Do stress pimples really exist? This is one of the most controversial and challenging questions that has been a hot topic of conversation for many people.
For ages scientists strongly disputed any link between stress and pimples. Acne and stress seem to be two separate and distinct things. While the former is a physiological phenomenon the later is a psychological condition.
However, new research has revealed a definite link between psychological and emotional stress and outbreaks of pimples and acne.
As a matter of fact it has been discovered that being stressed can lead to a number of physiological disorders including hair loss, elevated hormone levels, insomnia, appetite changes, weight loss, high blood pressure and elevated heart rate.
So how does stress cause acne breakouts?
Increased amount of stress causes major changes within the body. One of these changes is hormone production is stimulated, two hormones in particular, adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones trigger increased sebum and oil production. Excess sebum and oil on the skin can clog pores, resulting to pimple and/or acne outbreaks among other skin related conditions.
Appetite Changes
Being stressed also reduces the appetite and this may lower intake of healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables leading to vitamin deficiency, which prevents proper skin detoxification. The dead skin cells may clog the pores, causing acne, pimples and other skin conditions.
Insomnia
Insomnia may impair various regulatory systems in the body, including its internal clock. Melatonin is responsible for regulating not only the sleep cycle but also the body’s internal clock, where synchronization of vital hormones as well as regulatory systems as one sleep, including growth and repair. Owing to the fact that stress may cause insomnia that leads to reduced production of melatonin, skin conditions such as pimples and acne are bound to occur.
According to a study done by the Department of Cellular and Structural Biology at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, (actions of melatonin in the reduction of oxidative stress), melatonin is particularly effective in protecting the body against free radical damage emanating from various sources. In addition lack of melatonin triggers a number of chain reactions that may to lead massive lipid destruction in the cell membrane. This will all have a negative impact on the skin which is the largest organ of the body and lead to pimples or dry, flaking skin and other skin troubles.
Lowered Immunity
Repetitive tension resulting from being stressed compromises the bodies immune system. A compromised immune system is incapable of attacking and fighting bacteria and other pathogens that may invade the skin general and the skin pores in particular. In addition the immune system is unable to recognise the type of the attack and as such releases increased amount of antibodies in defence. These antibodies cause the sebaceous gland to secret high amounts of sebum that are known to clog the pores and lead to stress related pimples and acne.
