I’m sure that you have experienced a nasty breakout sometime in your life as a side effect of stress. Usually these occur at the most inconvenient times, but why? And is there anything that can be done to prevent these?

Stress can be experienced in many different ways – for some people stress is very obvious and may be triggered by as stressful event, for others stress may be experienced in the form of feeling very busy and running around. This could be in every day life, or getting ready for a particular event – think about that time you had an exciting event on and the day before you had a big pimple pop up out of nowhere. For some people, stress is ongoing and is not acknowledged as it has become a part of everyday life.

So what happens in our skin when experience stress?

When a person experiences stress it causes their cortisol (stress hormone) levels to rise. This increase in cortisol causes your sebaceous glands (oil production glands in the skin) to produce more sebum. It also causes heightened inflammation in the skin. When there is a combination of increased sebum and inflammation within the skin, this becomes a perfect ground for acne to form.

So what can we do to reduce acne caused by stress?

While avoiding stress in the first place would be ideal, this usually isn’t a possibility. However, there are things that we can do to minimise the impact that stress has on our skin. Some of the things we can do involve the usual de-stress methods such as meditating, deep breathing and finding some quiet time alone.

Other things that we can do to support the skin in these times include swapping out your coffee or energy drinks for something less stimulating on the nervous system. Highly caffeinated drinks cause a spike in cortisol, similar to that of stress. Instead of having your morning coffee, opt for something kinder to your skin and nervous system, such as a chai latte or peppermint tea. In these times, it is also important to consider your nutrition and what you are putting into your body.

Often, during busy or stressful periods we tend to grab something quick to eat, resulting in eating more sugars and unhealthy fats, which are not doing our skin any favours. If needing to eat on the go, try to order something that includes more beneficial fats such as avocado. Remembering to pack healthier snacks may also help, such as a fruit and nut mix, as this will reduce the chance of grabbing something greasy because all of a sudden you are starving!

Knowing what to use on your skin during these times is also a crucial part of the solution. We love a spot treatment to treat those pesky breakouts – Murad’s Deep Relief Blemish Treatment is our go to for this. It is important not to go too crazy with acids when suffering from a breakout or acne, as these can over strip the skin and cause further issues in the long run. Instead, stick to your usual routine, cover your breakout with your spot treatment, and opt for a lighter moisturiser rather than a thicker cream. If you’re suffering from ongoing acne or need the skin to settle down before an event, book yourself some blue LED light therapy treatments.

If acne is something you are struggling with we would love to help, book in for one of our Advanced Skin Consultations, where we work on your internal and external health to help you feel better in your skin.