The Stress Connection to Acne Breakouts

Acne breakouts often follow times of stress. The more anxiety and hormone stimulation a person has, the more acne flare-ups they may experience. Under stress, your body suffers first at its weakest link, which for acne-prone individuals, are the sebaceous follicles.

The stress and hormone connection creates more problems for women than for men because women produce male hormones mostly in their adrenal glands. The adrenals can be powerfully stimulated under stress. Men, in contrast, produce most of their hormones in the testes and only a small amount in the adrenal glands. Men also produce testosterone at such routinely high levels that their sebaceous glands generally remain at maximum stimulation. So, extra surges of testosterone, even when produced as a result of stress, have less of an effect on acne. For women, only one tenth of the amount of male hormone levels can be significant. This also explains why the levels of breakouts are more constant for men, while acne in women is more likely to fluctuate.

Stress activates the adrenal glands to produce extra testosterone by first stimulating the pituitary gland to secrete an adrenal-stimulating hormone (ACTH). The hormones than released by the adrenal glands in turn stimulate the sebaceous glands in the skin, causing the skin to become oilier. This increased oil secretion traps dead skin cells in the pores, thus causing inflammation and breakouts.

An extreme stress hormone reaction is called Pyoderma Faciale and is seen most commonly in women in their twenties and thirties. This reaction can hit abruptly and may even be a person’s first experience with acne. Pyoderma Faciale affects areas of the face and is usually characterized by large, very red, painful lesions. However, it does not affect all women under stress; it often affects those who may have a specific enzyme deficiency. This deficiency, which suppresses the adrenal output of hydrocortisone, can prompt the adrenals to dump out excessive amounts of testosterone. It has been shown that slowing down testosterone or balancing out hormone levels by the use of medications such as birth control may have some positive effect. Hormone or body-altering medications are not for everyone due to potential side effects such as weight gain, facial hair growth, and headaches, just to name a few.

The good news is that through the continued use of a properly prescribed at-home skin regime, regular corrective in-clinic treatments and the intake of appropriate dietary supplements, you can expect to control flare-ups.