THE CLAIM: Chronically bad skin or the occasional nasty breakout can
be a major source of stress. That much is known. But what about the
reverse? Although scientists have suspected for some time that
emotional stress can cause or worsen acne, the evidence for the
claim has mostly been weak, stemming largely from anecdotal reports
and a few small studies.
THE FACTS: But now the answer appears fairly clear. A new study, the
largest on the subject to date, was able not only to confirm the
relationship, but also to provide a possible
explanation.
The study, conducted by researchers at Wake Forest University,
followed 94 high school students with mild or moderate acne for
several months. Acne is generally associated with high levels of
sebum, the oily substance that coats the skin and protects the hair.
Because sebum levels are known to wax and wane with variations in
weather, the study was conducted where the temperature and humidity
rarely change, Singapore.
Using a standard measure of stress, the researchers showed that in
periods of high emotional strain, like before major exams, the
students were 23 percent more likely to experience breakouts. At the
same time, their sebum production did not vary much whether they
were experiencing high or low stress, indicating that levels of the
substance had little or no role. Instead, the results may have more
to do with inflammation. Other studies have shown that stress can
provoke inflammation, and acne is an inflammatory disease.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Research suggests that stress can in fact lead to
bad skin.
