Let's face it: acne, stress are linked

BY CONNIE PRATER
cprater@herald.com

College kids who've complained their professors are getting under their skin
may have a point, researchers say.

A new study released Monday in the Journal of the American Medical
Association's Archives of Dermatology links acne -- that scourge of American
teenagers -- to stress, particularly the angst of final exam week.

Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine found students's
acne conditions were more likely to worsen during the high stress days of
examinations. Indeed, many often ace their exams but flunk the skin test,
breaking out in severe pimples and facial lesions.

''You can always tell when tests are coming,'' said Amanda Deblasis, 21, of
Davie, a former University of Florida student who has had acne since high
school. ``I usually have flare-ups around times of exams.''

Acne, caused by bacteria and oil buildup, is the most common skin disease
treated by dermatologists. Doctors estimate nearly 85 percent of the
population -- 25 percent of adults and 80 percent of teens -- has had it.

Researchers actually set out to debunk what many thought was a myth in
dermatology, said Dr. Alexa Kimball, an assistant professor of dermatology
at Stanford.

''What we heard from patients was that stress was exacerbating their acne,''
Kimball said in a telephone interview from Stanford, Calif. ``What we knew
from the literature was that acne clearly had caused stress. Nobody had
actually looked at whether stress caused acne. No one had proved it.''

The study of 22 university students -- 15 women and seven men -- tracked
participants before and during school exams and measured their perceived
stress levels and acne flare-ups.

Those who reported the greatest increase in stress between the nonexam
period and the exam period also had the greatest increase in acne severity.

The students ranged from 18 to 41 and all had acne problems as measured by
the Leeds acne assessment scale used by dermatologists nationwide.

''I know when I'm under stress,'' said 21-year-old Lindey Burgs of Pembroke
Pines. ``I believe I break out more with the acne.''

Burgs, an elementary education major at Florida Atlantic University, uses a
regimen of topical gels to treat her condition: Clindagel topical gel once
nightly and Tretinoin cream every morning.

Dr. Mark Nestor, a dermatologist at the Center for Cosmetic Enhancement,
said the study backs up what he sees daily in his Aventura practice.

'People come in precisely when they have exams and say, `Oh, this is so much
worse,' '' he said. ``Not only does stress make acne worse, but when people
come in with acne it causes tremendous stress, too. They feel bad about
themselves.''

Nestor said doctors are now using new techniques -- lights, lasers and new
topical gels -- that help lessen the severity of acne.

Dr. Gregg Wilentz described a patient who broke out in severe acne a month
before her wedding day.

''We see it a lot in teenagers around finals time. We also see it a lot when
people get laid off from work,'' Wilentz said in a telephone interview.
``They're stressed out, they can't pay the mortgage, they're worried about
their kids.''

He said he builds a counseling component into his sessions, advising
patients to ``take 10 minutes a day to sit outside, read a book and relax
for just a few minutes.''






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© 2003 The Miami Herald and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.miami.com
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"None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are
free." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

something that always makes me wonder about these stats.. 80 percent of
teenagers have it.. 20-30 percent of adults have it? how come nobody in my
group of friends.. or anybody i know in work has it?? thats a total pool of
about 300 people.. and how come i was the only person in college to have
it? just once in a while i'd like to come into contact with another person
with it for my own piece of mind.. ?

and for the record, i've always believed stress makes it worse... its a
horrible catch 22.
deuce.



"Scarred For Life?" <dontemailme@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
newsXJTa.11367$h9.4540@fe04.atl2.webusenet.com.. .

ok, what is the leeds acne scale? i have certainly never had a dermatologist
rate me? but i'd certainly be interested to know what "rate" i currently am?
anybody ever been rated on this scale?
deuce.

deuce wrote:
Nobody you know or work with breaks out?
::applying for work where deuce works:::



Almost everyone *I* know will get an occasional zit. About 5% usually
have 1-5 zits at any given time. And we're all past our teens..
Hmm, maybe I'm spreading acne mites to everyone I know..
Mwahahahahaa

Cameron Diaz's Acne Attack Fears





Cameron Diaz was on the verge of pulling out of the Charlie's Angels: Full
Throttle premiere in London Tuesday - because film bosses feared her acne
would dominate photographs of the event.

The girlfriend of pop star Justin Timberlake has made no secret of her skin
problem, which tends to flare up at times of stress, and executives were
concerned the rigorous amount of publicity Cameron has been undertaking
would make the condition reappear.

An insider explains, "Cameron's always been up front and honest about her
condition so that's not the problem. But nobody would want to have their
skin flare up and then face all that scrutiny.

"The worst thing is she can't control her skin. Like anyone else, it can
take you by surprise."

In January, the stunning star was forced to miss the London premiere of
Gangs Of New York due to her acne.

The source continues, "Bosses were worried after the Gangs premiere that the
same could happen again in London. She was missed at Gangs, but for her to
be unable to make Full Throttle would be a disaster. It's about the three
Angels girls as a unit."

Photo Copyright Getty Images


Copyright World Entertainment News Network

Scarred For Life? wrote:

It only makes me like her more, that she has such problems.

BUT

I don't understand why she can't get it under better control. With
millions and access to the best of the best of derms and plastic
surgeons, why isn't it at least controllable?

I'd be more embarrassed by these articles, than by zits, yikes! Still,
for millions a movie, I'd get over it

looking at her pics in last months maxim's magazine.. (and believe me i did
in great detail..ahem)... i find this hard to believe.. not that i am
doubting the article.. but you would think someone who has any kind of acne
problem.. even if it be very mild.. would have something noticable.. even
thru the most advanced makeup.. her skin in those pics looks completely
immaculate... unless everytime she does a photoshoot they have to touch it
up? with no offense to cameron, i'm having a hard time giving my sympathy on
this one..
deuce.

"Scarred For Life?" <dontemailme@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:LBaUa.15164$H73.13456@fe02.atl2.webusenet.com ...

Still looking for a zit pic,


PermaLink TelevisionWeek: Zits. Pizza face. Acknoid. Grumphhh...
"Cameron Diaz is beautiful, right? After all, the green-eyed blonde has
been a regular on People magazine's list of the most beautiful people in
the world.

However, the magazine's editors-and most of the Western world-do not
have a high-definition TV. If they did, they would see that Diaz's face
is spotted with small pockmarks, the unfortunate consequence of a
longtime acne problem. The actress recently discussed her skin troubles
in the U.K. edition of Glamour.

"I want girls to realize that nobody looks like the women in the glossy
photos without the help of a load of talented people," said Diaz, who
reportedly had to skip a Gangs of New York premiere because of a new
acne outbreak.

When seen on film, Diaz's skin imperfections are not noticeable, thanks
to Hollywood's talented makeup artists. However, with HDTV, the picture
is so precise that the acne damage cannot be hidden..."
http://www.tvweek.com/technology/052603swann.html

I give up, but apparently she uses Clearasil..

No wonder she's breaking out!

"kita" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:3F22C49C.2040206@privacy.net...
(snippets).
I just can't imagine being a celebrity with acne! When mine was bad, I
wanted to DIE! NO ONE could say anything, not even a well-meaning comment
from my husband was heard without a bit of dying inside! To have people
examining every photo and tabloids commenting would just kill me! My heart
goes out to Cameron Diaz. I think she's gorgeous, and the acne just makes
me like her even more....humanizes her a bit! And yes, I did see it when
watching Vanilla Sky, and I don't even have HD TV!

I really hope she isn't actually using Clearasil! I imagine she could
afford just about any kind of treatment for it!