Stress is stressful, especially when acne is involved.
There is no surprise how closely the two are linked, but it’s complicated.
The easiest way to understand stress induced acne is by first recognizing the cascade of fuckery taking place in the body.
What we describe as “stress” is actually the result of our body trying to get back to a state called homeostasis. Homeostasis: a word rooted in Latin (homeo) and Greek (stasis) means simply “standing still”. Homeostasis is all about balance, which the body must constantly work on maintaining for survival.
The human body is really intelligent, so in an effort to understand acne, we must understand homeostasis. When we are stressed our body’s equilibrium is off, and we know this because we begin to see symptoms of the imbalance (acne, hair loss, body odor). Unfortunately, the system that is responsible for maintaining homeostasis is also responsible for our feelings and symptoms of stress. The endocrine system is responsible for our hormones, which regulate the activity of our cells.
So when we think of acne we need to first look at the hormones involved:
Insulin- maintains blood sugar (that is why low glycemic [sugar]diets are said to help regulate acne)
Androgen (male hormone)- Testosterone (high levels are linked to jawline acne in*AFAB women )
Cortisol- steroid hormone produced by adrenal glands, regulates blood sugar, metabolism & reduces inflammation
Epinephrine- (AKA Adrenaline) [stress hormone] responsible for blood sugar levels & response to stress
Aldosterone-manages water and sodium (influenced by Spironolactone [drug prescribed for hormonal acne])
Stress is said to exacerbate acne, not directly cause it. Aforementioned, the endocrine system’s release of hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline are protective measures taken to return the body back to homeostasis. These same hormones however, cause inflammation in the body, triggering the sebaceous (oil) glands to produce thicker oil and more of it!
Our physical response to stress is very much linked to our internal response to stress. Often stress encourages overeating, or eating poorly, the reason is when our body is experiencing fatigue an easy remedy is carbohydrates: the quickest way to spike blood sugar (instant energy). However, high blood sugar can become dangerous, and so in an effort to bring sugar levels down, androgens are created, aggravating acne further.
Androgens in the female body are produced by the ovaries, adrenal glands and fat cell and are necessary for sexual maturation, menstrual cycle regulation and bone density health. Estrogen synthesis (conversion of androgen to estrogen) is the process which makes these functions possible.
The role androgens play in the development and worsening of acne is continuing to be researched. Exactly how androgens influence the activity of sebaceous glands in *AFAB women is still unknown, but by understanding the link androgens have to other endocrine hormones as well as identifying the cause of the androgen overproduction, we may target our individual triggers.
Tips to manage your stress to positively influence our skin
Feed your gut with healthy bacteria (probiotics)
Reducing caffeine intake (specifically coffee) which spikes cortisol
Consume anti-inflammatory foods and teas
Start a gratitude jar (start your day with positive affirmations)
Learn more here about hormones and the endocrine system
Learn more about PCOS (PCOS nutrition) and Hirsutism
Learn more about Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia
*AFAB- Assigned Female at Birth