Keeping your personal and professional lives balanced can sometimes be difficult since you may be required to put in a lot of extra time and effort, which can end up leaving you tired and stressed. Stress can negatively affect your body in many ways, it affects your mental as well as physical health.
Chronic stress has a negative impact on your body. You will experience sleeplessness, lack of appetite, difficulty concentrating, and feeling lethargic when you are on the rack.
Stress levels are known to have a serious impact on your skin, worsening existing skin disorders such as eczema and rosacea. As per a recent study, chronic and acute stress can negatively affect your skin resulting in breakouts and the appearance of early signs of ageing. In this article, we will be elucidating on how stress affects your skin and how to combat stress-related skin problems.
How Does Stress Affect Your Skin?
A hectic work schedule and an unhealthy lifestyle is the major cause of stress in our life. Long working hours and household chores can drain you. Moreover, the work-from-home situation due to the present pandemic affects your physical, social, and psychological well-being. Stress can have a long-term effect on your health, including your skin, hair, and nails.
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The psychological state of your mind affects your body. When a person is stressed, they may flush and sweat profusely. Stress, tension, and depression can flare up existing skin conditions. High levels of stress can trigger the release of stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol into the bloodstream. Cortisol is responsible for increased oil production by the sebaceous glands, resulting in clogged pores and breakouts. Acute stress leads to a constant increase in the level of stress hormones in the body. Increased level of cortisol affects your immune system, resulting in oxidative stress which eventually leads to the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
When your body senses an external threat, in the form of stress its immune system responds, causing inflammation. Inflammation is known to protect your body from external threats, but when your body is already stressed out, at that time your immune system becomes hyperactive, sending an inflammatory response. This can trigger skin inflammatory conditions such as eczema, rosacea, rashes, psoriasis, and acne.
How To Combat The Effect Of Stress On Your Skin?
Below mentioned are derm-approved tips to combat the effect of stress on your visage. Let's get started.
1. Use A Mild Cleanser
Let’s not be aggressive on the skin, as facial skin is quite delicate and fragile. Use a mild facial cleanser, a micellar water is apt for cleansing as it gently cleanses your facial skin. The oil molecules present in micellar water eliminate the minute traces of dirt, dust, grime, and makeup from your face. Moreover, micellar water keeps your skin hydrated and nourished. It soothes the inflamed skin.
2. Keep Your Skin Hydrated
Make sure to keep your skin well-hydrated as it helps to eliminate skin dryness. Use a light moisturizer that gets absorbed into the skin easily, making it plump while diminishing the signs of ageing.
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3. Avoid Picking Your Skin
If stress has worsened your acne and you feel that blemishes are ruining your appearance, you promptly start picking your skin. This habit can worsen the situation, stop it, and your skin will be thankful to you.
4. Apply A Soothing Face Mask
Your dull, dry, and tired-looking face needs some extra TLC. A soothing face mask can give your skin some respite. Apply a rejivenating face mask containing aloe vera, oatmeal, clay, or seaweeds which is helpful in reviving and rejuvenating your skin. Use this face mask twice a week.
5. Keep Your Eye-Cream Handy
Juggling between your professional and personal life can cast its shadow under your eyes. The skin under your eyes is delicate and more prone to wrinkles. Apply an eye cream twice a day to keep your under-eye skin well-nourished and hydrated.
Store your eye cream in the fridge to give a cool treat for your stressed skin. This helps to reduce puffiness and dark circles.
These easy-to-follow skincare tips can prove to be very useful in battling the signs of stress on your skin.
Easy Ways To De-Stress Yourself
- Life can be stressful at times, but that doesn’t mean that you should allow stress to take control over you. There are many ways to de-stress yourself.
- You can indulge in self-care activities. Take time to listen to music, take up a hobby, go for a spa treatment or aromatherapy.
- Exercise regularly as it helps to keep you physically fit. Do breathing exercises to manage stress.
- Activities like swimming, walking, jogging can alleviate your mind and body.
- Yoga and meditation are equally beneficial in fighting stress.
- Get your beauty sleep, try to get at least 8-10 hours of sleep daily. Good sleep is essential to keep your body fit and your skin healthy as your body gets time to repair and heal its damaged cells.
- Eat healthy and balanced food. Include lots of fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet.
- Stay hydrated by drinking at least 8-10 glasses of water on a regular basis.
Also Read : How to Reduce Stress - Simple Ways to Overcome Stress in Life
Whenever you feel that you are going through a stressful situation engage yourself in self-relaxing activities, talking to someone whom you can confide in, so as not to allow stress to take over you.
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