Acne

Understanding How Stress Affects Your Skin

November 15
Mixi Skincare

We’ve all experienced it, a big presentation, a heated argument, or an impending deadline seems to magically conjure a mountainous pimple on your face overnight. But what is it that enables tension, anxiety, and strain to leave tangible effects on your skin, particularly causing outbreaks of acne?

Stress and acne are connected in unexpected ways. Let’s dive deep and explore this.

Cortisol Makes Skin Oilier

The body produces a hormone called cortisol when it’s stressed. One of the things cortisol does is increase oil production in the skin. More oil means more chances for pores to get clogged. Clogged pores often lead to pimples, blackheads, and other types of acne. So if someone is stressed all the time, their skin may feel greasier and break out more often.

Stress Causes More Inflammation

Stress also causes inflammation in the body. This makes the skin more sensitive and slows down how quickly breakouts heal. It can even make acne look more red and swollen. People with sensitive or acne-prone skin may notice that their breakouts get worse when they’re under pressure or feeling anxious.

Bad Habits That Come with Stress

When someone is stressed, they may sleep less, eat poorly, or skip their skincare routine. These habits can also make acne worse. Not sleeping enough means the skin doesn’t get time to repair. Eating too much sugar or junk food can trigger breakouts. And not washing the face or removing makeup properly allows dirt and bacteria to build up.

Some people also pick at their skin when they’re stressed, which spreads bacteria and leads to more breakouts or scars.

How to Manage Stress for Clearer Skin

Managing stress can help the skin improve. Here are a few simple ways:

Get enough sleep every night
Practice deep breathing or try relaxing activities like walking or listening to music
Stick to a simple skincare routine, even on busy days
Eat more whole foods and drink plenty of water
Avoid picking or touching the face when feeling anxious

Taking care of the mind helps take care of the skin. Reducing stress won’t fix acne overnight, but it can make a big difference over time.

Takeaways

Stress plays a big role in acne. It causes more oil, more inflammation, and often leads to bad habits that hurt the skin. By keeping stress in check, skin has a better chance to stay clear, calm, and healthy.