by Linda L Kinyon

Created on: March 25, 2009   Last Updated: November 06, 2009

Your skin is a barometer of your emotional state. If you are stressed your skin is going to show it. When we are stressed our cortisol levels go up and that can aggravate acne. Here are some tips for dealing with stress related acne and preventing it before it starts.

Reduce your stress. I know I know, this is easier said than done. Reducing your stress is a huge step in reducing your acne though. Stress triggers hormones which can in return trigger acne. If you are living a high stress lifestyle consider taking a yoga class or joining a gym or even simply taking a long walk once or twice per day. The exercise will be healthy and good for you and you will feel better and reduce your acne.

Take proper care of your skin. Proper skin care begins before you ever put on your makeup. Thoroughly wash your face and apply the proper moisturizer for your skin type. Do this morning and evening. Always remove makeup before going to bed. This will allow your skin to breathe and keep the makeup from clogging your pores.

Use the proper makeup for your skin type. Some of us have naturally oily skin while others suffer from dry skin. No matter what your skin type you can still get acne. Using a non comedogenic makeup will help to reduce breakouts. Use a light hand when applying foundation and concealer. Remember that less is more and you will be fine.

Get plenty of rest. I know that this is often easier said than done but it is important to get your optimal amount of sleep. For most women this means 7 to 9 hours of sleep. If you are waking up feeling refreshed then you are getting the proper amount of sleep. If you tend to need more sleep you will wake up feeling tired and groggy and perhaps you should consider going to be half an hour earlier each night until you are waking up refreshed. It is stressful on our bodies when we do not get enough sleep.

Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Hydration helps our body to naturally flush toxins and staying hydrated is also important to our overall health. Avoid alcohol as this brings more blood to the face and the increased blood flow can cause broken capillaries as well as increased breakouts. If you are going to indulge in the occasional glass of wine that is fine but keep it to a minimum if you are suffering from acne.

Avoid popping or opening up your pimples. This can spread infection and cause further damage that will take longer to heal. If skin is itchy and irritated this will also make it worse. Gently clean your skin and leave it alone.

If you have an important event such as a family get together or a job interview you are going to be naturally stressed prior to the event. Consider trying an over the counter cortisone product or some benzoyl peroxide during your makeup removal and facial cleansing routine prior to these events.

Taking care of your skin today will help prevent the breakouts of tomorrow.

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