How To Tell If You Get Acne From Stress or Dehydration

As a society, we tend to think that acne is caused by stress. But did you know that dehydration can also cause acne? In this article, we’ll explain how to tell the difference between them so you can treat your skin accordingly.

Why You Might Be Breaking Out

If you’ve ever had an acne flare-up, you know that it’s not a pleasant experience. But why does this happen? Acne can pop up due to a number of different factors, including stress and dehydration. So how do you know if stress or dehydration is causing your skin condition?

One way to tell the difference between acne caused by stress and acne caused by dehydration is by looking at how long it takes for your pimple to fade away.

People who get stressed out a lot tend to have more persistent acne than those who don’t (though this isn’t always true).

If a pimple pops up and then doesn’t go away within two days or so, there’s a good chance that it was triggered by something stressful in your life—like an impending deadline at work or an argument with your significant other.

Dehydration also causes skin problems like dryness, wrinkles around the eyes and lips (also known as “crows feet”), and flaky patches on the body where there should be oil glands (like behind the ears).

Is Your Skin Breaking Out Because You’re Stressed?

Stress is the most common cause of acne. So, if you can’t figure out what’s going on with your skin, it could be due to being under a lot of pressure. Stress has been shown to decrease the levels of estrogen in women and testosterone in men, which can lead to excess sebum production and breakouts.

In addition, stress also causes people to touch their faces more often—which directly leads to more oil production. If you have a tendency to touch your face when you’re stressed, this might be why your forehead looks shiny by 3 pm every day.

Is Your Skin Breaking Out Because You’re Dehydrated?

Okay, by now you know that dehydration can cause breakouts. But did you know that it’s possible for your skin to get dehydrated without you even realizing it?

Two common causes of dehydration are not drinking enough water and being sick. These can lead to dry skin and irritated pores that are more susceptible to breakouts.

If this sounds like your situation, don’t worry! Just remember to drink plenty of H2O throughout the day. You should be aiming for eight glasses. Also, consider adding a few drops of rosehip oil or aloe vera gel into your moisturizer for added hydration. 

Conclusion

If you want to get rid of your breakouts, try adjusting your lifestyle and diet. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep and hydration so that your body is fully rested and nourished.

You could also spend some time relaxing in the bath or taking a walk through nature—both of these activities have been shown to improve skin health. Once you can pinpoint the cause of your breakouts, you’ll be one step closer to clearing them.