Stress Acne - solution?

[utspg]

I'm 28, which means I'm too damn old to have breakouts. I had "grown out of it" several years ago. I would get the occasional pimple, but nothing serious.

But it's come back the past couple of months. My complexion overall just doesn't look good.

5 months ago I moved to a new city for a new job. The last 3 months or so we have been on mandatory overtime and its been pretty stressful. The combination of moving to a new city + all the overtime is causing it I think. As another indicator of my stress, I went to the dentist last week and they took my blood pressure and it was high. As someone who's been a runner for several years, I've always had good blood pressure and resting heart rate.

So, what is the best way to stop stress acne? Can this be approached from a topical standpoint? I have been using "fresh foaming cleanser" for years and that had always worked well for me. Should I try adding toner and moisturizer?

Or do I need to focus on the stress? Go get massages or something?

Another thought: it could be the environment. The city I'm in now is less humid than where I used to live. Also the water here could have something different in it that my face doesn't like.

Help please.

 

[turbozed]

It might be your diet. Look into that avenue too.

Eat clean and take fish oil.

Also make sure you don't go to bed without brushing your teeth (scraping your tongue also helps).

Watch your pillowcases often.

If you get pimples near your mouth and shave, invest in an aftershave.

If they are whiteheads, yank them out with slant head tweezers.

 

[Star]

Did your dentist also check whether you have been grinding your teeth in your sleep? Is common in people under stress and naturally not good for the stones in your mouth.

 

[JohnGalt]

I'm in a similar situation and have had a bit of a forehead breakout...just picked this up: http://www.clinique.com/templates/pr...T_ID=PROD11813

I've noticed results in days.

I normally wash/tone/moisturize twice a day, which I would recommend you do too.

 

[Lucky7]

Do you exfoliate to remove dead skin cells?

 

[JohnGalt]

A toner acts as a light exfoliator. May also want to consider a clay mask once or twice a week.

 

[snowhite1]

I don't know how your sleep schedule is, but sleeping a good 7-8 hours every night controlled my acne.

 

[Lucky7]

Getting some sun may also help.

 

[utspg]

It might be your diet. Look into that avenue too.

Eat clean and take fish oil.

Diet has stayed pretty consistent. I don't take fish oil but I eat fish for dinner 3-4 days a week.

Also make sure you don't go to bed without brushing your teeth (scraping your tongue also helps).

check

Watch your pillowcases often.

K, will start doing that.

If you get pimples near your mouth and shave, invest in an aftershave.

They're more in the forehead/temple area

If they are whiteheads, yank them out with slant head tweezers.

They're typically the tumor under the skin type of pimple

 

[utspg]

Originally Posted by Star

Did your dentist also check whether you have been grinding your teeth in your sleep? Is common in people under stress and naturally not good for the stones in your mouth.

Doc said I was OK on that front

 

[Casey]

Some cities are dirtier than others, and pollution may also be a cause of bad skin tone. You should try googling your city to see if that may be a cause of your acne. Maybe you could try some new products to target this. I'm sure Kiehl's had a toner or moisturizer that can brighten up your skin and help with breakouts.

If you want to immediately target your acne, I think you should try Malin + Goetz's acne treatment. Tobi is one of StyleForum's sponsors that carries this product. You get free shipping and if you visit their affiliate thread, then you can find 20% discount codes now and then if you aren't already on their mailing list. It's the only product that's worked for me and I've been searching for one for 5 years now.

 

[Tck13]

I'll prescribe heavy doses of massages, relaxation, book reading and fun time! Those are usually helpful for stress.