Our skin and body are all affected by stress. If acute stress accentuates senses and sets off an immediate flush, chronic stress can promote aging, deepening the lines and aggravate other conditions such as acne.
Mindful skincare and stress management can also give you the feeling of calm and energised skin with brighter healthier skin. Muscle relaxation, guided imagery and slow muscle relaxation relaxes the brain, decreases cortisol and evens out skin tone.
Cortisol Levels Increase
Stress sets off the “fight or flight” response in our brains which spits out adrenaline and cortisol to prepare our bodies to fight. This reaction can be helpful in some cases, but activation of the response over the long-term is damaging to skin health.
Cortisol increases can lead to many types of skin conditions, ranging from acne flares (increased oil production) to early ageing and fine lines and wrinkles. Cortisol also deactivates barrier protection, making skin susceptible to irritations worsening existing conditions such as psoriasis and eczema.
The Yoga, meditation and deep breathing exercises are great to handle the stress on the skin and make the face radiant. Food that’s well-balanced, sleep and a skincare routine that focuses on moisture retention are also important for this glistening glow.
Inflammation Increases
When stressed, the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis produces stress hormones that interfere with the function of skin barrier functions and expose you to allergens that cause hypersensitivity or itching – leading to recurrent or chronic inflammatory skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema or seborrheic dermatitis.
Also inflammation is triggered by stress by the stimulation of neuropeptides in the skin, which can make existing skin problems such as psoriasis, rosacea or acne worse during stressful periods. People often talk about burstings or worsening of already present ones like these during periods of intense tension.
Intimacy, sleep, and good diet can be ways to reduce the damage that stress causes in the body. Utilising these techniques, combined with the right type of skincare, individuals can have luminous, peaceful-looking skin.
Dryness Increases
Stress forces our bodies into survival mode and releases cortisol and other stress hormones which can irreversibly damage the skin barrier, causing a dull complexion, rashes and hives, dry skin.
The first is extreme stress, which delipidises skin and makes it less moisturizing and therefore more susceptible to products and ingredients – or respond more aggressively when exposed.
For your skin, stress can be managed by taking better care of yourself – drinking enough water, eating healthy and getting enough sleep. Even when symptoms of anxiety are too intense, consult a mental health professional.
Dark Spots Increase
Stress increases dark spots that make you look uneven and pale. This is due to stress hormones causing the face cells to produce dehydration chemicals and leave your face dehydrated which causes tired and dull skin.
Our environment is saturated with cortisol, which can render your skin sensitive to allergens and irritants, and erode its water storage capacity – creating dry, atrophied skin with fine lines.
Knowing how stress effects the skin means that you are able to react, so that you can neutralize its influence for a more beautiful skin. Reduced stress, sleeping more, and a healthy diet and skincare routine are the ways of minimizing the effects of stress on the skin.
Fine Lines Increase
Over time, if you are under a lot of stress or gnashing your teeth or biting your lips, you will develop fine lines around your mouth, eyes and forehead. Cortisol levels drop, which makes fine lines and wrinkles appear on the skin faster.
Stress can also act as a huge impediment to our bodies natural healing process so it is important that a more holistic approach to skincare involves stress-reducing practices, resting and eating properly in daily living.
Meditation or breathing exercises such as ALTYR’s are also a way to activate the relaxation mechanism and lower cortisol and inflammation. Also, drink plenty of water during the day so you don’t dehydrate and start getting fine lines and dry skin.
