We’ve all had to deal with stress, and we know how feeling a lot of stress can affect us mentally. But you may be surprised by how stress affects us physically too! One of the ways stress can present itself is through our skin. Although a little stress in our lives is normal and healthy for us, too much can have adverse effects on our skin.
Here are a few ways to tell if your level of stress is affecting your skin and what you can do about it.
7 Ways Stress Affects Your Skin and What You Should Do About It
- Is Your Skin Breaking Out?
If you’re suddenly experiencing a breakout, that’s a sign that stress is starting to affect your skin. Being stressed can make our skin oilier. This is because of a hormone called cortisol, also called the “stress hormone.”
Cortisol is what your brain secretes to help manage your “fight or flight” response. Among other things, it increases your body’s blood sugar level and gives you more energy as part of the stress response.
Cortisol is also thought to make your skin produce more oil! Oily skin can clog your pores, which is what causes acne.
Studies have shown that higher levels of stress can lead to acne. So if you’re breaking out suddenly, it could be because you’re stressed out.
- Are You Noticing More Wrinkles and Fine Lines?
Getting wrinkles and fine lines is a normal part of aging. But high levels of stress can make them appear faster and make them more noticeable.
This is because stress directly affects the proteins in your face. The protein collagen is one of the building blocks of your skin and is what allows it to stay elastic. When you become stressed, it affects your collagen levels, leading to looser, more wrinkly skin.
“If you are looking for a solution to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, you can consider plasma pen treatment. Click here to see if plasma pen stretch marks treatment is for you.”
- Are Rashes Suddenly Appearing?
Getting rashes or hives is a very common occurrence amongst those with chronic stress problems. This is because stress weakens your immune system, which leads to the growth of more bacteria on your skin.
These bacteria can cause rashes or hives. If you’ve been breaking out in hives recently, consider your stress levels. Have they been high? If they have, it’s probably time to cut back on whatever’s stressing you out.
- Is Your Skin Dry?
Part of your body’s stress response is that it also produces adrenaline. Adrenaline is what gives you huge boosts of energy when you’re stressed and is the reason why your heart beats so fast during these moments.
Adrenaline also makes you sweat. And when you sweat, it releases the moisture in your body. This can lead you to dehydrated and dry out your skin.
While dry skin can be caused by factors, such as plain old genetics, stress is another leading cause.
- Are Your Pre-Existing Skin Conditions Flaring Up?
For people struggling with skin problems like psoriasis, eczema, and rosacea, these problems are ever-present. However, higher levels of stress can exacerbate these issues.
Again, it is because of that pesky hormone cortisol. As the cortisol enters the various parts of bodies and our immune systems become weaker, these chronic conditions can worsen.
- Are the Bags Under Your Eyes Becoming Bigger?
Are the bags under your eyes more pronounced lately? It could be because you’re feeling stressed.
Stress is known to be one of the leading causes of insomnia, or difficulty falling and staying asleep. One of the physical symptoms of getting less sleep are bags under the eyes.
Since stress also affects the elasticity of our skin, it can also be the reason bags are forming.
- Are You Caring Less for Your Skin?
Being stressed out often means neglecting aspects of our lives that are important. If you’re skipping out on your daily face washing and moisturizing because you don’t have the time, that will take a toll on your skin.
When we get stressed, our mindfulness for healthy skin is often one of the first things to go.
Trending Questions: How Can You Help Your Skin?
Q: How Do You Reduce Stress?
One of the best ways to combat the stress that leads to all these skin issues is to reduce it in the first place. But that’s often easier said than done.
A lot of the time, we’re not in control of the things that are stressing us out. Luckily, we are in control of our actions. Making a point to practice mindfulness fo/r healthy skin by meditating or performing breathing exercises are a couple of great ways you can go about this.
See Also: How to Get Rid of Sunspots
Q: What Other Problems Can Cause these Issues?
Although stress can be a major cause of these problems, there are other possible causes.
Some people are just more prone to issues like dry skin bad breakouts, even when they’re not experiencing stress. People with conditions like psoriasis and eczema will often experience flare-ups due to stress, but often diets, sleep, and other external factors can play a role in inflammation.
If you’re not sure what’s causing your skin problems, try ruling out stress first. Has work been more challenging than usual? Are you facing new issues in your personal life?
Once you rule stress out, you can consider what other factors may be leading to your skin issues.
Q: What Are Other Signs of Stress on the Body?
Your skin isn’t the only thing that stress will affect. When you’re experiencing extreme stress, you may become shaky, sweaty, or feel sick.
You might also notice signs in your nails or your hair. Stress can make your nails brittle and stop them from growing. In some cases, it can even make your nails peel.
As for your hair, you might find your scalp to become oilier or too dry out. You might also experience hair loss if the stress is particularly bad.
Q: What Can I Do to Reduce the Appearance of Damaged Skin?
If you’re doing your best to manage your stress, you may be wondering if there are other ways to help reduce the appearance of the damage stress has caused. Investing in an anti-wrinkle cream is one good way to keep up your skin’s elasticity. Different creams work for different skin types, so do some research to find the best anti-wrinkle cream for you.
One example you might want to check out is the City Beauty Multi-Action Sculpting cream to help your skin retain a youthful appearance.
Many City Beauty Multi-Action Sculpting review postings suggest that this cream is a great way to help keep your skin looking firm and prevent sagging and fine lines!
Conclusion
Stress affects us in many ways. Although having small amounts of stress is completely normal and healthy, too much stress can impact us physically. Your skin is one of the major places stress hits!
So, if your skin is being affected by your stress, find ways to reduce stress by practicing mindfulness, and consider investing in good face cream to help keep skin looking smooth and youthful.
Author Bio:
Sophia Anthony is a freelance writer and blogger, covering health and fitness topics through visual representation. She is very passionate about general health and beauty. Apart from work, she likes dancing and listening to music. You can also contact her on Facebook, and Instagram.
Post You May Also Like
