

January 04, 2010

Skin Deep

skin-deep-beauty.jpgStressed about your skin? Calming down may be the first step to a clear complexion.

Battling stubborn zits can be a huge headache, but letting it ruin your mood may end up making things worse. A recent study of eighteen- and nineteen-year-olds in Norway found that acne is more prevalent among teens who have symptoms of anxiety and depression than among those who don't have any, and the more severe the teens' acne, the higher their level of mental distress.

Will every sad thought trigger a new bump? Definitely not, assures Mathew Avram, M.D., of the Dermatology Laser and Cosmetic Center at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. "The study found only an association--not a cause-and-effect relationship. It's interesting because skin conditions like acne and psoriasis can definitely get worse when the person is stressed," he says. "But there's no data yet to show that stress causes them directly. It may be that depressed feelings, which tend to go up during adolescence, are making the teen's acne worse, or perhaps it's the acne that is making the teen feel more depressed--we don't know for sure."
Further research is needed to find out exactly how mood affects acne, but there are currently a few theories that focus on the skin's oil production, says Diane Berson, M.D., board member of the American Acne and Rosacea Society and Women's Dermatologic Society. "Some believe the nerve stimulation that occurs when you're distressed may prompt the sebaceous glands to produce more oil," she explains, and that can lead to clogged pores--the perfect breeding ground for acne-causing bacteria, called Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes). Furthermore, the body releases the hormones adrenalin, androgen, and cortisol during stressful times, which also cause the skin's oil level to spike.

"This hormonal influence is why many girls say their hair and face feel greasier the week before their period," Berson notes. If you've tried over-the-counter acne products and steered clear of heavy, pore-clogging makeup and creams but still struggle with chronic pimples, a hidden hormonal imbalance could be the blemish-causing culprit. "Are your periods irregular? Do you always break out before your period? If the answer is yes, then a hormonal component may be causing your acne," Berson says. In that case, a doctor will likely prescribe a birth control pill to regulate your hormones. "It won't clear up the bumps that are already there, but it will help prevent new ones from forming," she explains.

Don't underestimate the benefits of a healthier diet either--the study also found that, for females in particular, those who ate fewer raw vegetables often had more pimples than did girls who loaded up on greens. "Eating celery won't clear up acne," says Coco Auerswald, M.D., from the University of California, San Francisco. "But if you tend to eat lots of veggies, you're likely the kind of person who takes good care of herself by exercising and managing stress well. These behaviors will make your whole body--and, by extension, your skin--as healthy as possible." Don't be overly stringent about what you eat, though. There's no conclusive data showing that indulging in a slice of greasy pizza will ruin your complexion--or vice versa.

Luckily, dermatologists today have an extensive arsenal of treatments to help improve your skin. "It's not a lost cause! There are medications to treat every kind of acne and every skin type," says Berson. Visit your dermatologist to get the right anti-acne regimen for your skin, and then, most important, stick with it. "Acne is not going to disappear right away," Avram notes. "But there are many treatments. Just don't give up."