Have you ever wondered about the effect of stress on your skin? Whether it is the global pandemic, living away from family, a recession or personal matters, they all add to tension and anxiety. What’s more, these are seen to have a cascading effect on your skin and hair – case in point, pimples before an important meeting!
Today, we explore the various ways that stress can affect your skin and what you can do about it.
Acne and Breakouts
You’ve probably heard about your body producing more cortisol under stress. When your body starts to produce more cortisol it triggers the production of CRH while in turn stimulates oil production. This excessive sebum and oil can start to clog pores and result in stress-induced cane. Add lack of sleep, the wrong diet, alcohol and heightened hormones to the list and you’ve got an environment rife for acne breakouts!
Inflammation is a direct result of stress on skin
Ever taken probiotics for better skin? Aside from being deeply connected to your gut, your skin also picks up on your stress levels. When your mind gets stressed, it slows down your digestion. This then affects bacteria in the gut, leading to an imbalance of microbes and inflammation. As this inflammation occurs, you can expect breakouts, acne or even a bout of psoriasis and eczema.
Dry Skin
If you suffer from a skin ailment like eczema you may already be aware that stress is a known trigger. Pimples aside, stress can also affect your skin to become less oily! Stress equals higher adrenaline and cortisol production which means the more you sweat, the more dehydrated you become. This gradually starts to show on your skin in the form of dryness.
Scars
Think of what you do when you are stressed. Nail biting, pulling your hair, picking on pimples are all actions born out of anxiety and can cause further harm. Subconsciously picking on your skin or acne can lead to wounds and even scarring. Want an easy solution? Keep pimple patches handy and just apply one the moment you feel something coming. Not only will the potent mix of acids help the acne to subside, but it will also guard your skin against any unconscious picking!
What You Can Do To Lower The Effect of Stress on Skin
It goes without saying that keeping your stress levels low is key to keeping your skin healthy. If you are finding it hard to keep tensions at bay, consider other ways to help your skin. Opt for a simple skincare routine that includes gentle cleansers, moisturisers that help with the build-up of sebum. If you have a recurrent problem with acne, look at investing in acids and products that specifically help with breakouts – Niacinamide and Salicylic Acid are good starting points.
Don’t forget to tank up on water to make sure your skin is hydrated from the inside too. Remember that fixing stress and its effect on the skin requires a more holistic solution – try and get more than your average hours of sleep, drink enough water, eat a nourishing diet and also look at stress-relieving techniques such as yoga or meditation!
