Stress-related Acne and how to avoid it

**Published in the March issue of Essential Magazine.

"Stress-related Acne and how to avoid it"

Why is it that there are people who are lucky to have a fair skin while there are others who are not as lucky? Are you envious of your classmate who seems to be not human enough to experience those ugly bumps called Acne? Have you tried all sort of therapy to get rid of acne, but no efforts seem to work?

Well, it is because the solution really is not those creams in the market. The solution comes from inside your body. The cause of your acne is not external factor. Have you noticed that your acne comes out during examination period? However, they get worse when you feel uneasy and want to get rid of it immediately. Then you buy all those advertised anti-acne facial creams, toners and what have you, and expect your acne to leave you unscathed. It did not work, am I correct?

This is because your acne is stress-related. You experience stress during examination period. After your examination period, you feel more stress seeing those ugly bumps in your face. At worse, you skin condition does not welcome those anti-acne medications. Now, you feel envious of your classmate and get more stress. This makes you feel anxiety, trauma and they manifest in your behavior. You get so insecure to the point of depression.

Let me help you fight stress-related acne by trying to understand its source – stress.

What are the causes stress

You can define stress as mental, emotional, or physical strain caused, for example, by anxiety or trauma. It may cause mental or emotional strain including depression. Two causal factors of stress are external and internal. External factors include exposure to air pollution, harmful chemicals, too much exposure to sun and unhealthy sleeping habits. Internal factors are fear, too much worrying, dwelling on the worst, exaggerating and paranoia.

Now, you know what causes stress. Can you figure out now what causes your stress-related facial problems?

How to get rid of stress-related acne

Since your problem is stress related, you need to learn to manage stress in order to manage the problem.

• Manage stress by recognizing what is the cause of your stress.

If you feel fear of flanking your exam, you need to have enough time to review and study for the exam.

• Avoid hassles by identifying those things that stress you and eliminate them or prepare to cope with them.

After the exam, take a day off. If you find acne setting in, ignore it and relax. If you relax, and you minimize the feeling of stress, then, the possibility of developing the acne will be much lesser.

• Avoid subjecting your face to so many chemicals.

Soap and water are the best skin regimen for young skin.

How to avoid stress in general

In the modern living we are in, we live side by side with stressors; avoid the ill effects of stress by doing the following:

• Recognize your stressors. When you know what causes you to feel stressed, you will be able to manage it well.
• When you feel stress start, relax. Take three deep breaths or take a walk to take your mind off the feeling of stress.
• Tense and release your muscles. This is an immediate relaxing exercise when you feel sudden onset of stress
• Learn to laugh at yourself. There is a parable that laughter is the best medicine, this is true against stress.

What are the Healthy habits that will help you avoid stress

• Drink eight glasses of water a day.
• Do a 30-minute exercise everyday.
• Eat a well-balanced diet
• Eat fruits and vegetables
• Avoid salty food
• Avoid junk food

Some teenagers may experience stress over-load. This may result to anxiety, withdrawal, aggression, physical illness or poor coping skills such as drugs and alcohol. Help yourself learn how to manage stress and keep a healthy lifestyle. If you need support, your parents can give you neat input in coping with stress or your can visit a health professional to teach you some stress coping skills.