📚 Does Studying a Lot Cause Acne? Acne During Exam Season

The Relationship Between Academic Stress, Sebum Production, and Acne

Hello, this is Yonsei Bombit Dermatology.

Do you find that acne flares up especially during exam season?

The phrase, “As soon as I study, something breaks out on my face...” is not just a feeling. It is a phenomenon that can actually be explained through skin physiology.

Today, we’ll explain the relationship between stress, sebaceous glands, and acne from a scientific perspective.

1️⃣ Why does stress trigger acne?

✔ Increased cortisol secretion

When you are stressed, your body releases a stress hormone called cortisol.

This hormone stimulates the sebaceous glands, increases sebum production, and creates an environment where acne is more likely to develop.

✔ Increased inflammation due to reduced immunity

When immunity drops because of stress, your body’s defense against acne-causing bacteria (P. acnes) weakens,

so inflammatory acne may appear more often and become more severe.

✔ Lack of sleep + changes in eating habits

The lack of sleep, late-night snacks, and sugar intake that are common during exam season also

disrupt skin cell turnover and clog pores, which can worsen acne.

2️⃣ Here’s how to manage stress-related acne ✨

✔ Keep a minimal routine

No matter how busy you are, you should keep your basic routine!

Cleansing – moisturizing – sunscreen

Just sticking to these three steps well can make your skin feel much more comfortable.

✔ Study ahead of time!

Cramming and staying up all night are some of the worst things for your skin.

A regular sleep schedule and dietary control are needed!

• Get at least 6 hours of sleep a day (go to bed early and wake up early!)

• Even if you are stressed, do not eat snacks, chocolate, or fried foods at night!

• Make sure to include foods with omega-3, zinc, and vitamins A and E

✔ Use clinic treatment for acute inflammation

• ❗ Red pimples that appear the day before an exam → quickly calm them with a steroid injection

• ❗ If small bumps and comedones keep recurring → extraction + scaling

• ❗ If you have sensitive skin → combine soothing care with prescription medication

3️⃣ Here’s how Yonsei Bombit Dermatology helps 🧴

At Yonsei Bombit Dermatology, we combine the following treatments to break the cycle of acne.

• Steroid injection: quickly calms red, painful acne

• Extraction + scaling: clears comedones and cleans pores

• Medication treatment: oral medication + topical medication used together

• Acne Clarity laser: helps reduce acne-causing bacteria and improve red marks

• Genesis laser: helps reduce sebum production and soothe sensitive skin

📖 In closing

Academic stress cannot be avoided, but skin stress can be managed.

To prevent acne from causing stress and stress from causing more acne,

it is important to control it early with help from a dermatologist.

📍 Yonsei Bombit Dermatology

📞 02-837-8275

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