Life can be really stressful at times. And even more so when you’re juggling too many balls already, and then boom—along comes an acne breakout to add to your load.
But can stress really cause a breakout? And if there is a connection between stress and acne, what can you do to boost your wellbeing and nip a breakout in the bud when you start feeling overwhelmed?
And—last question for now, we promise—what can you do to treat those troublesome spots and pimples when they pop up, whatever the cause? Clue—it might involve pimple patches… but more on that sooner or later!
Can stress cause acne?
Not by itself, no—but it can certainly be part of a larger picture that can leave you prone to breakouts. Acne happens as a result of hair follicles becoming blocked with a mixture of sebum (the oily substance that lubricates your skin) and dead skin cells.
If your sebaceous glands make too much sebum then your hair follicles are more likely to get blocked—and that’s where stress can come in, by triggering hormones in your body that can make them produce more.
One of those hormones is cortisol—which triggers what is known as the ‘fight or flight’ response. And while that might be helpful if you’re being approached by an escaped lion (fortunately not an overly frequent event in the UK), it’s a less helpful response to threats that aren’t quite so immediate or likely to eat you. Especially when the aftereffects show up on your skin.
How else can stress lead to breakouts?
Stress can affect our bodies in a lot of different ways. Headaches, muscle pain, fatigue and stomach problems, to name just a few. It can also make us itchy—yes, really—due to how it affects our nervous system, so we’re more likely to touch and scratch our skin.
Some of the factors that can put you at risk of a breakout are related to how we end up trying to manage our stress. For example—and we’re right there with you, by the way, so no judgement—stress can sometimes lead to comfort eating.
High-glycaemic foods, processed foods and sugar are thought to be triggers for acne and blemishes, in what our dermatologist expert Dr Sonia Khorana has christened ‘an inflammatory cascade’. She recommends eating foods rich in antioxidants, carotenoids, omega-3 fatty acids and zinc instead.
You might also find that when you’re suffering from stress, you might be more likely to neglect yourself in terms of self-care.
Lack of sleep and dehydration can also play havoc with your skin, as can neglecting your normal skincare routine—sometimes it can be hard to find time for yourself, but it's important to do so.
How can I reduce my stress levels?
There are lots of ways to try to reduce your stress levels, and most of them will be really personal to you. Take a few minutes, if you can, to think about the things that make you feel good—and again, if you can, take steps to bring more of those into your life more often. We know it’s not always that easy—especially if you’re suffering from chronic stress.
Getting as much rest as you can manage is a must, but some of the other tactics that people say help them reduce stress are:
- Exercise
- Mindfulness or meditation
- Spending time with friends and family
- Snuggling up with a pet
- Having a nice relaxing bath
- Getting a beauty treatment to keep skin feeling and looking great
Why not try and give at least one of those a try this week—your skin (and the rest of you) will definitely thank you for it.
Breakouts can be pretty stressful in themselves!
We agree. Fortunately, we’ve got you (and your spots or pimples) covered with Hero Pimple Patches.
The standard-sized Hero Mighty Patch is available in Original (perfect for wearing overnight) and Invisible (perfect for daytime wear and to use under makeup). If you want to be covered day or night, or are just feeling a bit indecisive, you can buy a Duo pack that contains both.
If you’re tackling bigger spots or pimples, or acne on your body, you should look at the Surface patch which offers 10 times more coverage than the standard patches.
Finally, there’s the latest addition to the Hero Mighty Patch family, Nose. Flexibly thin, it contours to your nose to absorb all the gunk, even from the creases. Sounds good, right?
Suitable for even the most sensitive of skin and made of medical-grade hydrocolloid, we think all our pimple patches are pretty marvellous.
But don’t just take our word for it—they’re the bestselling acne patch in the USA (and have tackled a lot of pimples in their time)—so however stressful the rest of your life feels, breakouts definitely don’t have to add to it.
Why not run a nice relaxing bath now, pamper yourself, and round it all off with a Hero Pimple Patch—go on, treat yourself!