Can Stress Cause Acne?

Whether stress really causes acne or not is still argumentative. Although health professionals are still split up on this issue, there are several medical studies that may provide grounds to believe that stress, indeed, does cause acne.

Stress may aggravate acne in two ways: one is by stress triggering the adrenal glands to produce more hormones; the other is by stress slowing down the body's natural healing process.

The adrenal glands, which can be found above the kidneys, release the hormones norepinephrine and epinephrine. Together with the male hormones secreted by the adrenal cortex under stressful conditions, they provoke the production of excess sebum which in turn leads to a breakout of acne.

Psychological stress also has a heavy impact on the body's ability to heal itself. It is believed that psychological stress may diminish the healing capacity of the immune system by possibly as high as 40%. This, quite naturally, has led many to believe that stress is a causal factor of acne.

To add, keeping a less than healthy diet under stressful conditions may have some effect on acne.

Furthermore, stress can not only aggravate acne, but also may notably affect the overall health condition of the skin. This is becaause it induces the adrenal cortex to create a steroid called cortisol which may make the production of sebum. This in consequence can make the skin oily. This may be the reason why people undergoing stress in their lives have pus-filled papules and inflamed acne rather than the plain whiteheads and blackheads we generally see.

In the early part of this millenium, the Stanford University School of Medicine conducted a research study on the relationship between stress and acne. Although it only involved 22 acne-inflicted students, it was helpful in proving the fact that stress can actually trigger acne. In the experiment, the professors reasoned that the students' acne was actually aggravated under stressful conditions. It was further noticed that the students who were greatly stressed during the test had a greater chance for more severe forms of acne.

Another study taken in the year 2003 and published in a major science publication took note the possibility that body chemicals and acne (and other skin diseases) may be closely connected. This study especially focused on the thalamus, the part of the brain which releases a hormone called corticothropin or CRH under stressful conditions. The skin oil glands are known to generate both CRH and CRH receptors. Consequently, when CRH receptors combine with excess CRH, it produces more sebum which in turn may result in acne flare-ups.

Acne urticata, a form of eczema, is known to appear in middle-aged women who suffer from depression and stress. In this case however, it is not yet clear whether stress led to the acne or stress was the result of the acne.

Some time ago, a German dermatologist named Dr. Jerome Litt, drew the conclusion that under stressful situations, the male hormone testosterone and androgens are produced. This led him to form the genaral conclusion that these two hormones were instrumental in the production of excess sebum - which in turn leads to the production of acne.

In light of this, he advises acne sufferers to avoid stress, worry, anxiety and tension as these may provoke acne and even worsen a pre-existing condition.

Stressed by you acne? Get help for your acne here.