Does stress cause pimple by Claudia Aguirre
1. Understanding Stress and the "Fight or Flight" Response
Stress is defined as the general biological response to potential danger.
- Primitive Function: In a dangerous situation (e.g., facing a saber-toothed-tiger), special chemicals called stress hormones rush through the body, providing more oxygen and power to either run away (flight) or face the danger (fight).
- Modern Plight: When the body experiences stress without the need to physically "fight or take flight" (such as during final exams or sitting in traffic), we internalise the stress, allowing these hormones to collect in the body and affect overall health.
2. The Stress Hormone Cascade
The process of internalising stress begins in the brain, triggering a chain of hormone releases
- Hypothalamus: Releases corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)
- Pituitary Gland: Triggered by CRH, it releases adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
- Adrenal Glands (atop the kidneys): Stimulated by ACTH, they release cortisol, which is the major stress hormone
3. How Stress Creates the "Perfect Storm" for Pimples
The elevated levels of stress hormones, particularly cortisol, create an ideal environment for acne to form.
| Effect of Stress Hormones | Mechanism |
|---|---|
| Increased Inflammation | Stress hormones increase inflammation throughout the body |
| Weakened Immunity | They suppress the immune system, making the skin more susceptible to infection from acne-causing bacteria |
| Excess Oil Production | Cortisol is a major factor in making skin cells release oily lipids from the **sebaceous glands |
The combination of these factors leads to a pimple:
- Too much oily lipids, called sebum, plugs up the swollen, inflamed pores
- The acne-causing bacteria become trapped inside and begin to thrive.
- The nervous system also releases inflammatory neuropeptides when a person is nervous or angry, contributing further to the formation of zits.
4. Other Factors
- Testosterone: The video notes that people with higher levels of testosterone (like boys) already have higher oil production in the skin. When combined with the oil and inflammation boost from stress, it creates an even stronger environment for acne to develop.
5. Conclusion
While stressful situations are unavoidable, the key is to try and change our physical and mental responses to them to reduce the severity of the stress, which may in turn help prevent the associated acne.