Stress Acne - Can Stress Cause Breakouts?

Is there such a thing called "stress acne"? Can stress cause acne breakouts?

If so, how can you keep breakouts from occurring without resorting to expensive products and harsh chemicals?

How stress triggers acne breakouts

Indeed, stress can lead to acne breakouts. While stress is usually not the primary cause of acne (poor diet is), it can act as a trigger and, in some cases, make acne worse, especially in people who are prone to breakouts. So how does this happen?

Stress affects the health of your skin and contribute to acne outbreaks, by disrupting hormonal balances, interfering with digestion and detoxification.

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A note about Stress Acne - Can Stress Cause Breakouts?

In natural health and healing, we believe in holistic health and healing, as we realize that different parts of the human body are highly interlinked, often beyond Man's understanding. We also believe that the body has the ability to heal itself of any disease, even supposedly incurable diseases.

In order to do so, the body needs the support of some basic dietary and lifestyle good health habits, such as a full body detox and a proper understanding and application of nutrition. No matter how remote or unrelated a health condition may seem, these fundamental health steps will greatly magnify the effects and benefits of any of our health-promoting efforts, including the use of specific natural health remedies.

Stress leads to the production of more hormones by stimulating the adrenal glands. In fact, hormonal problems are usually the culprit when it comes to people who have severe cystic acne. The adrenal glands produce cortisol, which can cause the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum. As a result, the skin can become too oily. The oil then mixes with your dead skin cells and the bad bacteria trapped in your pores. This, in turn, causes acne to develop.

What is worse is that stress actually reduces the natural healing process by nearly half its normal rate. That means that if you already have simple breakouts, then they might not clear up as quickly as they ordinarily would if you were not under any stress.

Your sebaceous glands are not just found on the face. Occasionally, people will notice cyst-like bumps on their head. These are called sebaceous cysts and are similar to the acne that can be found on the face. Stress can also cause flare-ups in this area, which result in very tender and sore bumps.

So what can you do to reduce stress acne without using medication?

To deal with stress acne, it is important to try to find ways to control the stress in your life. While you might not be able to quit your job or control the negative attitudes of the people around you, you can control the way that you react to these situations.

Try to incorporate exercise into your daily life. Exercise produces endorphins, which are nature's way of providing a pick-me-up. The exercise doesn't have to be strenuous, but you should try to do it on a regular basis. Go for a walk around your block, a jog in your local park, or even light housework for 20 to 30 minutes per day. However, remember to wash your face after exercising so that the sweat doesn't make the acne worse.

In overcoming stress acne, you should also focus on getting enough sleep. While eight hours is recommended, you should listen to your own body and its needs. You might require a bit more, or a bit less. A well rested body is able to handle stressful situations in a more relaxed fashion.

Finding an outlet for your stress is also important. Some people find that writing in a journal is a good outlet, while others prefer to read or meditate. Even a good long bubble bath can be a beneficial way of relaxing. What works for one person might not necessarily work for you, but be open to new ideas. The idea of journal-writing as a way to control stress acne might sound preposterous at first, but if it helps you relax, then it can be a great way to control your stress, which can in turn control your acne.

Read about other ways of dealing with your stress.

The positive thing about stress acne is that, in most cases, it can be controlled using a natural health approach. Viewing your skin problems in a holistic way and focusing on your overall health and needs is a great way to begin controlling your stress and your breakouts.

Find out what herbs you can use for topical application and oral consumption to relieve the symptoms of your acne problem.

Also find out what dietary changes (including what foods to avoid) and lifestyle tips for acne that you can adopt to reduce the occurences of acne breakouts.

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