The human body begins reacting to stress in the nervous system. The effect this reaction has on you can vary, and depends on your physiology and the way you handle stressful situations. One effect stress can have is a condition called stress-induced acne. It can cause, worsen or perpetuate an acne condition.
Identification
Acne is not a stray pimple, no matter how large or inflamed it may be. Acne occurs when the sebaceous oil glands in your skin produce too much oil and block skin pores, leading to the appearance of multiple pimples, whiteheads, blackheads and cysts. The effect stress has on the release of hormones, on the immune system and on chemical mediators can lead to this excessive oil production and in addition, promote swelling.
Process
Your nervous system reacts to stress in a process called the stress response. This automatic process causes your heart to beat faster, your blood pressure to rise and your nervous system to release stress hormones such as adrenaline, androgen and cortisol into the blood stream. Sustained periods of stress require your nervous system to remain in stress response mode. Changes that occur in the brain and nervous system because of the stress response can affect the skin and lead to the appearance of stress-induced acne.
Causes
Oil overproduction is the major cause of stress-induced acne. Androgen, released by the pituitary and other endocrine glands during the body's stress response, is the hormone most responsible for oil overproduction in the sebaceous glands. Another cause involves the reaction of your body's immune system to the stress response. Stress reduces the activity of the thymus gland, responsible for producing the T cells involved in protecting your body from bacteria and viruses. This in turn reduces your body's immune response, allows bacteria to build up in the sebaceous glands and promotes swelling of acne lesions such as pimples and cysts. The stress response also promotes the formation of new acne lesions by increasing the release of chemical mediators such as neuropeptide P. This results in swelling of the skin and sebaceous glands, leading to blocked skin pores.
Expert Insight
Research findings support the link between stress and the presence of acne. The Stanford University School of Medicine completed a study in 2002 that observed 22 students who suffered from acne. The study occurred during exam periods and compared stress levels with acne breakouts. Researchers determined the students under the most stress also had the greatest increase in acne breakouts and severity. Another study, done in 2007 by Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, published results stating that teenagers experiencing high stress levels are 23 percent more likely to suffer from severe acne.
Prevention/Solution
Stress-induced acne may not respond to medical or topical treatments. Learning to manage stress is essential to also managing stress-induced acne. This requires paying attention to your environment and actively working to identify your personal stress triggers. Management techniques include analyzing how you respond to positive and negative life events, recognizing events that trigger stress, researching relaxation techniques and getting profession help if necessary.
