As per one of the studies carried out by Stanford University School of Medicine in 2002, the findings suggested that stress increased the severity of acne or worsened acne problem. The research was carried out on 22 students who had acne problem. And the students who got too much stressed during the examination periods had the reaction of worsened acne problem.  Thus, this study gave a few very important observations and that are:

Stress stimulates the adrenal glands and thus oil glands or sebum glands become highly active. This may cause acne.

Stress reduces healing capacity and thus the acne problem would get worsened under stressful conditions.

Due to stress, there changes are seen in the dietary pattern and thus, this may lead to acne.

Even the National Academy of Sciences (2003), found that there was a chemical relationship between acne and stress. The study reveals that stress affects hypothalamus which is in the brain. And in stressful conditions, this part of the brain releases corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH). The oil glands have the function of producing CRH and CRH receptors. Thus, when these receptors come in contact with extra CRH, it stimulates acne problem. However, effects of stress differs from person to person and it depends on how stress is perceived.