April 29, 2024 Naveena Vanamala

How does stress affect your skin, and how can you keep it clear and balanced?

In today's time, stress has become an integral part of life. There is no way one can eliminate them from life. From having hectic schedules to tight deadlines, stress is a part that follows everywhere. But did you know that stress can hurt your body, affecting your physical as well as your emotional well-being? However, its profound impact is on the skin, which is the largest organ of the body. Yes, stress can greatly impact the bumps, acne, or pimple breakouts on your face!

This article will explore the dire effects of stress on the skin and how a person can develop strategies and tips to help with stress management. It will also delve deeper to know where the stress stems from, how it affects the body, and how to deal with it.

* How does stress affect the skin?

Stress causes the release of chemicals and oil glands, which can make the skin more sensitive and worse. Here's how stress impacts your skin negatively:

Acne and Pimples: Stress is not directly linked with skin acne. But it can trigger acne and make you break out. This is because when under stress, the cortisol hormone is released, which increases the secretion of oil glands. This combines with dust, dead skin, and bacteria, clogging the pores and leading to acne.

* Cortisol is a hormone released by the adrenal glands, kidneys, and endocrine glands. It plays a role in the body's stress response.

Increased sensitivity: Extreme stress can cause skin rash as it leads to thinning of the protective barrier of the skin. So every time your skin comes into contact with UV rays or harmful factors, it causes rashes on the skin.
Dehydration and dullness: When under stress, the first thing a person does is stop prioritizing sleep, diet, and hydration. While this can overall harm the body, it affects skin wellness the most. This is because there are studies that claim that hydration is linked with skin wellness. Dehydrated skin can reduce its glow, making it look dry and cracked. More studies justify the fact that what we eat directly impacts our skin. And all of these factors are most likely affected by stress.
Premature Aging: Researchers have studied that the sleeping habit of a person contributes to skin aging. The person who is deprived of sleep is the one with deteriorating physical attractiveness. Sleep is again heavily impacted by the stress.
inflammation: Chronic inflammation is the by-product of chronic stress. Studies have established a link between chronic stress and skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema, and rosacea, which can lead to redness, irritation, and rash patches.
Uneven skin tone: Stress hinders the renewal process of the skin. It leads to a pile-up of dead skin cells, reducing the radiance of the skin and making it look duller. It also increases the clogged pores causing blackheads, skin inflammation, etc.

* 7 Ways to Reduce the Effect of Stress on Skin

There are few chances where one can avoid the stress from its roots, but handling it better can help to ease the effect. Stress management is a technique that can help in offering various practices to help with skin wellness:

Stay hydrated: To complete one more assignment on time won't be helped by not drinking a glass of water! One of the primary things to prioritize, even in stressful situations, is staying hydrated. Hydration plays an important role in body functioning. Moreover, it also helps significantly with skin radiance.
Prioritise sleep: Secondly, the major thing that gets affected by stress is the sleep cycle. Sleep deprivation can increase stress, which is not good for health. So, try scheduling sleep and reducing screen time for better sleep. Use types of equipment like airbeds, which can help in providing a serene sleep.
Power of skincare: No matter how stressed out you are, don't forget to follow your skincare routine. This is because skin care is not an option but a duty that one must look forward to. Read out The Power of Skincare: Habits, Ingredients, and Routines for Healthy Skin to learn more.
Meditation: There is no better way than meditation to get relief from stress. Practicing mindfulness is the best way to support the situation you are going through. By maintaining a journal, going for a walk, or having a gratitude journal, there are several ways in which one can learn to live life with stress in ease.
Maintain diet: Next time you skip a meal, know that you are not only making your gut but your skin suffer too. Eating junk and unhealthy food can lead to issues like acne, wrinkles, and dull tone. It is also said that when in stress, a person eats a lot of sugar which leads to inflammation and rashes. So, a healthy diet, even in stressful times, ensures eating foods like...