Obviously we’re not saying drop your GP or dermatologist, but it’s worth checking in with your brain too…
If you’ve dealt with breakouts, you’re probably more than familiar with this spiral: your skin freaks out. Then you freak out. Then your skin gets worse. Then your emotions follow suit. And then, and then… It’s a vicious cycle, no doubt, but it’s also science. Research shows that people with acne have an increased risk of anxiety and depression, and those mood disorders can lead to breakouts in the first place (or exacerbate the acne you already have). Basically, your mental state and your skin are closely linked, mostly thanks to a little substance called cortisol (a stress hormone).
When you’re depressed, anxious or stressed – about not just your skin but anything – your body produces cortisol, which, unfortunately, tells your skin to produce more oil. And more oil can attract more bacteria, creating more acne, explains Mona Gohara, associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale University. Cortisol can also cause inflammation, making your skin red and puffy – which perhaps explains those zits that appear when exams or job interviews are approaching.
I’m sure you’ve now figured out where I’m going with this, but to put it in black and white: treating your skin could help your mental health (and vice versa). Specifically, therapy can teach you coping skills to better manage spot-inducing emotions, says Matt Traube, a therapist who specialises in the psychological aspects of skin conditions. He advises starting down a skin-clearing road by trying calming exercises such as meditation, yoga, deep breathing or even focusi
