No one wants to wake up in the morning and look in the mirror, only to see that your face is in the middle of a battle scene. Acne has waged war, and it looks like it may just be winning this battle.

Nothing is more disappointing than seeing your ruined complexion, marred by a great, big, ugly zit. But you can fight back against acne!

Where Does Acne Come From?

Acne is the skin condition responsible for pimples and breakouts, which can manifest as whiteheads, blackheads, pustules, and papules. As sebum is produced by sebaceous glands and travels up through your pores, dead skin cells are carried up with it to be washed away. Sometimes the gland produces too much sebum, which can clog the pore, forming a plug. As the pore is clogged with sebum, oil, and bacteria, that bacteria can multiply, leading to an infection, swelling, and inflammation around the clogged pore. Sometimes you’ll notice a white tip of purulent discharge (pus).

Things like hormonal imbalances, traveling, genetics, and medications can all play a role in the development of acne. The good news is that these types of breakouts are normally temporary. There are things that you can do to help speed up their disappearance.

How Does Stress Affect Breakouts?

Emotional stress doesn’t necessarily trigger a new case of acne, but it could worsen symptoms of a current breakout. According to Lisa A Garner, M.D., FAAD, a clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, “When you already have acne and you get into a stressful situation, that seems to be when your acne really flares up.”

The cells that produce sebum have receptors for stress hormones like cortisol. Somehow, these sebum-producing cells are stoked to produce more sebum when you are upset or worried. On a good day, sebum helps to protect your skin. When too much is produced, it mixes with dead skin cells and bacteria to clog hair follicles, leading to acne.

So while de-stressing isn’t necessarily going to cure your current breakout, it can help to keep you from being your own worst enemy. Find a way to take some time out to sit down, clear your head, and just breath. Or maybe get the girls together for a night out on the town; laughing, talking, and taking in some of the sights.

Fighting the Breakout

The first rule of thumb to follow, and maybe the most difficult, is don’t squeeze your pimples. This can make them worse, causing the pus to spread infection. Apply acne treatment products twice a day; when you wake up and before bedtime. Utilize the help of medicated products designed to clear up zits. They may take a little bit of time to work, but will help to prevent any new pimples from forming. You‘ll want to stay away from any products that contain oils. They’ll only serve to further clog your pores.

Skin hydration is equally important after cleansing. Recommended treatment for acne conditions is to use skin care ingredients that regulate oil gland secretion, hydrate, heal, balance skin pH, soothe, and reduce inflammation.

Take these steps now to curb your breakout and prevent it from getting any worse: