Today’s infographic is a snap shot of the real impact that stress has on skin because it’s real and something that everyone should take into consideration.
Can stress really impact my skin?
One of the most important parts of living a balanced and stable lifestyle is to understand the link between how your emotions affect your physcial apperance.
This is a very true statement where the impact of stress on skin is a great example because it’s so obvious.
So yes, stress has a profound affect on your skin because stress causes a hormone imbalance which can lead to things like; breakouts, acne, dry skin, inflammation flare ups and redness.
How exactly does stress affect skin?
When we get stressed our hormones become unbalanced and we release excess adrenaline.
Adrenaline releases cortisol (also known as the stress hormone) and cortisol increases activity in the sebcaeous glands. All of this basically means that your skin can become more oily and that’s likely why you breakout or your acne flares up.
Cortisol can also damage the collagen and elastin fibers which means you can get fine lines over time, so stress causes long-lasting damage to the skin too.
How do I treat skin problems caused by stress?
There is a lot you can do and what you do depends on the symptoms caused by the stress.
Breakouts/acne – use a chemical exfoliant like salicylic acid or in worse cases benozyl peroxide. Try to avoid dairy products too because they already have hormones in them which can cause more imbalance in your body.
Eczema flare ups – Avoid harsh exfoliants and keep the skin hydrated.
But remember..
The reason stress can be so obviously visible on your skin is because you’re body is telling you there is something wrong and you need to get yourself balanced again.
Take the time to distinguish your source of stress and try to work to fix it if you can.
If the stress is external and something you can’t fix, explore ways that will help you to cope with the stress and make you feel better.
