Study Stress and Acne: How to Manage Your Skin During Exam Season

Welcome to Skin Insights by YSBB.

Does your skin break out during exams or study marathons? If you’ve ever said, “I only get acne when I’m studying,” you’re not imagining it. There’s a clear connection between academic stress, oil production, and acne flare-ups.

Let’s explore how stress impacts your skin, and how to manage breakouts during test season.

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1. How Stress Triggers Acne

• Cortisol overload: Stress increases cortisol, a hormone that stimulates your oil glands—leading to clogged pores and breakouts.
• Weakened immunity: A stressed body has a harder time fighting off acne-causing bacteria, increasing inflammation and redness.
• Sleep & diet disruption: Poor sleep and late-night snacks (especially sugar and fried foods) disrupt skin turnover and worsen congestion.

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2. How to Manage Stress-Related Acne

• Stick to the basics: Even on your busiest days, don’t skip cleansing, moisturizing, and sunscreen.
• Avoid cramming: Pulling all-nighters is tough on your skin. Aim for 6+ hours of sleep, avoid sugary and greasy snacks, and maintain a balanced diet.
• Anti-inflammatory support: Foods rich in omega-3s, zinc, vitamin A, and vitamin E help calm the skin from within.

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3. What YSBB Skin Clinic Can Do

• Intralesional injections: Quickly reduce redness and swelling from painful, inflamed pimples.
• Comedone extraction & scaling: Remove clogged pores and smoothen skin texture.
• Medical therapy: Oral and topical prescriptions customized to your acne type.
• Clarity II laser: Targets acne bacteria and reduces post-acne redness.
• Genesis laser: Calms sensitive skin and controls excessive oil production.

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Final Thoughts

While study stress may be unavoidable, skin stress doesn’t have to be. If acne is affecting your confidence during exams, let’s treat it early and effectively. Managing your skin today helps you focus better—and feel better—tomorrow.

YSBB Skin Clinic, Seoul, Korea