Acne, Anxiety, and Depression: What’s the Relationship?
Have you ever noticed your skin seems to look and feel worse whenever you’re stressed? That’s because when you’re under stress your whole body is affected, including your skin.
Acne Causes
Also known as spots or pimples, acne is caused by the pores of the skin becoming clogged with dead skin cells, bacteria, or excess oil. Excess oil production in the skin is a common culprit for acne and is often caused by hormonal changes in the body, like during puberty or pregnancy.
Acne usually doesn’t cause painful symptoms, instead impacting a person’s self-esteem or self-image.
The Mind-Skin Connection
The skin and central nervous system are interconnected so if your nervous system is being affected by stress, depression, and anxiety, your skin will feel it, too. Stress hormones that are released into your body can increase oil production in your skin glands, causing more breakouts and clogged pores. The longer and more stressed you are, the longer your skin will be impacted.
Stress hormones also produce an inflammatory response in the body too. That means people with chronic inflammatory skin conditions like rosacea and eczema notice increased flare-ups whenever they’re stressed out.
Acne Can Affect Mental Health
The mind-skin connection can be a vicious cycle. If you experience stress or depression and anxiety, your skin is more likely to break out. Having breakouts, especially on the face, can then have a negative impact on your self-esteem and mental health. This in turn might cause more stress and result in more breakouts.
Acne Treatment
Fortunately, you don’t have to stay stuck in this cycle. By implementing some lifestyle changes, you can reduce stress and make your skin look and feel better. Activities like taking a walk or soaking in a warm bath can help reduce your stress as can carving out a bit of “me time.”
When wearing makeup or moisturisers, use non-comedogenic products to avoid clogging up your pores and be sure to wash them off before you go to bed.
You can also try topical or oral acne treatment to reduce the appearance of spots and unclog your pores.
Acne treatments like Lymecycline, Skinoren, and Rozex Gel and Cream can be bought online in the UK from Pharmacy Planet.
Authored By
HARMINDER ‘HARMY’ KAUR
BSc(hons) Pharmacy
GPhC Number: 2061107
Reviewed By
GURDEV SEHMI
BSc Pharm, MRPharmS, Independent Prescriber, Superintendent Pharmacist, Clinical Lead
GPhC Number: 2050925