Four steps to tackle stressed-out skin
Today (November 6) is National Stress Awareness Day. Jane Lewis from the Skin to Love Clinic asks, are we overlooking the impact that stress can have on our skin?
Stress in the workplace or in relationships are all hot discussion topics but often missed is the affect that stress can have on our skin, as the body’s largest organ it’s bound to be affected by our mental wellbeing potentially triggering conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, acne and rosacea, so why is this overlooked? On Stress Awareness Day Jane Lewis from the Skin to Love Clinic aims to improve our understanding of how stress can affect your skin and how your skin can affect your mental health with four steps to start to tackle stressed out skin.
“We all know that when we are overtired and anxious, we don’t look or feel our best, and when we look in the mirror the word ‘worn out’ comes to mind, and we’re not imagining it, our skin literally is wearing out and this is all to do with the length of our telomeres, the end parts of our DNA which protect the skin’s cells; prolonged periods of stress can shorten them and as a result the cell dies, each time a skin cell dies it ages the skin contributing to the formation of wrinkles and affecting its laxity", she said. "Along with finding ways of managing stress, it’s crucial that we begin to understand the psychological impact of feeling good about yourself, appearance has a huge impact on confidence and skin conditions can result in poor self-esteem. It can be a vicious cycle.”
Identify stress triggers
Stress is the body’s reaction to any change that requires a modification, or a response and it can manifest in different ways in different people. Our bodies react to changes with physical, mental and emotional replies, there are over 40 commons signs of stress from irritability, lack of sleep, the inability to make decisions to the dramatic affect it can have on the skin. I recommend patients keep a diary recording sleep patterns, diet, stress levels and the affect it has on their skin.
Work on reducing stress levels
When we experience stress, the body releases cortisol and this does a great job helping the body deal with the pressure. But, if the body experiences continued high levels of stress it produces higher levels of cortisol which can have an incredibly negative affect on the skin, hampering the skin’s ability to produce hyaluronic acid, the skin’s natural hydrator which helps to keep it plump and healthy. Consider breathing exercises, meditation and mindfulness all techniques that can help ease a stressful situation.
Today (November 6) is National Stress Awareness Day. Jane Lewis from the Skin to Love Clinic asks, are we overlooking the impact that stress can have on our skin?
Stress in the workplace or in relationships are all hot discussion topics but often missed is the affect that stress can have on our skin, as the body’s largest organ it’s bound to be affected by our mental wellbeing potentially triggering conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, acne and rosacea, so why is this overlooked? On Stress Awareness Day Jane Lewis from the Skin to Love Clinic aims to improve our understanding of how stress can affect your skin and how your skin can affect your mental health with four steps to start to tackle stressed out skin.
“We all know that when we are overtired and anxious, we don’t look or feel our best, and when we look in the mirror the word ‘worn out’ comes to mind, and we’re not imagining it, our skin literally is wearing out and this is all to do with the length of our telomeres, the end parts of our DNA which protect the skin’s cells; prolonged periods of stress can shorten them and as a result the cell dies, each time a skin cell dies it ages the skin contributing to the formation of wrinkles and affecting its laxity", she said. "Along with finding ways of managing stress, it’s crucial that we begin to understand the psychological impact of feeling good about yourself, appearance has a huge impact on confidence and skin conditions can result in poor self-esteem. It can be a vicious cycle.”
Identify stress triggers
Stress is the body’s reaction to any change that requires a modification, or a response and it can manifest in different ways in different people. Our bodies react to changes with physical, mental and emotional replies, there are over 40 commons signs of stress from irritability, lack of sleep, the inability to make decisions to the dramatic affect it can have on the skin. I recommend patients keep a diary recording sleep patterns, diet, stress levels and the affect it has on their skin.
Work on reducing stress levels
When we experience stress, the body releases cortisol and this does a great job helping the body deal with the pressure. But, if the body experiences continued high levels of stress it produces higher levels of cortisol which can have an incredibly negative affect on the skin, hampering the skin’s ability to produce hyaluronic acid, the skin’s natural hydrator which helps to keep it plump and healthy. Consider breathing exercises, meditation and mindfulness all techniques that can help ease a stressful situation.