Acne is commonly believed to be caused by eating oily and fatty foods. However, a number of people also believed that it is related to stress. Now, the answer is clearer. A new study on the causes of acne, not only confirmed the relationship, but also provided a possible explanation.
The study, observed and followed through 94 high school students with mild to moderate acne for several months by researchers at Wake Forest . Acne is generally associated with high levels of sebum, the oily substance that coats the skin and protects the hair. Because sebum levels are known to wax and wane with variations in time, the study was conducted in Singapore where the temperature and humidity rarely change.
The findings revealed some periods of high emotional stress among students like the exams. As the students were preparing for the exam, 23 percent were more likely to suffer buttons. At the same time, their sebum production did not vary much whether they were experiencing high or low stress, indicating that levels of the substance have little or no role. Instead, the results may have more to do with inflammation. Other studies have proven that stress can cause inflammation and acne, of course, is an inflammatory disease.