Stress has been linked to an increase in acne symptoms, but if you don’t already have acne, stress probably won’t cause it. The exact mechanism by which stress increases symptoms of acne is unclear. Our skin cells that produce an oily substance called sebum — which is implicated in acne symptoms — contains receptors for stress hormones. This means that when you’re stressed and overproducing some of these hormones, sebum production and acne may increase. Some studies have shown that acne symptoms increase in college students[1] and high school students[2] during high-stress exam periods, but these were only associations and don’t imply that the stress directly led to increased acne.
Does stress cause acne vulgaris?
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•Last Updated: May 16, 2025
Stress has been assciated with an increase in acne symptoms, particularly in people who already have acne, because stress hormones may enhance sebum production. However, the exact mechanism is unclear, and studies that show increased acne during high-stress periods do not confirm that stress directly causes acne.