Stress and Acne are real...learn how to minimize your stress and be in control of your acne

If you ask me..."does stress cause acne", there is no doubt in my mind that it does. Stress and acne exsist. For me, I just need to reflect on my daily stress level. Sure enough, I will notice super oily skin and then the presence of papules, this is all the proof I need.

Whether stress can actually cause acne, or contribute to acne, does it really matter? Not to me.

There has been much debate on this topic. Some doctors say "stress worsens acne", others say stress actually causes acne. All I am certain of is when I am faced with stress or anxiety...sure enough, with-in a couple of days I have an acne breakout. That goes for good stress and bad stress. Yes, if I am anxious about an upcoming event like a vacation or family trip, that counts too as stress. A person's body does not know the difference between good and bad stress and reacts the same.

Not sure if stress and acne go hand-in-hand in your life? It's easy to figure out. Simply make an acne journal or purchase an inexpensive journal and keep a log of your daily stresses and anxieties. If you notice a pattern, such as your acne worsens or flares up on a routine basis (during stress or anxiety), then you will know.

Believe me... treating acne, once you realize you have stress and acne in your life, becomes a little easier.

You may be asking, "why or how does stress cause acne":

It comes down to our hormones, sebum (oil), sebaceous glands, and our immune system.

Under stressful times, our adrenal glands go berserk, giving us an overload of the hormone called "cortisol". When this takes place, our good-ole sebaceous glands become stimulated, producing excess sebum (oil), which then mixes with make-up, dead skin cells, which clogs our pores, and finally trapping bacteria---"causing acne"!

Earlier, I did mention our immune system. This comes into play when our bodies are under stress, our immune system can sometimes take a beating. Stress weakens out immune system, this causes our body to weaken in the defense against acne. That's why it is so important to maintain a strong immune system.

• Keep you immune system strong with adequate rest

Lack of sleep in another example of stress on our bodies. Not only do our bodies require adequate sleep, but it requires "quality" sleep in order to restore and heal itself from all elements, this includes acne.

Keeping our immune system strong with adequate rest, gives our immune system an extra boost in fighting acne.

With family, work and life in general...stress is inevitable, but stress and acne are controllable. I won't begin to tell you to just eliminate the stress in your life...that's impossible. Stress is a normal part of our lives. But by reducing the amount of stress in your life, by finding avenues for relieving your stress---now that is more realistic.

• Acne may be a sign

Have you ever wondered that perhaps your body is trying to tell you something? Perhaps your body is trying to tell you to slow down, relax...make some ME time. Whether its time alone with a good book, working in your garden, exercising, meditation or massage therapy...try to find your stress reliever.

DO NOT ALLOW STRESS AND ACNE TO CONTROL YOUR LIFE

Tip: By minimizing your stress and getting adequate rest (8 hours or more) you give your body a better chance in fighting acne by restoring and healing your skin.

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