Stress and Acne: The Cortisol-Pimple Connection

The most important glucocorticoid is cortisol and it is the hormone that you would generally see released from your adrenal glands at extremely rapid rates when you are under stress. While giving your body a quick hit of cortisol might improve blood pressure, moderate insulin levels and push back non-essential bodily functions to a much lower-priority action.

However when your emotional pressure becomes a continuous feature over long periods the result is prolonged high cortisol levels for several days or weeks and can have detrimental effects on your metabolic health and also your immune system. Prolonged high cortisol levels would continue to fuel inflammation throughout your whole body and suppress the natural defences that your skin has to offer generally.

What Is the Major Cause Behind Your Stress Acne?

It is your brain's master, complex feedback loop: hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Basically it is your body's "alarm signal" when it perceives pretty much any form of stress. 

At the first sign of danger the brain hypothalamus, using a chain of chemical signals, sounds the warning. Alarm signal goes from hypothalamus to pituitary; then from the pituitary to the adrenal glands situated right over the top of the kidneys; and the adrenals launch the blast of fight or flight hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. It is designed to enable us to stay mentally sharp during acute crises and the reason for it - to get you through any short term crisis. It was the way you were equipped to cope with physical stress, any anxiety or excitement. 

Today, modern sedentary lifestyles are activating this system frequently. 

The basic issue is the hyper activation of the HPA axis due to a 'fight or flight mode' being turned on constantly. This constant flow of stress into the body means your skin's internal HPA axis will react just as chaotically internally such that your skin may appear red or inflamed. The HPA axis then is the major link. 

The Cortisol Stimulator 

This is the very first chemical messenger in the entire pathway when activation occurs through the body’s activation on the HPA Axis. This is the primary chemical messenger of stress. If you endure a potent mental crisis in your body, skin cells can locally generate and secrete CRH. This CRH then latches onto sensitive oil glands and sends signals to the sebum-generating cells to overproduce the oils on the skin. While making the skin’s natural lubricants sticky and difficult to drain as well. CRH signals skin inflammation via locally-secreted pro-inflammatory cytokines (inflammatory agents) within the dermis layer of skin.

The Link Between Stress & Pimples

1. The Cortisol Binds To The Receptors At Sebaceous Glands

As the body undergoes stressful scenarios, the stress hormone is released. The cortisol (stress hormone) directs towards the sebaceous glands as the main chemical trigger to signal the excess production of oil on the skin. 

2. The Change In The Composition Of Sebum

The hormones released by the adrenal glands turns on a biochemical cascade that alters the composition of the sebum produced. The sebum becomes thicker as well as stickier in consistency, consequently getting entrapped in the pores of the skin. This disrupts the optimal drainage and regulation of oils on the skin, making it feel congested, tacky and greasy.

3. The Stress Causes Imbalance In The Desquamation

Desquamation is basically a process where mature, old, pigmented and dead skin cells normally shed away from the skin. The stress causing the surge of stress hormones inhibits this process due to hyperkeratinization that involves accumulation of the abnormally sticky dead skin cells within the pores with excess sebum ending up clogging the pores with other impurities such as dust, dirt, grime, makeup, pollutants, etc. 

4. The Formation Of An Anoxic Environment Inside The Pores

The clogged pores subsequently form an anoxic zone that basically means the absence of oxygen inside the pores. The acne causing anaerobic bacteria such as Cutibacterium acnes naturally thrive at a faster pace in such zones. The C.acnes overgrowth metabolizes on the excess sebum converting them to skin-irritants (free fatty acids). This leads to the stimulation of the immune response towards the irritation on the skin resulting in activation of inflammatory mediators which causes pimples formation along with redness, pain and swelling around them.

Top Skincare Ingredients to Fight the Cortisol Pimples

1. Salicylic Acid
   It is basically a 𝛽-hydroxy acid that goes deep inside the pores and clears away the trapped sebum. It is a mild exfoliator and keratolytic that helps remove the debris of dead skin cells in a very gentle manner from the skin, subsequently giving you a clear skin feel and reducing the congested pores. You can use this skincare ingredient within any gentle daily cleanser such as 

1. Alite Anti-Acne Foaming Face Wash

2. Alite Oil-Control Face Wash

3. Alite Anti-Acne Soap

2. Glycolic Acid
   It is an 𝛼-hydroxy acid that helps remove the trapped debris of dirt and dead skin from the barrier, helping improve the skin cell turnover in a very gentle way. You can definitely use this skincare ingredient in a non-comedogenic as well as mild exfoliating cleanser such as Alite Anti-Acne Foaming Face Wash for use on a day to day basis.

3. Silanediol Salicylate
   It is basically an advanced form of salicylic acid with a silanol moiety present in the acne-fighting gel such as Alite Anti-Acne Gel. You can use this gel after regular cleansing of the skin with utmost comfort and ease as it offers the combined features such as: 

1. Decongestion of pores

2. Removal of debris from skin

3. Boosting collagen production

4. Strengthening structural integrity of the skin

4. Niacinamide PC
   The damaged skin barrier needs an ultimate barrier supportive agent like Niacinamide PC. It calms the inflamed pimples with its seboregulating soothing action on the skin. It helps to maintain the layer of defense on the skin. You can use it in formulas like 

1. Alite Anti-Acne Gel 

2. Alite Neem & Aloevera Face Wash

5. Sebum Control Enzyme

They directly target the oil glands minimizing the production of excess sebum due to stress. This can be found in the science-backed formula by Alite Skincare in Alite Anti-Acne Charcoal & Ceramides Face Wash.

