Acne and stress

Stress-related acne is an issue still debatable. Whether stress may really cause real acne or not, the health circles have not been certain until some years ago. this however does not negate the fact that the medical field is still divided between believing in it or not. Yet, there are a number of medical studies that may provide evidence that the onset of acne to some people may be caused by stress.

Stress may aggravate acne in two ways: one is stress being able to stimulate the adrenal glands to produce more hormones and the other is by slowing down the process of healing.

The adrenal glands which can be found above the kidneys secrete hormones norepinephrine and epinephrine. Together with the male hormones secreted by the adrenal cortex that are released only under stressful conditions, this condition stimulates the release of excess sebum which further regenerates the acne breakout.

It is also recognized that psychological stress may diminish the healing capacity of the immune system by 40%. This being given only increases the probability that quite a number of acne cases may really be stress-related.

Also, unhealthy diet during stressful conditions may have some effects on the worsening of the acne.

Additionally, stress does not only aggravate acne flare-up, it also may considerably affect the over-all health condition of the skin. It induces the adrenal cortex as well to generate a steroid called cortisol which may trigger the production of sebum; in effect making the skin extra oily. This is read more