts of papules and pustules, and roughness start happening. As your blood vessels incur damage, they begin acting less like ‘vessels’ and more like wide open tunnels. This contributes to the redness.
4. Severe Rosacea
This is the worst stage, fortunately one that not all rosacea victims reach. There is permanent and severe flushing. Pain, burning, inflamed acne, and other skin surface irritations occur. Highly damaged blood vessels contribute to redness and a a very ‘rough’ almost leathery look.
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