Have you noticed that just before an exam, an important meeting, or a challenging time at school, your skin decides to rebel? This is not a coincidence and it’s not just a feeling—there is a real reason for it.

Stress doesn’t cause acne, but it makes it worse

It is important to be honest: stress itself is not the cause of acne—it stems from a combination of hormones, genetics, and how your skin reacts to them. But if you are already prone to acne, stress can truly make things worse. The mechanism is as follows: when stress levels rise, the body releases more cortisol—a hormone that directly "switches on" the sebaceous glands in the skin and causes them to produce more sebum.

That is why dermatologists report a noticeable increase in teenagers with breakouts right at the beginning of the school year—a period when stress levels skyrocket.

The other side of things

There is another side to the story that is rarely discussed: the connection works both ways. A study published in BMC Public Health found that the link between anxiety, depression, and acne is not just "having bad skin makes me feel bad"—mental strain can actually worsen the condition of the skin. And an earlier study shows something surprising: teenagers with severe acne report emotional and social discomfort comparable to that of chronic illnesses—this is not "just a few pimples," but something that is genuinely a mental burden.

The habit no one admits to

Stress also changes how we treat our own skin. When tense, many people unconsciously touch, pick at, or squeeze every spot they notice. The clearer the skin, the less there is "to pick at," but when anxiety is high, this habit intensifies and actually slows down healing.

What actually helps

Reducing stress does not cure acne on its own, but it improves how you deal with it and reduces the frequency of flare-ups. Small things matter: enough sleep, movement, even a short break from your phone before bed.

Sources:

• American Academy of Dermatology / Dr. Diane Madfes — cited in ABC7
• Water's Edge Dermatology — Does Stress Cause Acne?
• WebMD — Stress and Acne: Is There a Connection?
• BMC Public Health, cited in TIME — Quotes of the Day