Is Acne Outbreak a Symptom of Stress?

The connection between stress and acne has long been a topic of discussion with no conclusive results. However, a study carried out on students suffering from acne, did reveal that acne does have a tendency to worsen in situations that bring about extreme stress. It is strongly believed that acne appearances do increase during stressful situations. This however is not a surprising revelation to the millions of people who suffer from it even if the correlation between stress and acne had not been proven earlier.

Stress hormones lead to acne

It is understood that stress can cause your adrenal glands to produce male hormones, both testosterone and androgens. These male hormones then cause the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum, an oily substance. Increased production of this oily substance, when combined with dead skin cells, clogs the pores; this triggers a serious acne outbreak. Acne has no gender bias; it affects both the males and females alike.

Acne leads to stress and several other problems

Although acne is believed to be a symptom of stress, acne itself can also cause a lot of stress; they simply ‘pop up’ overnight, causing blemishes on your face. To prevent a further onslaught of acne, many people opt for acne treatment. Acne as a condition is most hated because it impacts your life negatively. People with acne often suffer from embarrassment and low self-esteem because they believe in the myth that poor hygiene causes acne. But, rest assured, there is absolutely no grain of truth in this misguided notion.

Acne treatment and stress management – Effective solution

When living in a world where enormous value is placed on beauty, acne can lead to a lot of stress in people having it. However with the timely use of acne remedies, people can get back their self-confidence and reclaim their social life. Since a relationship between acne and stress does exist, stress management may be an effective method to control future acne outbreaks.

Mild acne can effectively be treated with home and over-the-counter treatment - II

OTC or over-the-counter acne treatments can be bought from your pharmacist without a prescription. Some of the most popular OTC treatments for milder cases of acne include:

Zit Zapper – This OTC acne treatment exfoliates and unblocks the pores of skin in less than 8 hours. It can dry out spots and clean ugly red inflammation, revealing a healthy, radiant skin. It contains potent ingredients such as salicylic acid, witch hazel, glycolic acid, camphor and menthol.

Acne gels – A large number of acne gels are available over-the-counter. For instance, Trioxil is a popular acne gel that makes use of bisazulene - an antibacterial, antimicrobial, fungicidal and an anti-inflammatory compound found in chamomile flowers. Trioxil helps to treat acne effectively, without causing itching, redness or swelling.

Mild acne can effectively be treated with home and over-the-counter treatment - I

Acne is a frustrating skin problem that affects a large number of teenagers; however, the condition may persist until the age of 40. Worst part about acne is that they mostly appear on the face and upper neck, where they can be most noticeable. In some people, acne may spread over the chest, shoulders and back. Acne can appear anytime and they often appear when you least expect, for instance you may suddenly notice an acne when you are scheduled to attend a party or go on a date. Another major drawback of acne is that they may leave scars on your skin even after they have long gone away.

Acne home remedies

Several home remedies are used by people to get relief from acne. Being used for ages, these home acne remedies are time-tested and effective in many people. Some of the most popular acne remedies include:

• Keep the skin clean – It is important to keep your acne prone skin clean but you should avoid aggressive cleansing with strong soaps. Use of mild cleansers is advised
• Lemon juice – When applied frequently, lemon juice has proved to be valuable in reducing acne
• Use garlic – Massaging with raw garlic several times a day is proven to be an effective acne remedy. You can also consume 3 seeds of raw garlic in the morning, this purifies your blood and keeps acne away
• Coriander and mint juice – You can mix a teaspoon of coriander or mint juice with a pinch of turmeric powder and apply the mix on the affected skin at night
• Use cucumber – Apply grated cucumber over your acne prone skin for 15-20 minutes. This is one of the most effective acne remedies. It prevents pimples and blackheads.