Effects of Stress on Skin And How to Overcome It

How does stress affect your skin

Your skin reacts to physical, environmental, emotional, and psychological stress because it can’t differentiate the stressors and hence reacts to all of it. Stress heightens cortisol secretion in the body, which increases inflammation. Stress-induced inflammation can aggravate the already existing skin conditions.

Stress can be categorized into acute and chronic. When people suffer from chronic stress, it jeopardizes the health of the skin. The immune system becomes hypersensitive and highly reactive due to chronic stress, which results in unwanted skin disorders.

What are the effects of stress on the skin

Below mentioned are some of the prominent skin issues caused by stress.

Acne

Wondering if stress can cause pimples? The simple answer is yes. When you are under stressful situation, your body releases series of hormones like cortisol and corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH). CRH is believed to stir sebaceous glands around the hair follicles. Result? Excessive oil secretion from these glands that cause clogged pores and acne.

Rashes

Are stress and skin rash related? Yes! Stress can weaken the immune system and cause a bacterial imbalance in the gut and skin (known as dysbiosis). When your skin is under the attack of dysbiosis in the skin, it leads to redness and rash. The effects of stress are not limited to rashes. Eczema, psoriasis, and contact dermatitis are some of the skin diseases triggered by stress.

Wrinkles

Another effect of stress on skin is wrinkles. Stress can accelerate the ageing process and strike significant alternations in the skin proteins. When the stress is unmanaged, it accelerates the protein breakdown, causing the skin to lose its elasticity. Skin proteins like collagen and elastin are responsible for making the skin strong, resilient, and flexible, ensuring it bounces back when stretched. A stressed person loses this ability over time, which contributes to wrinkle formation. Additionally, when a person furrows their brows unconsciously and repeatedly (in response to negative feelings), it may lead to the development of wrinkles as well.

Under-eye bags

Under-eye bags are usually associated with ageing. However, inadequate sleep due to mental or emotional stress or work pressure or unhealthy sleep pattern can also heighten the appearance of under-eye bags.

Now that you know the effects of stress on the skin, we can move on to learn the practical ways to possibly undo the damages caused by stress and prevent it from happening.

Choose the right skincare ingredients to manage environmental stressors

An anti-stress skincare is truly the need of the hour. Anti-stress skincare doesn’t assuage mental stress but it indeed helps correct the outcome of it. The purpose of anti-stress skincare is to reduce the inflammation of the skin. Hence, you must pick suitable skincare ingredients for your anti-stress skincare to reduce the effects of stress on skin.

Vitamin C

You can reverse the damage caused by environmental stressors by including antioxidant-rich products like vitamin C-infused products in your skincare regimen. The benefits of vitamin C on the skin are endless. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps protect your skin from environmental stressors like pollution, UV rays, and free radicals that cause inflammation, premature ageing, etc. For best results, vitamin C cleanser, vitamin C serum, overnight serum infused with vitamin C, vitamin C day cream and vitamin C night cream in your daily skincare rituals.

Hyaluronic acid

Other star ingredients of your anti-stress skincare can be hyaluronic acid. Similar to vitamin C, the benefits of hyaluronic acid for skin are incredible. For intense hydrating results and to avoid dry and dehydrated skin, include sheet masks like hyaluronic acid-infused ampoule mask and coconut + hyaluronic acid-rich eye mask for lines and puffy eyes.

Adopt the right lifestyle choices to manage physical, psychological, and emotional stress

• The best way to tackle physical, psychological, and emotional stress is to include yoga and meditation in your self-care routine.
• Stay active. Indulge in regular exercise for optimal mental and physical health.
• Get enough sleep to avoid getting stressed mind and skin.
• Try face exercises to relieve stress.

Stress can’t disappear from your life overnight! However, you can certainly learn the ways to cope with stress for optimal mental, physical, psychological, and skin health. So, consume a balanced diet rich with antioxidants, adopt healthy lifestyle choices, and stay hydrated to reduce the effects of stress on skin and achieve beautiful, spot-less visage.

Need help with skincare products, tips, and tricks? Browse through the Garnier skincare products and skincare tips and pave the way for healthy skin.