Acne - A Symptom of Stress

Acne, is it a symptom of stress? The connection between acne and stress has been debated for a long time. To date, research on the subject have been limited with no real conclusions being reached. Recently, scientists conducted studies on a small group of students who suffered from acne. From those studies they were able to determine that acne did appear to worsen in situations of extreme stress such as when the students were preparing for final exams.

The fact that stress exasperates acne is not surprising to the millions who suffer from it. But, does stress cause acne? That has not been proven. Many people associate the appearance or worsening of their acne with a stressful time in their life.

What is known is that stress can cause your adrenal glands to produce the male hormones, testosterone and androgens. Yes, women's bodies do produce male hormones. These male hormones in turn, cause the sebaceous glands, located at the base of the hair follicles, to produce more sebum. The production of this oily substance, combine with dead skin cells, clogs pores and may trigger acne outbreaks.

One fact is not debatable. Acne may be a symptom of stress but...acne can cause stress too! Just ask a teenager who is avoiding a date due to new acne pimples 'popping up' over night or an adult frantically trying to 'cover' a huge new blemish just before a job interview.

Acne can have a very negative impact on a person's life. People with acne often suffer from embarrassment and low self-esteem. They fear that people will believe the myth that poor hygiene causes acne. There is absolutely no truth in that misguided notion yet many still believe it. Those people are uninformed.

In a world where so much value is placed on beauty, a poor complexion can lead to a devastating loss of self-confidence. Anger, frustration and depression may also occur sometimes leading to social withdrawal.

Since we know that the relationship between acne and stress does exist, stress management may be one effective way to help control acne outbreaks.
There are so many options available for acne treatment today that no one should have to isolate themselves to avoid embarrassment. Talk to your doctor. Discuss your feelings of anxiety and learn all that you can about acne. With a little emotional support and an effective skin care program, you can set yourself free.

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What is stress?

Stress (roughly the opposite of relaxation) is a medical term for a wide range of strong external stimuli, both physiological and psychological, which can cause a physiological response called the general adaptation syndrome, first described in 1936 by Hans Selye in the journal Nature.
An emotionally disruptive or upsetting condition occurring in response to adverse external influences and capable of affecting physical health which can be characterized by increased heart rate, a rise in blood pressure, muscular tension, irritability and depression. Stress does not cause migraine but can be a migraine "trigger".
A condition in which the organism is subjected to unfavourable or unfamiliar environmental conditions, resulting in some alteration in normal physical functioning. Short-term stress can often be overcome. Long-term stress can reduce resistance to disease and parasites, inhibit self-healing processes, and reduce life-span.