6. Neem
   The Alite Neem Face Wash, Alite Neem Face Scrub, Alite Neem & Turmeric Anti-Bacterial Soap as well as Neem Aloe Vera Anti Bacterial Soap have very powerful phytoconstituents derived from the extracts of neem with 

1. Powerful anti-microbial effect

2. Soothing anti-inflammatory action

The neem extract helps in reducing the acne microbes, inflammation of the skin and control the excessive oiliness on the skin.

7. Tea Tree Oil

It is an effective anti-microbial against acne causing bacteria that work with utmost gentle care on the skin barrier. It can be used daily for body cleansing to prevent body acne in formulations such as Alite Anti-Acne Soap.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Consuming Foods With High Glycemic Index
   The intake of meals with a high glycemic index during stress with binge-eating stimulates the release of insulin inside the body triggering a sudden rise in the IGF-1 levels in the body that may result in making the skin susceptible to inflammation and acne.

2. Skipping Skincare
   Mental and physical exhaustion during stress may let you skip the skincare routine that is essential for maintaining optimal barrier health so as to reduce the entrapment of oil, dirt and sweat on the skin. Skipping skincare may result in increased congestion of the pores of the skin with makeup residues, pollution, dead skin cells and day’s worth of accumulated sweat and grime.

3. Improper Sleep Schedule
   This may excessively trigger the cortisol release adversely affecting the insulin sensitivity, promoting the action of IGF-1 literally worsening the acne.

4. Stress Picking & Dermatillomania
   Anxiety and nervousness may induce the behavior of picking the skin scientifically termed as dermatillomania. This damages the skin barrier and pushes the acne germs deeper in the skin layers, resulting in a loop of added stress due to more pimples.

Step by Step Guide to Fight the Stress Acne with Alite Skincare

1. Skin Cleansing
2. Acne Fighting Gel
3. Moisturizing

Skin Cleansing 

It is the very first step in the dedicated acne care routine. It is a simple, easy and quick 3-step action that deeply cleanses the skin. It involves

• Wash your skin and take a small amount of face cleanser in your palms.
• Rub well to make a lather and massage it on your face in a gentle manner.
• Rinse thoroughly with water and pat dry with a soft face towel.

You can simply choose any of the below mentioned pocket-friendly Alite Anti-Acne Face Wash such as 

• Alite Anti-Acne Foaming Face Wash
• Alite Neem Face Wash
• Alite Charcoal Face Wash
• Alite Oil Control Face Wash

You can also opt for a daily bathing soap with targeted acne care ingredients such as 

• Alite Anti-Acne Salicylic Acid & Tea Tree Oil Soap
• Alite Neem & Turmeric Soap
• Alite Neem & Aloevera Soap

In order to use them in a very effective and gentle manner, follow these steps:

• Wash the skin with clean water.
• Take the soap in the palms and rub well to make rich lather.
• Massage the lather gently onto your body parts.
• Rinse thoroughly.
• Pat dry with a clean body towel.

Acne Fighting Gel

You need to use the Alite Anti-Acne Gel with the powerful dermopurifying Contacticel, barrier supporting Niacinamide PC and acne-fighting Silanediol salicylate. Apply this high-performing gel onto the affected area in small amounts and rub gently.

Moisturizing 

This step gives added protection and support to the damaged skin barrier with stress induced pimples. You can apply Alite Spots Reduction Cream that’ll deeply hydrate your skin and calm the inflammation. Add it to your evening routine for best results. You can also layer the skin with the broad spectrum sunscreen to protect the skin from harmful sun rays and UV exposure in the day time.

Conclusion

The stress-acne link can be explained by how the brain, hormonal systems, immune responses and the skin interface interact to trigger each other. Though it might not be solely due to stress, excessive mental and physical exhaustion may present ideal conditions to aggravate existing breakouts or cause frequent, persistent acne flare-ups. An interaction with the HPA axis of the body is the critical step which affects the functioning of the sebaceous glands to produce sebum and causes inflammation in the skin, alterations in the proliferation of the skin cells and hence leads to a dysfunctional skin barrier.

When your body keeps being pumped with stressful signals, substances like cortisol and CRH will induce sebum production and alterations in its qualities while impaired desquamation mechanism will make a pore filled with oil and dead skin cells. This blockage could pave way for acne-causing bacteria, triggering inflammation which results in redness, irritation and development of blackheads, whiteheads and inflammatory acne. All this happens while your stress-fighting behavior like missing sleep, neglecting the skincare routine, eating plenty of high-glycemic stress-busting comfort foods or habitually touching/scratching your face could make acne considerably worse.

That breakouts flare up during a stressful period doesn't mean you are irresponsible with your skincare at that moment. Many factors in life contribute to the formation of acne and they can either be genetics, hormonal functions, excessive sebum production, disturbed microbiome in the skin, stress and other environmental factors as well. 

Build consistent & mindful habits to cope with stress so as to improve your skin barrier functions. A gentle, everyday skincare routine can be quite helpful: cleanse your skin to eliminate the excess sweat, pollution and dirt, use salicylic acid treatments and niacinamide on areas affected by acne breakouts, moisturize well after all to restore and nurture the skin barrier and apply a sunscreen during the day to defend from damaging rays of the sun, just make sure all these products are used consistently and thoughtfully. A healthy diet, quality sleep and some light exercise would be good to curb stress. Avoid fiddling with those acne and pustules as it may definitely cause immense trouble. 

The goal should be to minimize factors causing stress and relieve from its symptoms. Persistent or inflammatory, pain-inflicting and scar-forming acne needs to be treated under the guidance of a dermatologist. Keep your skin clean and barrier healthy always with the right habits and products that benefit your body and skin with Alite Skincare.