Influence of Stress on Skin Health

We’ve all been there; the sleepless nights, cloudy thoughts, and breathlessness. Stress is common and is a part of the daily lifestyle and there’s no stopping it. Stress surely drains your mental health but, it does not limit its effects to it. Stress causes a disaster on your skin too. Read on to understand how stress influences skin health.

PREMATURE AGING

Those wrinkles, fine lines, and age spots sure are a reason for panicking. It’s not just aging; stress can be a factor responsible for it too. Chronic stress can break down collagen and speed up the aging process. Collagen is a protein that keeps the skin firm, elastic, and plump. So, as stress breaks down collagen, over the time it leads to premature aging.

ACNE AND BREAKOUTS

When the sebaceous glands produce excess oil, they clog the pores and cause acne. Stress can stimulate them which causes the sebaceous glands to produce excess oil. Which when mixed with dead skin cells and bacteria leads to acne.

DULL COMPLEXION

‘You look dull today’, something that we hear at times. This can be because of stress too. When we’re stressed it reduces the flow of blood to our skin. This can give a dull appearance to the skin as it looks tired, less radiant, and pale.

INFLAMMATION

Stress shoots up the cortisol levels in the body. Higher cortisol levels can cause inflammation. The skin can get red, irritated, and puffy. The worst part is that if you have existing skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis, stress can worsen the condition. This can make your skin sensitive and more prone to flare-ups.

UNHEALTHY HABITS

Stress often makes us get into unhealthy things. Binge eating while being stressed out may feel comforting. But this actually leads to skin issues if the foods are capable of disrupting your skin and aren’t skin-friendly. The other habits being smoking and alcohol consumption which have adverse effects on the skin. Stress also can cause picking at the skin which damages the skin and can worsen the existing skin conditions.

DELAY IN HEALING

Ever been in a place where your cut, wound, or pimple took more than longer to heal? This can be because of the excess stress. The natural healing ability of the skin is slowed down by the stress and hence it takes longer than usual time to heal and repair itself. Hence, if you’re stressed, your blemishes or wounds are likely to linger and accompany you for a longer time.

IMPAIRS SKIN BARRIER

The skin has a barrier that acts as a wall that keeps the pollutants and irritants out. Along with keeping them out, it also retains moisture and keeps the skin hydrated and plump. This barrier can be weakened by stress. As it weakens, it makes room for dry skin, inflammation, and other skin breakouts.

The influence of stress on the skin is often ignored and underestimated. The things that go on inside our body, the skin is known to reflect them. Hence, stress is easily reflected by the skin. So, the next time you get stressed out, remember it’s not just the mind that is getting affected, your skin suffers too!