Have you been under some added stress over the past several years? There has been a lot going on in the world, and it’s no secret that stress levels are on the rise. While we’re busy muddling through our days trying to get by, it doesn’t always occur to us that stress is impacting our skin health, but it is. Stress leads to a rise in the levels of cortisol (stress hormones) in the body, which causes increased inflammation that can prompt an acne breakout, increase the severity of acne, and make it more difficult to heal blemishes during an active breakout. If you’re dealing with stubborn, painful stress acne, the Derm Skincare store offers a variety of products to help soothe skin, clear up blemishes, and make stress acne breakouts shorter and less painful. You can learn more about the top five best products for stress acne in this blog, and you can also explore our full range of products for acneic skin.

What Exactly Is Stress Acne?

Before we dive into our top 5 product recommendations to address stress acne, let’s take a closer look at exactly what it is. As the name suggests, stress acne is acne that is triggered by stress. In people who already have acne-prone skin, stress may increase the severity or longevity of their breakouts. For people who don’t typically struggle with acne, stress can increase their risk for a breakout. Whether you regularly combat acne or you only develop blemishes due to stress, it’s important to take the right steps to address stress-related acne. First and foremost, you need to choose a gentle approach. Stress causes skin inflammation and irritation, so you want to choose acne treatment products that are gentle to reduce the risk of further discomfort or skin damage. Below, we’ve put together a list of gentle, effective acne products that are ideal for treating stress acne breakouts.

1 – SkinMedica AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser

In addition to stress, poor skin cell turnover leading to clogged pores is one of the leading causes of acne breakouts. The SkinMedica AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser offers optimal exfoliation to remove dead skin cells and stimulate the production of healthy new skin cells. With a combination of alpha-hydroxy acid and beta-hydroxy acid, the SkinMedica AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser breaks down clogged pores, helping to clear up breakouts and improve the overall tone and texture of the skin. The gentle cleanser also minimizes additional irritation that can increase skin inflammation during a stress acne breakout.

2 – Skinbetter Science Oxygen Infusion Wash

If you’re using professional or prescription-strength acne products or spot treatments, Skinbetter Science Oxygen Infusion Wash is the ideal facial cleanser option. The burst of oxygen and the gentle, exfoliating alpha-hydroxy acids allow your acne treatment products to be more easily absorbed into the skin while breaking down any pimples to unclog pores with less irritation and dryness compared to other cleansers recommended for acne-prone skin. This leaves skin looking and feeling its best without stripping away too much moisture, which can dehydrate skin and trigger additional sebum (skin oil) production that can clog pores and prolong breakouts.

3 – Epionce Lytic TX

During an active stress acne breakout, you may have one or more blemishes that are particularly painful or irritated. To address these pimples, Epionce Lytic TX is the ideal solution. It helps to deeply cleanse the skin, break down clogged pores, and improve the overall texture and appearance of the skin. Ideal for use during an acne breakout, Epionce Lytic TX is also a great product to address the signs of aging, like fine lines and wrinkles, or to improve general skin unevenness or imperfections.

4 – SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Gel

If you’re dealing with skin redness and discomfort from stress acne, you need to incorporate SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Gel into your skincare routine. This botanical-infused product offers soothing, calming results that significantly lessen discomfort and redness during breakouts. The combination of unique ingredients makes this gel moisturizer a great option for acne-prone skin even during active breakouts. Hyaluronic acid, cucumber, and thyme infuse skin with moisture without clogging pores. Mulberry helps to promote skin clarity and reduce redness and discoloration. It can even help to reduce the appearance of skin discoloration and imperfections on the skin.

5 – Avene Cleanance Hydra Blemish Recovery System

The Avene Cleanance Hydra Blemish Recovery System is a four-step skincare system that helps to fight stress acne breakouts, clear up blemishes, and soothe and repair skin. The combination of products helps to clean, hydrate, soothe, and clarify, leaving skin looking and feeling its best. By utilizing the Avene Cleanance Hydra Blemish Recovery System during a breakout, you can diminish the discomfort of stress acne breakouts and decrease the length of your acne breakout.

The Avene Cleanance Hydra Blemish System includes the following products:

• • Avene Cleanance Hydra Soothing Cleansing Cream (6.7 fl. Oz.) – this cleanser thoroughly removes excess oil and grime from the skin, penetrating deep into the clogged pores to break down blemishes. Unlike other facial cleansers created to address acne, Avene Cleanance Hydra Soothing Cleansing Cream offers a gentle, nourishing clean that will leave skin looking its best.
• • Avene Cleanance Hydra Soothing Cream (1.3 fl. Oz.) – repairs and renews skin’s natural protective barrier while increasing hydration to undo the drying effects of acne treatments and keep skin looking and feeling great.
• • Avene Thermal Spring Water (1.6 fl. Oz.) – As the other products go to work healing skin and clearing up blemishes, the Avene Thermal Spring Water soothes and softens irritated and inflamed skin.
• • Avene Cicalfate Restorative Lip Cream (0.3 fl. Oz.) – don’t forget to pamper your pout. This lip cream soothes irritated and chapped lips, adds a hydrating boost, and protects against damage.

Want Personalized Recommendations from Our Dermatologists?

If you’re having a tough time managing stress acne or other forms of acne, don’t hesitate to get in touch with a knowledgeable dermatologist at U.S. Dermatology Partners. Our dermatologists can help you create a personalized skincare routine, combat stress acne, and generally improve overall skin health. Getting started is easy. Simply fill out our online scheduling request. Once we receive your scheduling form, one of our team members will be in touch soon to finalize the details of your visit.