A big study conducted by researchers from Wake Forest University School of Medicine has revealed that teenagers who were under high levels of stress were 23 percent more likely to have increased acne severity. "Our study suggests a significant association between stress and severity of acne," said study author Gil Yosipovitch. Although psychological stress had previously been identified as a factor influencing acne, researchers haven't understood the mechanisms behind the relationship. The new study looked at whether sebum, the oily substance that coats the skin, increases in times of stress. The researchers suspected that stress increases the quantity of sebum, which leads to increased acne severity.
The subjects - secondary school students with an average age of 15 - had their stress levels and acne severity measured at two different times - just before mid-year exams (high stress) and during summer break (low stress).
The researchers found that sebum production didn't differ significantly between the high-stress and low-stress conditions. But they did find that students reporting high stress were 23 percent more likely to have increased severity of acne papulopustulosa. "Our research suggests that acne severity associated with stress may result from factors others than sebum quantity," said Yosipovitch. "It's possible that inflammation may be involved."
Source: Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center
