Does Stress Really Cause Breakouts?
- Emmaline Tsui
- Apr 14
- 4 min read
Have you ever noticed that your skin seems to rebel when life gets overwhelming? One minute, your face is relatively clear, and the next, a new breakout appears right before an important event. It’s not your imagination—stress-induced acne is very real, and the science behind it is fascinating.
I speak with so many clients who suddenly get breakouts from nowhere, but then the more I talk to them, we realise how stressed or busy their lives are in that moment. Remember, the spots will heal, but focusing on stress relief is more important. Anyway, here's a quick science lesson as to why we breakout when we're under stress.
How Stress Affects Your Skin
When you're under stress, your body releases cortisol, the primary stress hormone. While cortisol is essential for managing stressful situations, it also triggers your sebaceous (oil) glands to go into overdrive. These glands, which are responsible for producing sebum (the oil that keeps your skin hydrated), end up making too much oil when cortisol levels rise. Excess oil can clog pores, mix with bacteria, and lead to breakouts.
This is why you might experience a flare-up during exams, work deadlines, or emotional stress. It’s not just a coincidence—it’s a hormonal response.
The Link Between Cortisol and Acne
Cortisol doesn’t just increase oil production; it also contributes to inflammation, making existing breakouts redder and more painful. Inflammation weakens the skin’s natural barrier, making it more susceptible to irritation and slower to heal. This is also why we get those big, angry and 'sore to touch' spots.
If you frequently experience stress-related breakouts, the key isn’t just treating your skin topically—it’s managing stress levels effectively.
How to Reduce Stress (And Save Your Skin)
Finding ways to lower stress can have a direct impact on your skin. Here are a few techniques that may help:
Exercise: Whether it’s weight training, yoga, or a long walk, movement helps regulate cortisol levels and improves circulation, which benefits your skin. Even just doing twenty star jumps can change your state.
Sleep: A good night’s sleep is essential for skin regeneration. Lack of sleep raises cortisol levels, so prioritising rest can help prevent stress breakouts.
Mindful Practices: Meditation, deep breathing, or even taking a few moments to disconnect from screens can help calm your nervous system.
Herbal Support: If you struggle to unwind, my Time Out Tea from Tsui Apothecary is a beautiful blend of chamomile, rooibos, lemon balm, lemon verbena, and anise. It has a naturally soothing taste with a mild liquorice finish and is perfect for winding down in the evening.
Orgasms: Yes, you read that right. I'm not talking about hours of love making! I'm talking 5 minutes with your favourite toy in the shower - it is brilliant for stress relief, boosting the circulation, releasing serotonin and improving your skin - plus so much more. I even wrote a full post on it here.
For those who prefer an aromatherapy approach, my Calm Botanical Elixir is a therapeutic blend of lavender, eucalyptus, and frankincense, designed to help ease tension and promote relaxation. I love using it before bed for a deeper, more restful sleep. I like to pop a drop on my wrists and rub them together. It really helps calm me before bed too.
Treating Stress-Related Breakouts
While managing stress is crucial, it’s also important to use the right skincare to support your skin when breakouts occur. If you’re dealing with stress acne, I recommend focusing on:
Soothing inflammation – My ice rollers are brilliant for calming irritated skin and reducing puffiness.
Targeted spot treatments – The Nimue Active Blemish Control is an excellent choice for reducing breakouts quickly without over-drying the skin.
Barrier support – If your skin feels compromised, a simple, hydrating routine with minimal exfoliation will help restore balance. The Nimue TDS serums are brilliant if you have a compromised barrier (this is things such as redness, dry, flaky skin, sensitivity, acne etc)
If you’re unsure which products will work best for your skin, I offer a free skin check-in service. There’s no need to book a call—just fill out a simple form, and I’ll personally assess your skin concerns and send you tailored product recommendations via email. It’s an easy, no-pressure way to get expert advice.
For those who want a more in-depth consultation, I also offer online skin consultations, where we can dive deeper into your routine, concerns, and long-term skincare goals.
So yes, stress causing acne is a real thing. We need to remember to try and be kind to ourselves though. Stressing about stressing has never helped anyone and it's finding ways to reduce stress for you that is important. I love to meditate and move but sometimes, meditation doesn't work as my head is too scrambled. In those cases, I will do twenty start jumps just to burn off the nervous energy. Hate him or love him, I do believe Tony Robbins is so right when he talks about changing one's state. Sit up straight, fake a smile, take some deep breaths and move your body.
Let's get your skin back on track,
Thank you so much for reading,
Emmaline
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