Overview

Stress is a completely normal and necessary emotion. Its purpose is to let us know when we are taking on too much and when our mind is reaching its capacity of things it can deal with. Although it might not be the most exciting feeling to process, without it, we would never know when we were overwhelmed, frustrated or upset.

Chronic stress can affect skin health, cause signs of fatigue and promote acne, redness and discomfort. Stress can cause a variety of beauty problems from premature wrinkles and acne to uneven skin tone, puffy eyes and dark circles. Also known as "stress taking a toll," it can lead to dermatological problems such as acne, brittle nails and hair loss. Keep reading to find out what other effects stress can have on your skin.

How does stress affect your skin?

Stress is a key ingredient in inflammatory skin conditions such as rosacea which can get worse when dealing with stress through alcohol consumption; red wine increases the likelihood of this condition due to broken capillaries.

Another stress-induced effect is norepinephrine, which reduces the blood flow to the skin and causes it to flare and cause unwanted bumps, spots and rashes. Chronic stress can lead to a steady increase in these hormones, which can have negative effects on skin health. 

Stress encourages cortisol production and When the body produces too much cortisol, the immune system weakens, leading to inflammatory reactions such as eczema and psoriasis. In acne, stress releases cortisol, which releases other hormones in the body and causes breakouts in the face and body. Changes in the hormone levels of cortisol caused by stress in particular contribute to these troublesome acne outbreaks.

Dermatologist Paula Oliver says that stress alters the proteins already present in the skin, which also reduces its elasticity. This loss of elasticity contributes to the formation of wrinkles. The outer stratum corneum of the skin contains proteins and lipids that play an important role in maintaining the hydration of skin cells. It also acts as a protective barrier to shield the deeper layers of the skin. But when the stratum corneum doesn't work as well as it should, skin can become dry, cracked, itchy and red.

How to cope with stress?

Daily skin care can help prevent stress signs of premature skin aging and other skin diseases. We know that it is easier said than done to reduce skin diseases caused by stress. But there are a few simple steps in the right direction that can help reduce them. There are a number of ways in which you can reduce the effect of stress on your skin:

Take care of yourself. Drink plenty of water, eat a healthy diet, exercise, sleep in a dark room with no bright screens an hour before bed, and wake up at the same time each day.

Exercise regularly. Exercise releases feel-good hormones that will improve your energy, mood, and outlook.

Get enough sleep. Sleep gives your body the time it needs to rest and heal, and good sleep improves your mood, energy levels, and cognition.

take care of your skin. Use sunscreen wherever you go outside, moisturize often—especially during the winter.

Takeaway

You might think that stress is just a mental condition, but that is not true: stress affects the entire body, including the health of hair, skin and nails. Stress affects our sleeping habits, eating habits and movement patterns, which in turn affects our skin. Stress also affects your immune system, making your skin more reactive and sensitive, which can cause rashes, hives and redness.

Our skin is the largest organ of our body and it can display signs of stress in various ways such as psoriasis, eczema, flares of Seborrheic Dermatitis and acne. Every body and skin react differently to stress due to their different genetic composition. The sensitivity of the patients varies, so the effects of stress on the skin can vary.

By reducing the stress on your body, you can reduce your skin irritation and lead a healthier, happier life. It is not possible to focus solely on healthy skin, but it can help to channel stress in a healthy way that has a positive effect on the whole body, including the skin.