Protect your skin from the effects of stress!

Stress, prolonged tension and a whole host of negative emotions leave their mark on the skin, both visibly and imperceptibly.
And while it’s difficult to completely eliminate the source, when it comes to protecting the skin from its negative effects, we’ve got a lot to do!

How does stress affect the skin?
The effects of stress on the skin are gradual and subtle, and sometimes escape our attention without causing us to panic: a gradual loss of radiance or accelerated aging processes may not be perceptible, but they are with hindsight.
Occasionally, the cascade of changes goes into overdrive: acne changes intensify or an avalanche of new imperfections appears, sometimes in the least expected places.
Added to this are irritation, itching and sensitivity.
Worse still, a vicious circle is created: the worse you look, the worse you feel, and the greater the tension, the more unfavorable changes occur in your skin.

Why does stress damage the skin?

There’s no great mystery to it.
Permanent stress has been recognized by the WHO as the disease of the century, and doctors were alerted years ago to the alarming correlation between high cortisol levels and the onset and development of diseases such as cancer, thyroid disorders, hypertension, diabetes and obesity.
So how can the skin, our largest organ, be indifferent to this?
It’s a relationship “from birth”, and even before!
Because skin and emotions share common roots.
At the embryonic stage, nerve tissue and skin cells develop from the same cell layer, the ectoderm, so their interaction is inevitable by definition.

• Healthy hair with financing options

The influence of emotions on skin condition

Not only inevitable, but much more serious than we think.
In fact, we observe this relationship every day, even when we’re not paying attention: an unexpected blush, goose bumps in response to cold, or ears that redden out of embarrassment – it’s as clear as day that something’s going on.
And it’s not just a case of premonitions: under the influence of nerve impulses, blood vessels dilate and blood circulates more quickly, causing the face to take on undesirable hues.

Also read: what affects skin and body pH?

This mechanism also works the other way round.
When cortisol levels reach high levels, a whole series of changes take place in the skin at cellular level.
Adrenalin increases pro-inflammatory factors and degrades collagen and other proteins, inhibiting their synthesis.
Production of the sleep hormone melatonin is similarly disrupted, hindering natural regeneration and making the skin more susceptible to injury, inflammation and loss of elasticity.
When skin is not rested, it loses its elasticity and optimum moisture level, and its protective barrier is put to the test.

Stress and skin diseases

In addition, triglycerides break down, further weakening the hydrolipid mantle, exposing tissues to dehydration, increasing the risk of infection and contributing to an accelerated aging process.
But it’s not “just” a few extra wrinkles.
Long-term exposure to stress can also lead to chronic conditions that are difficult to treat, such as rosacea, vitiligo, alopeciarosacea and even AD.

Many of them, because they not only affect the skin, but also leave a strong emotional mark, will require specialized care.
And that’s no exaggeration, since it’s not just a question of unhappiness: many skin conditions are associated with long-term mood depression, and can even lead to anxiety or depression, making normal functioning difficult.

Psychodermatology, skin and mental disorders

There are also those who, due to severe permanent stress, will provoke self-aggressive actions, such as acne scratching, consisting in the impossibility of refraining from manipulating already existing lesions, which in fact leads to the exacerbation of the problem, or trichotillomania, the involuntary and uncontrolled plucking of hair in a gesture of tension release.
Or compulsive hand-washing, which, in addition to its undeniable value as a means of disinfection, can lead at best to increased skin dryness and at worst to so-called “wear eczema”.
In all these cases, psychodermatology comes to the rescue, but sometimes a psychological or psychiatric opinion must also be sought.

How to protect your skin from stress

Okay, but if stress is a disease of our time, and in the age of pandemics it’s virtually impossible to eliminate it, how can we protect ourselves from it and avoid skin complications?
If they do appear, it’s best to consult a specialist rather than trying to cope on your own. Only specialized, targeted care can rapidly restore the skin’s hydrolipidic barrier and treat secondary problems, such as eczema.

And before that?
There are many ways to take care of your skin and your head at the same time – a well-known list, which however takes on a slightly different meaning in this context.
The regenerative effects of an uninterrupted night’s rest are felt throughout the body.
Next come physical activity and relaxation techniques, also for obvious reasons.
And aromatherapy therapy and pleasure in one!

Oxidative stress – how to prevent it

When it comes to oxidative stress, which is just as damaging to the skin as the one we experience every day, don’t forget a high SPF sunscreen to minimize the multiplication of sun-activated free radicals.
Plus antioxidant protection with coenzyme Q10, vitamin C, beta-carotene and glutathione to boot.
Studying cosmetic ingredients isn’t enough.
For them to work, you need to slow down a little.
Look at yourself with care, attention, understanding and a willingness to receive the signals sent by your body.
Give yourself time and space for your favorite beauty rituals, to organize your thoughts, to relax, to enjoy a precious meal.
Because small steps have big effects!