Stress & acne

THE question is often asked whether stress causes acne. The short answer is that stress will not cause acne, but that in acne-prone patients, or those who have acne, stress may well lead to a fresh breakout.

If you should examine your personal history, you may find that during certain situations such as the exam period, having a driving test, facing relationship problems or so forth, your acne may get worse.

As children go from childhood to maturity and their bodies change, this in itself is considered a stressful time in their life. This is so because as they grow into adulthood, they will find themselves handling a whole range of different situations such as peer pressure, being misunderstood by their parents, and whatever other situation they deem to be stressful, which may in turn aggravate their acne.

However, the mechanism by which stress aggravates acne has not been fully explored. When we undergo stress, it causes the release of the hormone cortisol which is also known as the “flight or fight” hormone. The cortisol hormone is an essential one and it is produced by the adrenal glands which are the two small glands located just above the kidneys. While it is necessary for the body to function, overproduction of cortisol may in turn cause an increased production of sebum or oil in the skin and so can adversely affect one’s acne.

Stress also increases the production of testosterone in males as well as females, who happen to produce small quantities of the male hormone.

Testosterone is carried by the blood to the skin where another hormone acts on the testosterone to produce dihydrotestosterone. This results in further production of sebum and leads to even more acne as dihydrotestosterone is produced in the skin and the hair follicles.

The sebum, along with the breakdown of products from the cells, forms a nice, rich place for germs to multiply, and so leads to a fresh outbreak of acne.

There are some people who have mild outbreaks of acne and this may further stress them out, which results in them scratching and picking at the acne lesions. This is a bad habit.

In most cases, the stress will go away soon, which may lead to resolution of the acne. The practice of meditation and other relaxing techniques may also help.

If you realise that your acne is not getting better, it’s best not to panic but to schedule an appointment with a dermatologist.

Dr Persadsingh, MBBS(UWI), Dip Derm, London, FAAD, is a skin specialist. He can be contacted at neilsin13@hotmail.com or 906-9999.