Everyone has stress—there’s no way around it. From traffic jams to tight deadlines to world events, we all experience it every day. The Cleveland Clinic defines stress as “the body's reaction to any change that requires an adjustment or response.” And while stress can show up emotionally—mood swings, exhaustion, disrupted sleep—it also leaves visible marks on your skin. Stress can trigger perioral dermatitis, acne, and even dry, flaky skin. Let’s take a closer look at how the stress response plays out on your face.
What Happens to Your Skin When You’re Stressed?
When the body is under stress, neurons in the hypothalamus produce corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH). From the hypothalamus, the fight-or-flight headquarters of the brain, CRH travels through the bloodstream to the pituitary gland, stimulating the production of cortisol. Neuropsychologist Sanam Hafeez explains that “cortisol is a stress hormone with many functions. It is critical for the regulation of our metabolism, and the body's use of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats, as well as regulation of blood pressure and cardiovascular function." So, cortisol isn’t all bad. We need it for lots of normal bodily processes. Following a stressful event, however, cortisol can spike and linger longer than we would like. Hafeez explains that cortisol reacts “different(ly) from adrenaline in that it remains elevated over a longer period of time after said event, while adrenaline, which you can feel, returns to normal levels.” This lingering cortisol triggers the immune system to prepare for the worst, releasing chemicals that initiate a fight-or-flight status in our protective barrier—our skin. This epic effort to protect your body from harm can produce an array of inflammatory skin symptoms, and with an average 22 square feet of skin per person, that can mean big trouble.
Can Stress Cause Acne?
Yes. That lovely surprise zit right before a big event? You can thank cortisol for that. Dermatologist Patricia Wexler, MD, notes that the increased production of cortisol can lead “to an increase of oil production in the hair follicles, which are attached to sebaceous glands where oil is produced - this is what causes acne.” Stress and cortisol are also known to unsettle the body’s microbiome, the vast ecosystem of bacteria in our gastrointestinal tract. New York City dermatologist Sumayah Jamal, MD, suggests that this disturbed microbiome “can have far-ranging effects [and when the] internal system is thrown off, acne-related bacteria may be more likely to flourish and worsen the effects you see in the mirror.”
Does Stress Make Acne Scarring Worse?
Absolutely. We’ve all been there: you get a pimple, pick at it, and wind up with an angry red spot that lingers for days—or even weeks. Why? Because stress slows your skin’s ability to heal. Psychiatrist Josie Howard, MD, who specializes in the mind-skin connection, explains that stress “impairs the barrier function, or protective outer layer,” of your skin.
A 2001 study on medical students backed this up. During exam season (a high-stress time), students’ skin took longer to heal from cellophane tape stripping that it did during low-stress periods like winter break. When your stress is high, your skin’s resilience is low—so those breakouts hang around longer and leave a bigger mark.
Does Stress Trigger Skin Inflammation?
Richard Fried, M.D. Ph.D., a dermatologist and clinical psychologist, considers stress “a general trigger that can make the skin misbehave in whatever way it’s prone to misbehaving.” Think of your skin like a tired toddler on the brink of a tantrum: add stress to the situation and your skin will undoubtedly kick and scream all the way home. If you’re inclined to break out in rough, scaly eczema patches or irritating perioral dermatitis around the nose and mouth, stress may be what triggers your symptoms, even if they’re under control most of the time. So, if you're wondering if stress can cause perioral dermatitis, eczema, and acne, the answer is absolutely yes.
As irritating as these outbreaks can be, Osmia can help you find some relief. Read more about what we recommend for eczema and perioral dermatitis.
Can Stress Cause Dry Skin?
Yes—and it happens on a cellular level. Cortisol decreases your body’s production of hyaluronic acid, a key ingredient for maintaining hydration. As a result, your skin can become dry, dull, and dehydrated. Hafeez explains that constant stress also limits your ability to retain water in the skin, which compounds the problem.
Over time, chronic stress may even accelerate signs of aging. It contributes to the breakdown of collagen and elastin, two structural proteins that keep skin firm and supple.
How to Support Your Skin When You're Stressed
We can’t stop you from stressing, but we have some suggestions about how to reduce your stress load, and how to support your body when stress is unavoidable.
Preventative Stress Support
- Meditate or breathe deeply. Your nervous system listens to everything your mind says.
- Nourish yourself. A clean, plant-rich diet reduces inflammation across the board. Need ideas? We have a few.
- Cut back on caffeine. Switch to herbal tea or go half-caff if coffee amps up your anxiety.
- Soak it out. A bath isn’t just luxurious—it’s nervous-system supportive. Add some salts and aromatherapy to make it even more therapeutic.
- Use calming scents. Try Night Body Oil or Lavender Body Mousse to help settle your system from the outside in—aromatherapy has real, physical effects.
Supportive Rituals for Skin + Mood
- Try a golden latte. Instead of a nightly glass of wine, sip this warming turmeric drink as a form of genuine self-care.
- Step away from the mirror. Constantly checking your breakouts increases stress and rarely helps. Your skin needs your patience, not your scrutiny.
- Use a gentle treatment. If your skin needs support, try our Detox Exfoliating Mask—just be gentle with your skin and yourself.
- Connect with others. Time with friends, pets, or nature is good medicine. (Another reason we love planting a tree with every order!)
- Inhale something uplifting. Try essential oils like orange or grapefruit in your shower.
- Keep Spotless on hand. Our Spotless Blemish Oil is a little miracle in a bottle—keep it nearby when stress throws your skin off course.
Take care out there, folks. Stress is all around us, but with some simple steps and self-care, you can keep your cortisol steady and your skin happy!
With love and lots less stress from us to you,
The information contained in this post is for educational interest only. This information is not intended to be used for diagnosis or treatment of any physical or mental illness, disease, or skin conditions.
Resources:
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/11874-stress
- https://www.self.com/story/how-stress-impacts-skin
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071109194053.htm
- http://www.oprah.com/health_wellness/how-stress-affects-skin/all
- https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/health-and-human-body/human-body/skin/
- https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/how-stress-affects-your-skin
- https://www.headspace.com/blog/2015/04/08/the-mind-skin-connection/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4082169/
- https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2018/10/generation-z-stressed.aspx
- https://www.allure.com/story/how-stress-affects-your-skin
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11176661
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25298045
- https://www.businessinsider.com/skin-conditions-that-get-worse-with-stress-2018-1
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/11/151123202212.htm
- https://www.womenshealthmag.com/beauty/a19941638/beauty-benefits-of-meditation/
- http://mentalfloss.com/article/533889/facts-about-skin
- https://www.wellandgood.com/good-looks/stress-skin-problems/
