How stress can affect your skin
BLOG BY YOOMMY NAM
Why is this happening and what can we do?
Since we’ve been self-isolating, I began to notice my skin was breaking out consistently with little respite. I’d be remiss to say I hadn’t had my fair share of acne throughout my lifetime, but in the last couple of years, my skin was relatively cooperative to where I’d rarely have to ‘break out’ any spot creams or ointments.
So, to say this newfound breakout saga was puzzling would be an understatement, given that 1. I haven’t worn makeup in over a month, 2. I haven’t had the excuse of coming home late at night too exhausted to even entertain my skincare routine before bed; nor the excuse of being late for work or social events to skip it in the mornings, and 3. I seem to be drinking more herbal tea than what could be considered humanly possible (I love my teas on any given day but find I’m drinking it almost every hour of the day now!); meaning dehydration couldn’t possibly be an issue (I also drink an average of 2 litres of water per day).
Then came the conversations with a handful of peers who happened to be experiencing the same issue, which prompted me to find out if this was really a thing. Sure enough, it is.
What are skin specialists saying?
Californian dermatologist and adult acne expert, Robin Schaffran, M.D., says the deviation in our regular routines - including little-to-no exposure to antibacterial UV light, poor diet, and lack of sleep, could be likely contributing to our sudden breakouts.
“But stress is the biggest one,” she says. [1]
Many other experts have similarly highlighted the link between stress-induced breakouts due to the coronavirus lockdown; [2-5] which is no surprise given the increased amount of stress experienced by many during an equally unprecedented and uncertain time.
Bad news has never been scarce, but with the advent of the internet, access to it is by and large unavoidable; add to it the fact that we’re all dealing with a lack of job security and human connection, whilst being faced with the tragic loss of so many lives, it’s no wonder our skin’s reacting poorly.
When we’re stressed, our skin basically goes into “defence mode”. According to Michele Green, M.D., a dermatologist in New York City, hormones, including cortisol and adrenal androgens, plus neuropeptides, are released to protect you at the sign of stress. This, along with a stress-induced hormone called CRH – otherwise known as corticotrophin-releasing hormone, all trigger the skin’s sebaceous glands, driving up oil production and resulting in breakouts. [6-7]
So, how can we possibly combat this right now?
A 2014 study published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation found that cannabidiol (CBD), the non-psychoactive compound of cannabis, behaves as a highly effective therapeutic agent for the treatment of acne. [8] Not only did the researchers find that CBD prevented excess production of oily sebum, but the anti-inflammatory reaction in the cells also prevented the activation of inflammatory cytokines – which could help prevent future breakouts.
Comparably, there’s been many studies showing the antibacterial and antifungal effects of CBD, which could also help reduce cutaneous infections. [9] A study published in 2019 also suggests that CBD can help reduce the appearance of acne scars, not to mention the fatty acids in CBD oil can protect and strengthen your skin’s outer layer. [10-11]
It’s important to note, however, not all topical CBD products are made equal. Many of them are not transdermal, meaning they fail to seep beyond the top 3 layers of the skin. What’s most effective are transdermal products like Truth Naturals’ Night Shift Restorative Cream and Recovery Oil. Transdermal CBD penetrates through the skin and straight into your bloodstream, giving maximum effect with minimal amount.
As suggested by Truth Naturals’ Medical Director, Dr Harry, ingestible CBD can also help with sleep – something that suffers because of stress, which in turn increases that stress. Read more on his recommendations for better sleep, here.
A 2014 study published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation found that cannabidiol (CBD), the non-psychoactive compound of cannabis, behaves as a highly effective therapeutic agent for the treatment of acne. [8] Not only did the researchers find that CBD prevented excess production of oily sebum, but the anti-inflammatory reaction in the cells also prevented the activation of inflammatory cytokines – which could help prevent future breakouts.
Comparably, there’s been many studies showing the antibacterial and antifungal effects of CBD, which could also help reduce cutaneous infections. [9] A study published in 2019 also suggests that CBD can help reduce the appearance of acne scars, not to mention the fatty acids in CBD oil can protect and strengthen your skin’s outer layer. [10-11]
It’s important to note, however, not all topical CBD products are made equal. Many of them are not transdermal, meaning they fail to seep beyond the top 3 layers of the skin. What’s most effective are transdermal products like Truth Naturals’ Night Shift Restorative Cream and Recovery Oil. Transdermal CBD penetrates through the skin and straight into your bloodstream, giving maximum effect with minimal amount.
As suggested by Truth Naturals’ Medical Director, Dr Harry, ingestible CBD can also help with sleep – something that suffers because of stress, which in turn increases that stress. Read more on his recommendations for better sleep, here.
Yoommy Nam
Yoommy is a contributing writer for Truth Naturals. With a BA in Journalism, she has a penchant for research and an insatiable curiosity. Her twenty-year love for health and fitness also comes with five years of work experience in supplementation. She prides herself on her knowledge of both worldy topics and pop-culture references - look out unsuspecting Gen Z-ers! She enjoys MMA, dance, resistance training, soccer, and any story that informs on the human condition - be it through the written word, film, music, or just a killer chat.
References
[1] https://www.vogue.com/article/covid-19-coronavirus-skincare-adult-acne
[2] https://globalnews.ca/news/6815148/acne-coronavirus-breakouts/
[3] https://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/beauty/news-reviews/do-you-have-isoface-why-your-skin-is-reacting-to-staying-at-home/news-story/7c6a4724dc668c6b9de0ed7fdff56026
[4] https://metro.co.uk/2020/04/07/lockdown-skin-probably-causing-spots-breakouts-12520303/
[5] https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2020/04/9647863/skin-care-acne-during-quarantine
[6] https://time.com/5014072/stress-pimples-acne/
[7] https://greatist.com/live/why-am-i-breaking-out-stress-acne#1
[8] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4151231/
[9] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4740396/
[10] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4740396/
[11] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/exd.13042
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