Unlike blackheads or hormonal acne, stress acne is closely tied to our mental health, making it particularly tricky to treat.
As New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Michelle Henry, MD, describes it, stress acne is a type of acne that is worsened by, you guessed it, stress.
How to tell if your acne is caused by stressAccording to David Kim, MD, board-certified dermatologist at Idriss Dermatology, stress acne doesn’t necessarily look any different from other types of acne you might get.
Stress acne vs. hormonal acneStress acne and hormonal acne are often seen as interchangeable, but they are actually very different.
There are a few topical (and even oral) options for you to turn to when dealing with stress acne.
Stress can wreak havoc on many aspects of our lives, and our skin is no exception. One of the most common manifestations is stress acne. Unlike blackheads or hormonal acne, stress acne is closely tied to our mental health, making it particularly tricky to treat. To help you navigate this concern, we consulted three dermatologists to provide a comprehensive guide on tackling the concern. From identifying symptoms to exploring available treatments, here’s everything you need to know to manage stress-induced breakouts—straight from the experts.
What is stress acne?
As New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Michelle Henry, MD, describes it, stress acne is a type of acne that is worsened by, you guessed it, stress. Henry explains that chronic stress can trigger a hormone called Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH). CRH stimulates the production of sebum as a response to stress which can lead to breakouts. She explains that CRH also contains proteins that contribute to inflammation. Stress acne can occur anywhere on the body and face, but she says they are more commonly found on the forehead, nose, chin, and larger areas of the body with a higher concentration of oil glands such as the chest, back, and upper arms. And while anyone, regardless of age, can get stress acne, she says it is most common in those who are already prone to breakouts.
How to tell if your acne is caused by stress
According to David Kim, MD, board-certified dermatologist at Idriss Dermatology, stress acne doesn’t necessarily look any different from other types of acne you might get. What differentiates it from the others is the amount of acne you get at once. “It will happen more acutely and rapidly than regular pimples,” Kim says. “You’ll get a great number of pimples at once, and they can be painful, red, and inflamed.”
Though times of stress can trigger these clusters of breakouts to form, it’s important to note that stress itself does not directly cause acne. As mentioned previously, stress levels release CRH, which stimulates sebum production and contains certain proteins that can cause inflammation. Kim adds that our cortisol levels also increase when we’re stressed, which can also contribute to excess oil production and clogged pores.
Stress acne vs. hormonal acne
Stress acne and hormonal acne are often seen as interchangeable, but they are actually very different. Henry says that hormonal acne is often linked with one’s menstrual cycle and will generally appear around your jawline and chin. Stress acne, by contrast, can manifest as a combination of whiteheads, blackheads, and inflamed pimples.
There are a few topical (and even oral) options for you to turn to when dealing with stress acne. Nkem Ugonabo, MD, MPH, board-certified dermatologist at UnionDerm and assistant professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, says to look for known acne-fighting ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, sulfur, and retinol or retinoids that are known to kill bacteria, clear pores, and reduce inflammation. Products like CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser or the La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Treatment are Ugonabo’s recommendations for products to try.
