How stress displays on the skin, and how to address it

In light of the current National Stress Awareness and Rosacea Awareness Months, Dr Maryam Zamani, oculoplastic surgeon and facial aesthetics doctor and Dr Amelie Seghers, consultant dermatologist at The Clinic by Dr Maryam Zamani, are highlighting essential factors about how both conditions can impact the skin. Heightened stress and anxiety can increase inflammation, which may contribute to rosacea flare-ups. Here, Dr Zamani and Dr Seghers also discuss the nature of rosacea and effective solutions for managing this skin condition.

"Stress can cause the skin to become dry, flaky, sallow, red and generally irritated. When the skin barrier has been compromised, skin can become more sensitive and inflamed. Be cautious with topical skin care products and treatments. Improve the skin barrier, stop using any perfumed skincare products, avoid skincare with strong actives (like retinols or acids) and keep your regimen simple and consistent." – Dr Zamani

“A good skin barrier is the secret to really good skin. However, repeated stresses to the skin lead to a damaged skin barrier (a common modern-day skin problem). If possible, remove all the stresses that are present. Often the main culprits are active skincare ingredients such as retinol, alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) and most other acids (one of the exceptions is hyaluronic acid). Avoid frequent facials, exfoliation, constant touching of the skin and friction from masks, helmets, and hair on the face e.g. a fringe." – Dr Seghers

What treatments can help stressed out skin?

"In these situations, repairing the skin barrier is imperative. Stay away from aggressive treatments and over exfoliation. Try products that are rich in hydration and may include ingredients such as glycerol, squalene, hyaluronic acid or ceramides.” - Dr Zamani

What treatments should individuals with rosacea avoid?

"I suggest avoiding aggressive therapies such as ablative lasers, and I would recommend trying light therapy, BroadBand Light (BBL)/ Intense Pulse Light (IPL), pulsed dye lasers, and for a little boost, AquaGold Fine Touch.” – Dr Zamani

"All patients with rosacea will benefit from an adapted skincare routine to optimise the skin barrier. The rest of the treatment plan will depend on the type of symptoms the patient presents with. Topical prescription creams and oral antibiotics can be needed if small bumps are present. If only background redness and flushing, topical creams might not be enough to address the problem. Topical treatments can be combined with other treatment modalities like light therapy, for example, IPL and BBL, and other less-common skin barrier restoring therapies such as Aquagold (that are decided case by case.)" – Dr Seghers

What exactly is rosacea, and what are the symptoms?

"Rosacea is a common but poorly understood chronic inflammatory skin condition. It usually affects the face and is more common in fair skinned individuals. It causes flushing, redness and small bumps that are similar to acne. The first symptoms often start between the ages of 30 and 50. It can also affect the eyes and lead to changes in the skin texture of the nose (called rhinophyma). Common triggers include alcohol, stress, anxiety, exercise, harsh skin care products, cold weather and strong winds, sun, certain foods and menopause." - Dr Seghers

Treatment information

AquaGold Fine Touch - An FDA approved micro-needling system combined with a bespoke cocktail of effective ingredients to improve the quality and health of skin. 20 gold-tipped needles create micro-channels within the skin to deliver a cocktail of ingredients such as vitamins, peptides, hyaluronic acid, PRP and neurotoxin to brighten skin and improve skin texture. From £640 

BBL Hero - A customisable treatment of light that is absorbed by chromophores in the skin to destroy superficial pigmentation such as brown spots and seal dilated blood vessels. BBL also has a regenerative effect in the skin's dermis promoting collagen and elastin production to tighten the skin and improve skin texture. From £500 (face) 

IPL - Applies different wavelengths of light to reduce the appearance of thread veins, redness, brown spots and dilated pores. Commonly used on the face, neck, decolletage and hands, IPL Photo rejuvenation boosts collagen production to improve skin tone and elasticity. From £600 (face)

 

In light of the current National Stress Awareness and Rosacea Awareness Months, Dr Maryam Zamani, oculoplastic surgeon and facial aesthetics doctor and Dr Amelie Seghers, consultant dermatologist at The Clinic by Dr Maryam Zamani, are highlighting essential factors about how both conditions can impact the skin. Heightened stress and anxiety can increase inflammation, which may contribute to rosacea flare-ups. Here, Dr Zamani and Dr Seghers also discuss the nature of rosacea and effective solutions for managing this skin condition.

"Stress can cause the skin to become dry, flaky, sallow, red and generally irritated. When the skin barrier has been compromised, skin can become more sensitive and inflamed. Be cautious with topical skin care products and treatments. Improve the skin barrier, stop using any perfumed skincare products, avoid skincare with strong actives (like retinols or acids) and keep your regimen simple and consistent." – Dr Zamani

“A good skin barrier is the secret to really good skin. However, repeated stresses to the skin lead to a damaged skin barrier (a common modern-day skin problem). If possible, remove all the stresses that are present. Often the main culprits are active skincare ingredients such as retinol, alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) and most other acids (one of the exceptions is hyaluronic acid). Avoid frequent facials, exfoliation, constant touching of the skin and friction from masks, helmets, and hair on the face e.g. a fringe." – Dr Seghers

What treatments can help stressed out skin?

"In these situations, repairing the skin barrier is imperative. Stay away from aggressive treatments and over exfoliation. Try products that are rich in hydration and may include ingredients such as glycerol, squalene, hyaluronic acid or ceramides.” - Dr Zamani

What treatments should individuals with rosacea avoid?

"I suggest avoiding aggressive therapies such as ablative lasers, and I would recommend trying light therapy, BroadBand Light (BBL)/ Intense Pulse Light (IPL), pulsed dye lasers, and for a little boost, AquaGold Fine Touch.” – Dr Zamani

"All patients with rosacea will benefit from an adapted skincare routine to optimise the skin barrier. The rest of the treatment plan will depend on the type of symptoms the patient presents with. Topical prescription creams and oral antibiotics can be needed if small bumps are present. If only background redness and flushing, topical creams might not be enough to address the problem. Topical treatments can be combined with other treatment modalities like light therapy, for example, IPL and BBL, and other less-common skin barrier restoring therapies such as Aquagold (that are decided case by case.)" – Dr Seghers

What exactly is rosacea, and what are the symptoms?

"Rosacea is a common but poorly understood chronic inflammatory skin condition. It usually affects the face and is more common in fair skinned individuals. It causes flushing, redness and small bumps that are similar to acne. The first symptoms often start between the ages of 30 and 50. It can also affect the eyes and lead to changes in the skin texture of the nose (called rhinophyma). Common triggers include alcohol, stress, anxiety, exercise, harsh skin care products, cold weather and strong winds, sun, certain foods and menopause." - Dr Seghers

Treatment information

AquaGold Fine Touch - An FDA approved micro-needling system combined with a bespoke cocktail of effective ingredients to improve the quality and health of skin. 20 gold-tipped needles create micro-channels within the skin to deliver a cocktail of ingredients such as vitamins, peptides, hyaluronic acid, PRP and neurotoxin to brighten skin and improve skin texture. From £640 

BBL Hero - A customisable treatment of light that is absorbed by chromophores in the skin to destroy superficial pigmentation such as brown spots and seal dilated blood vessels. BBL also has a regenerative effect in the skin's dermis promoting collagen and elastin production to tighten the skin and improve skin texture. From £500 (face) 

IPL - Applies different wavelengths of light to reduce the appearance of thread veins, redness, brown spots and dilated pores. Commonly used on the face, neck, decolletage and hands, IPL Photo rejuvenation boosts collagen production to improve skin tone and elasticity. From £600 (face)