Managing stress and acne go hand in hand. When you get one under control, it will directly affect the other in a positive way.
There’s nothing like waking up to a big bold pimple to get the anxiety going, right?
We know the morning drill for most of our clients…wake up and inspect the skin for any new pesky outbreaks.
And, if you typically have clear skin, you know what it’s like to wake up to a new friend on your face. Aaagh!
We are seeing more and more adult clients develop cystic acne. These are people who have been clear most of their life and have never experienced the heartache of congested skin. And stress may be the trigger that sets off this new normal for their skin.
Does Stress Really Trigger Acne?
Unfortunately, yes. Research has shown that internal stress triggers acne and the greater the stress, the bigger the breakout.
Let me break it down for you simply.
- Chronic stress increases levels of a stress-related hormone—cortisol, which sends skin’s sebaceous (oil) glands into overdrive.
- Cortisol lowers the natural production of Hyaluronic Acid, which dehydrates the skin. Dehydration triggers production of excess sebum.
- Cortisol participates in regulating various bodily functions, including anti-inflammatory action. Increased cortisol leads to increased inflammation.
- Stress leads to a nerve signaling that causes itch. This can cause people to scratch and pick at their skin, which exacerbates the pimple problem.
- Stress also causes people to make poor food choices, sleep less, and skip normal routines, including skin care and exercise.
- Chronic stress affects the duration and severity of breakouts.
Stress Busters–Managing Stress and Acne
So what can you do to alleviate stress? We have included a short list of stress-reducing activities below. If you have children, lead by example. Invite them to join you in a brisk walk around the block. Choose a five minute guided meditation to do together before going to bed. If you are stressed, it is likely they feel stressed too.
- Exercise.
- Sleep. Make sure you and your kids go to bed at an appropriate time (eight hours is best.)
- Meditate. (see list of apps below)
- Practice yoga.
- Journal your thoughts. Put your stress on paper to release it out of your mind.
- Cut back caffeine—limit coffee and energy drinks.
- Organize—organize your space and your life to reduce clutter.
- Take a break from social media. Challenge yourself and your kids to put the devices away one hour prior to bedtime.
- Play relaxing music or a guided meditation while you light up your face at night with the LightStim or Celluma professional light panel.
Relieve Your Stress By Working With a Clear Skin Coach
One thing we have discovered is that the appearance of acne causes more stress—most people worry about what to do about it, how to clear it, etc. Googling remedies and solutions adds to the stress. If you are working with us, it should alleviate this stress, as you can stop Googling and worrying what to do. We find that our clients breathe a sigh of relief when they join our clear skin program.
A Final Note
We see it all of the time. Moms, dads, singles and children completely stressed out in today’s fast-paced, social media driven world. Parents are trying to give their kids the best life and running in 10,000 directions. Kids are trying to compete with other kids in education, sports, and also in looks and fashion.
Young adults don’t get left out, as they work to make something of themselves…climbing the corporate ladder or just trying to figure out what sets their soul on fire.
Stress is not limited to any socio-economical class. It effects everyone, and it affects your entire body, not just your skin.
We would love to hear from you. What stress-relieving remedies do you enjoy?
Cheers to clear!
Rene
Sources: Time Magazine–Can Stress Really Cause Acne
Healthline.com — 2019 Best Meditation Apps
Meditation Apps
Meditation is essential to calming the mind, and guided meditation makes it easier to do. Start with short meditations of one to five minutes and build from there. Here are a few of our favorite apps for meditation and relieving anxiety.
- Insight Timer (Rene’s favorite)
- Headspace (One of Sammy’s favorites)
- Stop Breathe and Think (Another Sammy favorite)
- The Mindfulness App
- Breathe
- Calm
- buddhify
