The cherry on top of this unprecedented, difficult year is actually more like a cyst. Or a whitehead. Or a blackhead. As many readers have discovered firsthand, periods of stress can lead to an increase in a stress hormone called cortisol, which in turn causes breakouts — and not necessarily on the face.
Pandemic stress-induced acne, including the “maskne” caused by our face coverings, have driven the skin-care discussion this year. But a more overlooked (perhaps because it’s quite literally unseen) rise in body acne seems to be occurring parallel to the new bumps on our faces.