» Acne and stress http://www.shipacne.com/acneblog Wed, 29 Jun 2011 23:21:49 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Acne and Stress http://www.shipacne.com/acneblog/acne-and-stress/ http://www.shipacne.com/acneblog/acne-and-stress/#comments Thu, 05 Mar 2009 15:34:23 +0000 admin http://www.shipacne.com/acneblog/?p=94 Does stress cause acne? Does it at least contribute to it? This is a major point of interest for those suffering from acne. Stress is a tricky issue because it stems from mental and emotional situations, but it often has a physical manifestation. People who are extremely stressed may lose their appetite, lose sleep, and, many say, have increased acne, among other symptoms.

Stress is something that the medical acne community has been divided about for quite sometime, but since 2002, studies have emerged (such as one conducted by the Stanford University School of Medicine, among other reputable institutions) that do back up the connection between stress and worsened acne.

How Stress Impacts Acne

The impact of stress on acne is twofold: one, it directly causes biological conditions and behaviors that increase the likelihood of acne increasing. Secondly, it often encourages (or is accompanied by) lifestyle factors that make both the stress, and the acne, worse as well.

On a medical and physical scale, stress makes acne worse because it affects the way your body produces hormones. In stressful times, the adrenal glands are stimulated; these glands create hormones that in turn create oils on the skin. With more oil, it is more likely that the pores will become clogged, and there is more food for oil-eating bacteria that live on the skin.

Stress also slows down your skin’s ability to repair itself. So when you have blemishes from acne (or any cuts or marks), they will stay visible longer before healing when you are stressed. Therefore, stress makes acne more likely to occur, and more likely to stick around.

Acne and stress are also related because stress often comes with other behavioral/lifestyle changes that can make your skin more prone to breakout. For example, take a college student who is preparing for finals. College students are still young enough to be undergoing hormonal changes already. But with finals, they are likely to be sleeping far less, and eating worse food while they focus on papers and tests. This is bad for the body all around. With less sleep and less nutrients, you are weakening your body’s defenses and further slowing healing time.

How To Fight Stress

There are a number of stress-reducing techniques that are good habits for people who find themselves stressed on a regular basis. Taking time to relax each morning before you start your day is a good idea. Many people try meditation, yoga, and exercise to help them focus. Sleep is of utmost importance, so try to schedule it in as a priority just like any other. Stress is hard on the whole body: so when acne increases, chances are your whole body is tired.

]]> http://www.shipacne.com/acneblog/acne-and-stress/feed/ 0