Close Close

Congratulations
You're on the list.

Make sure to check your spam folder so that our emails are always delivered into your inbox.
xo, Kourt
Give your inbox
and your life

the Poosh it needs.
By clicking SIGN UP, you agree to receive emails from Poosh and agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.
FREE SHIPPING ON ALL ORDERS
  • HEALTH + WELLNESS
  • LIFE + STYLE
  • HOME + ENTERTAINING
  • KMK
Poosh
  • Poosh Your Wellness
  • Newsletter
  • Keep in touch
    instagram pinterest facebook twitter youtube
  • search
  • Shop
  • search
  • body
  • diy
  • fitness
  • Giving Back
  • health
  • mind
  • Relationships
  • soul
It’s OK to Not Feel OK
It’s OK to Not Feel OK
Kourt’s Tips for Muscle Recovery
Kourt’s Tips for Muscle Recovery
Old vs. Young Partner: What’s Better?
Old vs. Young Partner: What’s Better?
How to Handle Things the Second You’re Triggered
How to Handle Things the Second You’re Triggered
Healthy Ways to Avoid Overeating Without Cutting Out Your Favorite Food Groups
Healthy Ways to Avoid Overeating Without Cutting Out Your Favorite Food Groups
The Best Cardio Routines to Add to Your 2021 Workouts
The Best Cardio Routines to Add to Your 2021 Workouts
  • Adulting
  • beauty
  • Hacks
  • style
  • travel
At-Home Remedies to Help Prevent Your Neck from Aging
At-Home Remedies to Help Prevent Your Neck from Aging
Ways to Make Your Lips Look Fuller (Naturally)
Ways to Make Your Lips Look Fuller (Naturally)
The Thoughtful Lash Line to Add to Your No-Makeup Makeup Routine
The Thoughtful Lash Line to Add to Your No-Makeup Makeup Routine
Anti-Aging Supplements to Start Including in Your Rotation
Anti-Aging Supplements to Start Including in Your Rotation
At-Home Hacks Every Adult Should Know
At-Home Hacks Every Adult Should Know
Stylish New Loungewear for 2021
Stylish New Loungewear for 2021
  • decor
  • entertaining
  • kids
  • motherhood
  • Playlists
  • recipes
Random Things You Didn’t Know You Need For Your Home
Random Things You Didn’t Know You Need For Your Home
How to Make Homemade Strawberry Shortcake
How to Make Homemade Strawberry Shortcake
Your Sustainable Living Starter Kit
Your Sustainable Living Starter Kit
Keto and Vegan Ginger Butternut Squash Soup
Keto and Vegan Ginger Butternut Squash Soup
Skinny Vegan Pesto Spaghetti Squash
Skinny Vegan Pesto Spaghetti Squash
How to Make Roasted Chestnuts for the Holiday
How to Make Roasted Chestnuts for the Holiday
  • family
  • kourtney
Ways Kourt Has Made the Most of Her Time at Home
Ways Kourt Has Made the Most of Her Time at Home
*Exclusive* Sneak Peek at the Kardashian/Jenners’ Gift Wrapping
*Exclusive* Sneak Peek at the Kardashian/Jenners’ Gift Wrapping
Poosh Shop 2.0 Is Here
Poosh Shop 2.0 Is Here
The Devotional Book Kourt Reads Every Morning
The Devotional Book Kourt Reads Every Morning
Kourt’s Makeup Artist on How to Apply the Perfect Lashes
Kourt’s Makeup Artist on How to Apply the Perfect Lashes
Kourt’s Cute $7 Reusable Daily Vitamin Bags
Kourt’s Cute $7 Reusable Daily Vitamin Bags
What are you looking for?
  • Shop
  • Open/Close Button HEALTH + WELLNESS
    • body
    • diy
    • fitness
    • Giving Back
    • health
    • mind
    • Relationships
    • soul
  • Open/Close Button HOME + ENTERTAINING
    • decor
    • entertaining
    • kids
    • motherhood
    • Playlists
    • recipes
  • Open/Close Button KMK
    • family
    • kourtney
  • Open/Close Button LIFE + STYLE
    • Adulting
    • beauty
    • Hacks
    • style
    • travel
  • Poosh Your Wellness
  • Newsletter
instagram pinterest facebook twitter youtube
beauty

STRESS ACNE HAPPENS, Here’s How to Cope

By Poosh
pinterest facebook twitter email
@flammedepigalle

You’re doing everything right. Your diet is clean. You haven’t been going out for late-night drinks. You hold your skincare regimen to the highest standards and never miss a step, let alone a night. You’re using clean beauty. But wait, what’s this? A breakout? And it’s not even your period.

