Acne and Stress

Can stress actually cause acne?
There is ample evidence available
to suggest that stress can most
assuredly cause an acne breakout.

Our bodies are highly developed
chemical laboratories that produce
all sorts of stuff.

At puberty the body begins to
produce an abundance of male
hormones...and this happens in
both boys and girls.

This overproduction of male
hormones can happen at other times
in life besides at puberty; for
example when starting or stopping
birth control pills.

These male hormones cause the
bodys sebaceous glands to shift
into overdrive and begin producing
sebum. The sebum then travels up
hair follicles, clogs the pores
and acne develops.

However, male hormones are not the
only cause for the sebaceous
glands to begin producing an
overabundance of sebum.

When we become extremely stressed
our overly emotional, our bodies
will react by causing the adrenal
glands to produce a substance
known as cortisol. Cortisol is
released into the bloodstream.

Then the chemical chain reaction
continues as the sebaceous glands
release sebum, the sebum travels
up the same hair follicles, clogs
the pores and acne develops.

The physical changes in the body
can cause exactly the same
chemical chain reaction as the
emotional changes in the mind. The
mind/body connection is real.

Maybe some of it really IS in your
head. If thats the case, there is
help available to help people deal
with the acne that is caused by
stress.

Reducing stress will just
naturally reduce sebum production
by the sebaceous glands and
reducing sebum production will
help to alleviate an acne breakout.

It really isnt any different that
restoring hormonal balance to the
body to reduce sebum production.

Both factors that cause excessive
sebum production should be
addressed. Solving one problem
might help. Solving both problems
could eliminate acne altogether.