We are about to nerd out on stress.   

The definition of stress is our body’s response to change.  Any change.  

There is good stress and bad stress, such is life.

However, it is when we overload our bodies with stress that it has negative effects such as flaring up acne. 

How Stress Can Affect Your Acne

Stress activates the adrenal glands to produce extra hormones.  These extra hormones flare up acne.  Women produce a lot of male hormones in the adrenal glands and that is why this stress connection is much more obvious in women.  These hormones stimulate an increase in the production of oil which then starts clogging up the pore with dead skin and oil. 

And, there ya go.

Stress=Hormones=Acne

Keywords that can identify stress for the everyday person in 2022

Overscheduled-Overworked-Lots of deadlines-Carpooling-Your Kid’s Schedules-Working Parents-Multiple Jobs-Stressful Jobs-Traveling for work or obligations-Social Media Pressure-Not Enough Hours in The Day-Eating Quickly-Over Anxious-Sick A lot-Fever Blisters-Eczema-Psoriasis-Rosacea-Acne.

The most frequent example of a mistaken stressor is too much exercise. Exercise in moderation is great for stress.  However, more than 3 days a week of exercise can be too much for those struggling with acne.  Depending on the type of exercise, too much exertion and stress on the body can cause an overproduction of stress hormones such as cortisol which then leads to flaring up acne.  While trying to clear your acne, exercise needs to be low intensity, especially if you are an overstressed busy person.

Excercise that I suggest for acne-prone individuals is walking, yoga, pilates, lifting weights, and activities outdoors.

Types Of Stress😫

1. Psychological stress (I call this the “mirror stress”)

This type of stress deals with cognitive and emotional stress.  Obsessing over your acne and spending time in the mirror can create psychological stress.

Example: anxiety, self-criticism, panic attacks, grief, sadness, jealousy, etc.

2. Psychosocial stress.

People who experience challenging relationships are the ones who suffer from psychosocial stress. Relationships can come from a partner, family member, employee, or employer.

3. Physical stress

As the name implies, physical stress deals with the physical reactions of the body.  This is the exercise stress I was mentioning above.  This is also common with illness, autoimmune diseases, and such.

Example: Injury, Surgery, Intense physical labor, etc.

4. Acute stress

This type of stress is severe because it demands an immediate reaction of the body to new changes. However, positive situations can also trigger acute stress. One example is when people are riding a roller coaster and they feel fear.

5. Episodic acute stress

 Episodic acute stress is when people experience frequent acute stress. Short-tempered, irritable, and anxious people often experience this type. They commonly have a negative outlook or worry about everything. They think of stress as part of their lives and have difficulties changing their lifestyles.

6. Chronic stress

If acute stress stays longer, it turns into chronic stress. It is a continuous type of stress and does not quickly go away. It can harm people’s health which can lead to depression, heart problems, and other diseases.

Okay, Lucy, so what can I do about this?

A way to track this type of stress is by journaling your week.  Note how often you feel sad, stressed, or over-exerted.  Also, track how many minutes you spend in the mirror or looking at your acne.  You should not be in the mirror much more than just your AM and PM regimen.  Track how often you exercise and what type of exercise you are doing.  If you are feeling overly exhausted, that is NOT the time to exercise. Your exhaustion is your body’s way of telling you to rest. 

Make time for yourself.  My nightly routine is to make a cup of chamomile tea and take a bath.  I try to keep the lights low and also to put my phone away.  This is also a good time to do an ice mask or an LED treatment.

You can also consider these stress-reducing supplements.

With any supplements, it’s always good to run these by your doctor before they go down your gullet.

Again, stress is complicated and looks different for everyone but at the end of the day, this is more important than your products to clearing acne. This is something to manage to maintain clear skin long-term.