The Deep Connection Between Stress and Skin: How Stress Affects Your Skin
In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, stress is inevitable. From a daily 9 to 5 job to bills that need to be paid, it's a lot to handle. If not handled well, it starts to show on our skin.
The real question lies in whether or not there is a cure to this. After an immense surf on the net, we've chalked down how stress affects your skin.
Read on to explore the true stress and skin connection, and how it can be curtailed for healthy, glowing skin all day every day.
Signs of Stress on Our Skin
1. Acne
Did you know that stress causes acne? I'm sorry, what? Yep, it's true. When you are stressed, your body produces lots of a hormone called cortisol. If you were to delve deeper into the science of cortisol, you will find that it causes a drastic increase in the hormone CRH.
This, in short, is what causes oil to be released from your sebaceous glands. Now can you try to connect the dots? It's simple! One of the effects of high cortisol on skin is excessive oil secretion, clogged pores, and our number one bestie, acne!
So if you're looking for an easy, effective solution to reduce the formation of acne, then you, my friend, are in dire need of a calming day away from your troubles! Take small breaks, prioritize, and you will definitely see stunning results.
2. Baggy Under-Eyes
We've all been there with the baggy under-eyes the next morning after pulling an all-nighter for an important deadline. In fact, baggy eyes are one of the prominent effects of stress on your face. But how? It's easy.
When you feel stressed, blood is pumped rigorously to other parts of the body, keeping your face bare. That's why it looks super pale. As a result, the blood vessels under your eye are more apparent, causing dark circles to appear.
One way you can reduce your dark circles is to massage your face with serums and face oils. It keeps the area under your eyes replenished and rejuvenated.
3. Dry, Flaky Skin
Is it a fact or a myth that stress and dry skin go hand in hand? The answer is it is indeed a fact. IK! It's quite shocking. With stress comes itchy, flaky, dry skin which can be an obstacle to achieving natural, radiant skin.
Stress causes your skin's natural ability to lock in moisture. When you sweat, your skin tends to become dehydrated. That's why it's always important to hydrate, hydrate and hydrate, especially when you're not feeling so hot.
Drink lots of water, and use a good moisturizer regularly to keep your skin soft and supple all day long.
4. Rashes and Skin Conditions
Stress can cause you to break out in rashes. As it weakens your immune system, your skin's protective shield is broken. It causes water to seep out and put your skin prone to various conditions like eczema, dermatitis, or even psoriasis. Try to consult your dermatologist for creating an effective skincare routine to keep your skin happy and healthy.
5. Signs of Aging
Wrinkles and other signs of ageing are all part of the package when dealing with how stress affects your skin. Stress, especially long-term stress, may reduce the elasticity of your skin, causing wrinkles to form.
If you want to keep your ageing signs at bay, you should try to switch up your lifestyle, and use a suitable anti-ageing cream. Be consistent with your skincare routine.
Simple, Easy Hacks To Reduce Stress Effects on Skin
There are an array of stress effects on skin. There IS a solution to reduce them. All you gotta do is try de-stressing. Below are a few easy-peasy hacks to try to lower the risk of how stress affects your skin.
Hack # 1: Hydrate
We can't stress how important water is to your health. That's why keep a large water bottle right next to you and keep sipping on it.
Hack # 2: Go for a walk
Stress can actually cause you to fumble and hinder your thinking. Just go for a walk, and you'll come back feeling refreshed and ready to get back to work.
Hack # 3: Consistent Skincare Routine
When you're stressed, you'd just want to crash on your bed and float into a dreamland. That's a strict No-No buddy. Don't jump on the bed directly. Instead, take a moment to unwind and relax. You need to take care of your skin just like you would brush your teeth.
Did you know it's scientifically proven that maintaining a consistent skincare routine actually helps reduce your stress? Plus, it keeps your skin absolutely healthy and glowing.
Avoid using harsh, stimulating products. Instead, you can use gentle, calming products to lower all the hyperactivity of your skin cells. Keep it simple yet effective.
Hack # 4: Lifestyle Switcheroo
To keep your stress at bay, you are in serious need of a lifestyle change. Don't worry. We've got your back. It's not as complicated as it seems to be. All you have to do is eat a healthy diet filled with fruits and veggies, and get ample amounts of sleep. Once you start doing that, you will notice that you feel much calmer, relaxed and all set for a productive day.
All in all, stress does show on your skin. But, with a few simple tips and tricks, you can reduce how stress affects your skin.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What are 5 common skin-related conditions related to stress?
Is it a fact or a myth when asked does stress causes skin problems? Yep, it is 100% true. Stress can lead to an array of skin problems including acne, hives, rosacea, eczema, and psoriasis.
2. How does cortisol affect skin?
Cortisol is a hormone that is produced by the body in times of stress. When you have high levels of cortisol, it can cause your sebaceous glands to produce more oil. The effects of high cortisol on skin include severe breakouts, inflammation, and acne.
3. How do you lower cortisol levels quickly?
If you're on the hunt for ways to reduce your cortisol levels, then you're in luck. All you have to do is live, laugh, and have fun. Try eating healthy, and getting ample sleep. Breathing and staying hydrated are crucial to curtailing your cortisol levels. In short, practice a few self-care methods, and you can easily reduce it.
