What Is Stress Acne?
Stress acne is a type of acne that gets worse when you’re under stress. When stressed, your body releases Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), which triggers your oil glands to produce more sebum.
This extra oil clogs your pores and leads to breakouts on your face and body, especially on the forehead, nose, chin, chest, back, and upper arms.
These breakouts are often accompanied by inflammation, making them even more noticeable and uncomfortable. Stress acne can affect anyone, but it’s more common in people already prone to acne.
What Causes Stress Acne
Stress is a major trigger for breakouts, especially when it leads to the release of Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), which stimulates sebum production. This excess sebum clogs pores and contributes to inflammation, resulting in acne.
Cortisol levels also rise during stress, increasing oil production and leading to more clogged pores. This type of acne is often seen in cases of adult-onset acne, where the body’s immune system, digestive system, and reproductive system are all impacted by stress.
These internal changes, combined with hormonal changes, can worsen acne, making it more severe and persistent. Interestingly, stress acne is often linked to the same hormones that cause hormonal acne, though it doesn’t follow the same pattern as acne related to the menstrual cycle.
The fight-or-flight hormone cortisol plays a big role here, along with androgen—the male sex hormone—which also ramps up oil production. This leads to more bacterial growth, dead skin buildup, and, ultimately, more breakouts.
Whether you’re at work, at home, or dealing with emotional stress from school, the link between stress and acne severity is clear. When the body experiences stress, it produces more oil, clogging your pores and causing more acne.
How To Treat Stress Pimples
Dealing with stress pimples can be challenging, but recognizing when stress contributes to your acne development is the first step in managing it. First, try to destress by engaging in stress-relieving activities like breathing exercises, getting enough sleep, listening to music, or practicing yoga and tai chi.
These practices can help reduce your cortisol levels, lowering oil production and the chance of clogged pores. If your acne is milder, consider using cleansers containing benzoyl peroxide, glycolic acid, or salicylic acid. These ingredients help to clear your skin and prevent future breakouts.
Taking good skin care is important to prevent and manage stress pimples. Clean your skin gently with a soap that doesn’t dry it out, and remove any dirt or makeup before sleeping at night.
Also, avoid pimple-picking, rubbing, or scratching your face, which can worsen the condition. Maintaining a consistent skincare routine is your best defense against hormonal and stress-induced acne.
If your stress is severe, it might be helpful to talk to a therapist or make changes in your life, such as addressing an unhealthy relationship or a toxic workplace. By introducing positive practices into your routine and sticking to your acne treatment plan, you’ll be on your way to glowing skin.
Q: How do you get rid of a stress pimple?
If you’re dealing with a stress-induced breakout but don’t typically have acne-prone skin, you might need to adjust your daily skincare routine significantly. Specifically, you’ll want to include three key ingredients that fight breakouts: salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and retinol.
How do you know if you have stress acne?
A clear indicator of a stress-related breakout is the sudden appearance of multiple pimples at once, unlike hormonal breakouts, which usually occur one at a time (unless you’ve started using a new product). Stressful situations or events can still lead to breakouts even if you don’t typically have acne-prone skin.