Talking Acne

Anxiety and skin

Question:

out in hives because of my anxiety. I don’t wish that on anyone, its hell!

I’m not sure what this is, but during a few panick attacks I’ve had these white lumps appear on my face and it turn so greasy within a matter of minutes. It’s the worst feeling ever, and the first time it happened I was so scared because it just happened out of the blue. I’m not sure if I can feel them coming that brings on the attack, or an attack that brings it on. But it’s happened a few times now, and is the worst thing I’ve ever been through. My skin looks terrible after the attack too, so doesn’t clear up well straight away. It usually happens in winter and in frozen temps.

Response:

I read a study back when I was first diagnosed that anti-depressants were clearing up a lot of skin issues for people, such as acne. [...] if one is anxious there is a greater flow of perspiration and blood to the peripheral derma making one feel flushed and clamy-during an actual panic attack blood flow reduces to the periphery and increases within large muscle groups including the heart so the limbs may feel tingly and the skin cool and dry-afterwords the flushing starts all over again-if you focus on the sensation, any sensation and become hypervigilant or inwardly focused you can freak out over any body sensation or change

Ah that probably explains my problems. When I get anxious my skin gets awful and vice versa.

Response:

not really-they may reduce some perspiration but they do not reduce the sebum production at the follicle-

Hey Doc, then what about Paxil which almost always causes more perspiration? This may be the cause, – you think?. – K

Response:

Hey Doc, then what about Paxil which almost always causes more perspiration? This may be the cause, – you think?.

ssri drugs can increase sweating-they can also decrease it, especially paxil which is mildly anticholinergic. If someones skin gets worse while taking this class of drugs it can be related to lots of factors including changes in skin bacteria levels due to serotonin increases in skin- these drugs are very selective compared to tca’s, so I could imagine any side effect is possible, including a decrease in acne if the acne is being increased by depression or anxiety and the drug alleviates this-as D mentioned stress can increase zits-many derm docs still use benzos for flare ups-at least the older wiser ones-the younger folks like to play psychiatrist and use ssri meds, then wonder why sometimes the zits get worse, sometimes better-zits are, well, a forever type of thing-and very unpredictible. I have found that nuts and chocolate or any food that contains esters of androgens increase acne. Only an observation not a fact LM

Response:

many derm docs still use benzos for flare ups-at least the older wiser ones-the younger folks like to play psychiatrist and use ssri meds, then wonder why sometimes the zits get worse, sometimes better-zits are, well, a forever type of thing-

Thanks again. I saw on some "make-over" show where a dermitologist was using some sort of "laser- treatment" thing to (they said permantely) rid some woman they were making over of acne causing scaring. I’m wondering if this was true or not, since the genisis is being caused by a particular bacteria. – ?? – K

Response:

show where a dermitologist was using some sort of "laser- treatment" thing to (they said permantely) rid some woman they were making over of acne causing scaring.

some people form keloids or deep thick scars from severe cystic acne-the scars are treated with eather dermabrasions or chemical peels or lasers to destroy the scared skin and allow healthy tissue to grow-plastic surgeons use many types of treatments to do this including cryogenic, laser, chemical, light etc..-these procedures do not remove or change acne pustules or cysts-just their aftermath LM

Response:

out in hives because of my anxiety. I don’t wish that on anyone, its hell! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Does anxiety effect anyone elses skin here? I’ve noticed during panick attacks that my facical skin feels different. I think sometimes it could bring on a panick attack, I’m not sure – you know how you have bad skin days? But when I have big panick attacks my skin goes really greasy or dry, or both! Sometimes it blushes really badly and it makes the attack even worse because I’m so worried about someone noticing. If my skin feels yucky in the morning, I know it’s gonna be an anxious day. My skin has to feel fresh and clean for me to have a settled day. I post this right now because my skin feels terrible (not so much actually feeling your skin with your hand, but just "feeling" it if you know what i mean), and am feeling really anxious cause I have a big job interview tomorrow and my skin has to be perfect. Is this common, or is it just me?

