How Stress Affects Your Skin
We all know stress is bad, it can lead to troubles sleeping, depression, digestive problems and more. One thing you may not know is that it can also affect your skin. Skin health can be determined by external factors like sun exposure and pollutants and internal factors like food, genetics and stress.
Acne
Stress may not be an explicit cause of breakouts, but many experts believe it is a contributor and can make symptoms worse.
“Under stress, our body releases cortisol, often referred to as a stress hormone, which can create inflammation, affect oil production levels and lead to breakouts,” says Anna de la Cruz, Glo Skin Beauty Director of Brand Development.
According to Dr. Anita Gill of Gill Dermatology, increased oil production can lead to pimples or cystic acne.
“With acne production and more stress, one often will start 'picking' at the skin leading to scar formation and areas that do not heal well,” says Dr. Gill.
“Stress-induced acne can be controlled by using a personalized skincare regimen, and by reducing stress on a daily basis,” she adds. She recommends consulting a board certified dermatologist to create a skincare regimen for your skin type.
Skin Reactivity
Studies have shown that stress may affect skin's reactivity. In fact, 50% of beauty buyers identify their skin as sensitive according to the American Academy of Dermatology. For some, sensitivity is only temporary. When your skin flares up, stick to gentle, soothing ingredients, like Aloe Vera and Cucumber.
Redness & Rosacea
According to the National Rosacea Society, stress can trigger rosacea symptoms. Rosacea, a chronic skin condition that leads to red, inflamed skin, affects more than 16 million Americans.
While Rosacea can be concealed with makeup, like Redness Relief Powder, it’s ideal to target the cause of your skin conditions instead of the symptoms. While the cause of Rosacea is unknown, it can be exacerbated by sun exposure, stress and heavy exercise among other factors.
How to Reduce Stress
Stress can be hard to escape, but it’s important to manage it where you can.
- Exercise regularly. Walk your dog, take the stairs or dance like nobody's watching.
- Set aside “me time.” Paint your nails, treat yourself to a massage or simply shut the door and read a good book.
- Meditate and practice deep breathing. Meditating will lower your heart rate and blood pressure, a true sign of relaxation.
- Get your beauty rest. Allow yourself to sleep for 7-9 hours every night so you’ll be fully rested and ready to take on the day.
Dr. Gill says, “Exercise, a healthy diet and sleep, in addition to a skincare regimen, will leave your skin pristine long term!” Sources: Acne.org, AAD.org, Rosacea.org, Stress.org