You follow a healthy diet and take good care of your skin but still find a red spot when you wake up before a big presentation. Or maybe you know exactly when your breakouts come every month, get the same spots, and the pain is the same.
It’s hard to differentiate acne when you only see the symptoms, but their underlying causes are quite different, and that difference matters when it comes to effective treatment. Two of the most commonly confused types are hormonal acne and stress acne. They overlap quite often, can occur at any age, and may have similar symptoms. However, their root causes and timing patterns provide important clues. Knowing which one you have can help you make better choices and save yourself some months of trial and error.
Here’s How to Tell Acne Apart and What to Do Next
Acne is basically an internal condition. It happens when one’s skin pores produce too much oil and dead skin cells accumulate in the pores. These allow bacteria to flourish, and inflammation occurs, resulting in a breakout.
Although skincare products can help in controlling the factors at the skin’s surface, it is usually the internal triggers that dictate when and how seriously one will break out.
Two of the most powerful internal drivers of acne are hormone fluctuations and the body’s response to stress. They both can make the skin produce more oil and get inflamed. The main difference is what causes them and how they manifest on your skin.
What Hormonal Acne Looks Like
Hormonal acne is a direct consequence of changes in androgen hormones, which are responsible for stimulating oil glands. Pores clog more easily, and inflammation worsens when oil production is increased due to the secretion of these hormones.
This type of acne generally follows a pattern, and some of the signs are breakouts that follow a predictable cycle, large, painful cysts or nodules, a concentration of acne on the jawline, chin, and lower cheeks, recurring blemishes in the same spot, and breakouts that coincide with menstrual cycles or hormonal shifts.
Hormonal acne is common among teenagers, but it can be very common in adults, especially adult women in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. In addition, it can also occur during pregnancy, postpartum changes, or perimenopause.
Lesions are usually more painful than surface pimples and can linger longer. Since they stem from a deeper level of the skin, if not handled properly, they will be more likely to cause marks or scars.
What Stress Acne Look Like
Stress acne is a result of the body’s reaction to stress. When stress levels are high, there is an increase in cortisol and related hormones. This may subsequently cause the skin to produce more oil, become more inflamed, and slow the healing of wounds.
While hormonal acne is somewhat predictable, stress acne isn’t.
Breakouts during or after stressful periods, lesions with whiteheads or inflamed bumps, scattered distribution across the face, increased redness and irritation, and slower healing time than usual are some of the common signs of stress acne.
Stress also affects people’s behavior. People under pressure tend to lack sleep, skip skincare routines, touch their faces, and pick at blemishes. All of these could worsen breakouts, skin dullness, dehydration, or skin sensitivity.
See Also: Is Red Oil the Culprit Behind Your Breakout?
There is a term called the Pattern Test, which refers to the evaluation of the location and timing of breakouts to identify underlying causes. Hormonal acne is a regular monthly cycle, whereas stress acne occurs in response to situations such as deadlines, emotional tension, or lack of sleep. Maintaining a diary of breakouts can be a great help in spotting the pattern. The location of an acne offers clues, though it should not be used as the only diagnostic signal. Hormonal acne is usually on the lower part of the face, the chin, the jawline, or the mouth areas. Stress acne is in the oily areas, like the forehead, nose, and cheeks.
How to Identify Your Breakout Type
Before changing your routine, spend a few weeks gathering clues.
Track:
- Breakout intervals
- Lesion types and severity
- Location on the face
- Sleep quality
- Stress levels
- Menstrual cycle timing, if applicable
- New products or routine changes
This information is also useful if you decide to consult a dermatologist.
Treatment Differs
Because the main causes are different, the most effective treatments are usually different as well.
When it is related to hormones, they may react better to treatments that focus on controlling oil production and the effects of hormones. Some of these might be certain prescription drugs, specific topical products, and long-term management techniques.
Treatment for stress-induced conditions usually requires anti-inflammatory skin care, products that support the barrier, and changes in lifestyle to provide less physiological stress. Regular sleep, gentle routines, and avoiding overtreatment are especially significant.
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Neither case should involve intense scrubbing or the use of extremely harsh products since these tend to increase inflammation and delay healing.
See Also: Skincare Misconceptions About Dark Melanin-Rich Skin We’re Dumping For Good
Seek the professional help of a dermatologist when the breakout is deep and painful, appears suddenly, persists, is accompanied by hormonal symptoms, and over-the-counter treatments are no longer working. Early intervention prevents the frustration that comes with trial and error.
Your skin is a reactive and informative organ. Keep a record of it, study it, and treat it depending on its behavior, not just the way it looks. The more accurately you locate the trigger, the more effective your solution is likely to be.