Response:

That would explain why I still have the complexion of a teenage boy. (with the experience lines of a 32 year old)  :) I think the article was more about stress as a cause of acne and drew the conclusion that reduced stress when people are taking them caused fewer breakouts.  Of course that also begs the question if stress really can cause acne… d

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I read a study back when I was first diagnosed that anti-depressants were clearing up a lot of skin issues for people, such as acne. not really-they may reduce some perspiration but they do not reduce the sebum production at the follicle-it is this material and its subsequent clogging of the pore creating comedones and their infection that causes acne-using desquamating and antibacterial agents that kill off the gram positive bacteria is what gets acne lesions to back off-using oral retenoids dries out the oil gland so the oil is not produced in the first place. if one is anxious there is a greater flow of perspiration and blood to the peripheral derma making one feel flushed and clamy-during an actual panic attack blood flow reduces to the periphery and increases within large muscle groups including the heart so the limbs may feel tingly and the skin cool and dry-afterwords the flushing starts all over again-if you focus on the sensation, any sensation and become hypervigilant or inwardly focused you can freak out over any body sensation or change LM

Response:

I read a study back when I was first diagnosed that anti-depressants were clearing up a lot of skin issues for people, such as acne.  I noticed when I first got dx’d my skin was horrible and even the texture of my hair felt different, so I do not think it is too uncommon for people with anxiety to show signs of it on their skin.

I noticed my hair felt different too when I started taking ADs. It felt a lot thicker and manageable, but it’s gone back to normal now. Could have just been a coinsedence though. I don’t think ADs have helped me skin much. Well actually they probably have as you said the article was more related to stress. My skin and anxiety go hand in hand. If my skin feels greasy or hot or dry etc, I get anxious. But if I feel anxious, my skin gets bad.

Response:

Does anxiety effect anyone elses skin here? I’ve noticed during panick attacks that my facical skin feels different. I think sometimes it could bring on a panick attack, I’m not sure – you know how you have bad skin days? But when I have big panick attacks my skin goes really greasy or dry, or both! Sometimes it blushes really badly and it makes the attack even worse because I’m so worried about someone noticing. If my skin feels yucky in the morning, I know it’s gonna be an anxious day. My skin has to feel fresh and clean for me to have a settled day. I post this right now because my skin feels terrible (not so much actually feeling your skin with your hand, but just "feeling" it if you know what i mean), and am feeling really anxious cause I have a big job interview tomorrow and my skin has to be perfect. Is this common, or is it just me?

Response:

I read a study back when I was first diagnosed that anti-depressants were clearing up a lot of skin issues for people, such as acne.  I noticed when I first got dx’d my skin was horrible and even the texture of my hair felt different, so I do not think it is too uncommon for people with anxiety to show signs of it on their skin. d

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Does anxiety effect anyone elses skin here? I’ve noticed during panick attacks that my facical skin feels different. I think sometimes it could bring on a panick attack, I’m not sure – you know how you have bad skin days? But when I have big panick attacks my skin goes really greasy or dry, or both! Sometimes it blushes really badly and it makes the attack even worse because I’m so worried about someone noticing. If my skin feels yucky in the morning, I know it’s gonna be an anxious day. My skin has to feel fresh and clean for me to have a settled day. I post this right now because my skin feels terrible (not so much actually feeling your skin with your hand, but just "feeling" it if you know what i mean), and am feeling really anxious cause I have a big job interview tomorrow and my skin has to be perfect. Is this common, or is it just me?

Response:

I read a study back when I was first diagnosed that anti-depressants were clearing up a lot of skin issues for people, such as acne.

not really-they may reduce some perspiration but they do not reduce the sebum production at the follicle-it is this material and its subsequent clogging of the pore creating comedones and their infection that causes acne-using desquamating and antibacterial agents that kill off the gram positive bacteria is what gets acne lesions to back off-using oral retenoids dries out the oil gland so the oil is not produced in the first place. if one is anxious there is a greater flow of perspiration and blood to the peripheral derma making one feel flushed and clamy-during an actual panic attack blood flow reduces to the periphery and increases within large muscle groups including the heart so the limbs may feel tingly and the skin cool and dry-afterwords the flushing starts all over again-if you focus on the sensation, any sensation and become hypervigilant or inwardly focused you can freak out over any body sensation or change LM

Response:

Filed under: Acne

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