Does stress cause acne?

Stress is not a direct cause of acne but it is true that some types of stress can cause the body to produce a hormone called cortisol, which can irritate existing acne.

Anxiety and stress can lead to hormone imbalance and cause acne. Stress prevents digestion and messes up sebum production. Lowering stress levels may help to decrease oil production, and thus decrease the symptoms of acne.

Indirectly, some medication that we take to alleviate or control extreme stress or emotional problems like depression can be factors in the production of acne. In fact, some medicines have acne listed as a possible side effect.