We’ve all experienced it. We might be holding ourselves to the tightest criteria in wellness to keep all systems operating optimally, and yet, a wrench still gets thrown in our gears. Or rather, a pimple along our chin, or jawline, or even the neck. Thank you, stress, anxiety, and worry. Really great work. Just excellent.

The lower extremities of our faces are typically the zones that showcase a stress breakout. And this uncertain time might be the culprit of many a stress pimple, despite all our best efforts. And while we might feel like ruling out hormonal causes for our breakouts when we pin it on stress, it all might still boil down to hormones at the end of the day.

Studies show that when we are stressed, our primary stress hormones like cortisol are released in large amounts, and as a result, our body tries to adapt to it. However, since modern fight or flight is more like receiving a snarky email from our supervisor rather than the age-old comparison of outrunning certain death from a predator, the stress hormones produced are in far more excess than what’s required, which can trigger or exacerbate inflammation, and even purging via the pores.

Right now, we know it’s a bit more than a snarky email triggering our stress. With the coming election and of course the global pandemic, we are experiencing higher, totally justifiable amounts of angst. And yet, all we can do is sit in our homes and wait it out. This is the perfect storm to brew a stress breakout here and there.

The research confirms that skin is both an “immediate stress perceiver” and a “target of stress responses.” What that means is, normally, cortisol levels respond to our circadian rhythm, peaking in the morning to give us juice for the day, and drastically dipping by nightfall. Stress triggers our adrenals to pump out more cortisol, thus disrupting this cycle, which can majorly compromise our immune system.

The health of our skin hinges on the health of our immune response in a major way—pimples are a sign that our hormonal balance (or lack thereof) is freaking out, too. But not all hope is lost. When we feel a wave of stress coming on, we can take special care to notice, and heed these tips.

Exercise, but not too much

Work out in the morning, when your natural cortisol rhythm is meant to be highest, and don’t overexert. Intense workouts can cause adrenals to overproduce, so if anxiety already has that going, you don’t want to exacerbate the issue. Make sure to do a cool-down and stretch, which is a soothing way to tell your bod everything is OK.

Try a breathing exercise

Yep, try breathing to clear up your skin. A great basic breathing exercise is the 4-7-8 breath, in which you inhale for 4 counts, hold for 7, and exhale fully for 8, repeating as many times as necessary. Studies show breathing exercises like this have an immediate effect on lowering your heart rate and controlling your body’s stress response.

Eat for immunity

Foods high in antioxidants like dark berries and cacao will seek out free radicals produced by stress. Foods like ginger and garlic will strengthen our natural immune response, which has a direct effect on skin health. Herbs like ashwagandha and rhodiola help control stress and aid in relaxation for restful night’s sleep.

Try a spot treatment

Since stress breakouts tend to stick to the lower part of the face, you don’t want to overtreat all of your complexion. Apply a clay mask where the stress manifests itself, exfoliate a little more, and spot treat when necessary.

You may also like...

5 Ways to Use Micellar Water on the Daily
beauty
5 Ways to Use Micellar Water on the Daily
Poosh Shop January Drop Is Here 
beauty
Poosh Shop January Drop Is Here 

Related Articles

At-Home Remedies to Help Prevent Your Neck from Aging
beauty
At-Home Remedies to Help Prevent Your Neck from Aging
Ways to Make Your Lips Look Fuller (Naturally)
beauty
Ways to Make Your Lips Look Fuller (Naturally)
The Thoughtful Lash Line to Add to Your No-Makeup Makeup Routine
beauty
The Thoughtful Lash Line to Add to Your No-Makeup Makeup Routine
Anti-Aging Supplements to Start Including in Your Rotation
beauty
Anti-Aging Supplements to Start Including in Your Rotation
Top Acne-Fighting Hacks from Kourt’s Derm
beauty
Top Acne-Fighting Hacks from Kourt’s Derm
Prevent Acne with These Antibacterial Towels
beauty
Prevent Acne with These Antibacterial Towels
All-Natural Ways to Clear Acne from the Inside and Out
beauty
All-Natural Ways to Clear Acne from the Inside and Out
Supplements for Glowing Skin
beauty
Supplements for Glowing Skin

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

By clicking SIGN UP, you agree to receive emails from Poosh and agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • California Privacy Rights
  • Affiliate Disclosure
  • Accessibility
  • © poosh, llc
    All Rights Reserved

Keep in Touch

instagram pinterest facebook twitter youtube
ADA + WCAG 2.2 Compliant Badge
Made By Nice People