She’s arrived…you wake up one morning and notice a big spot right on your forehead…But wait, where has it popped up from? Have you been feeling stressed, anxious or down?
These emotions, anxiety, in particular, can increase your symptoms and acne flare-ups as well as other skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema. So, how does it work? Well, in response to stress, our bodies produce more androgens, a type of hormone. These hormones stimulate the skin’s oil glands and hair follicles, which can lead to breakouts of acne. That’s why if we’re under constant stress, acne can be an ongoing issue.
What Can Bring on a Breakout?
When we’re feeling stressed, we don’t tend to take care of ourselves properly. We often sleep poorly, eat less healthfully and don’t maintain a good skin routine. All of these aspects can promote acne breakouts. And when we’re chronically stressed, some studies have found that our immune system heals slower. So, if we’re continuously stressed, our acne breakouts may last longer and can lead to scarring.
How to Manage Your Anxiety
First and foremost, if anxiety is having a huge impact on your day-to-day life and mental health, it may be appropriate to seek medical help. For the time being, there are some more herbal approaches.
- Talk therapy
- Meditation
- Tai chi
- Yoga
- Walking
- Sleeping
- Keeping hydrated
- A healthy diet
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How to Treat Acne with SkinBase IPL
SkinBase intense pulsed light (IPL) treatments are proven to be effective in treating acne. Not a lot of people are aware that IPL is so successful as an acne treatment and many people just associate IPL with hair removal. But how does it work?
The IPL system releases yellow, green, and red light which is emitted in a series of short pulses. This destroys the bacteria that live in the skin and cause inflammation. The red light directly targets the overactive sebaceous glands that block pores and cause outbreaks of pustules. The light also stimulates collagen production in the area, helping to improve the appearance of acne scarring.
