You may think you can handle all the stress from your daily life, but can your skin? Managing stress is frequently overlooked aspect of skincare, but nonetheless, it is one of the most crucial methods in having clean and clear skin. While this is easier said than done, any skin care professional will tell you that stress has numerous adverse effects on your complexion.
Dryness
Stress can bring out many factors in our bodies’ chemistries, and this includes hormone production. Hormones are picky, too much of one can cause breakouts, too much of another type of hormone can lead to dryness. That’s exactly what the hormone cortisol does, and during periods of time that are high in stress, the body maximized cortisol levels which can leave your skin feeling dry, flaky, and bland.
If you notice a sudden dryness in your skin, then it could be signal of too much stress. While you find ways to manage your stress, treat your skin to a face wash that’s fragrance-free, hypoallergenic. This will help get your skin’s sensitive pH levels back to balanced and resume normal oil production to curb dryness.
Irritation
Think about the times you have been stressed out—now, has your skin ever reflected this in a form of hives, rashes, breakouts, and other irritations? Most people going through an immense amount of stress actually have their skin reflect this, and suddenly, their skin becomes irritated, red, or itchy. The presence of a chemical called histamine can be blamed for this, which is reflective of an allergic reaction, hence why so many allergy pills are labeledas an “anti-histamine”.
Believe it or not, allergy pills can be your best solution to skin irritation if a rash or hives are involved, acting as histamine blockers. A more natural route to solve stressed out skin irritation is essential oils that have anti-inflammatory properties, like witch hazel, tea tree oil, and eucalyptus extract.
Acne
Acne and stress seem to go hand-in-hand, but don’t let your high stress levels get the best of your clear skin. If you are noticing frequent breakouts, there is a definite correlation to any stress you are currently facing.
In treating acne, salicylic acid is your friend. This acid dissolves the dirt, debris, and oil that clog pores, giving you a deep clean feeling and stopping acne in its tracks. Follow up your face cleanser with a fragrance-free face moisturizer. By going fragrance-free, your skin has a lower risk of clogging pores and staying acne-free, even under high amounts of stress.Dullness
Is your skin looking a bit lackluster? It’s not your fault because stress is likely to blame. Stress causes the body’s natural healing cycle to be thrown off and suddenly, skin cells aren’t being repaired as quickly as they should be. The result is a dull complexion.
A feel-good solution that clears away dead skin cells and makes you feel better is exfoliation. Exfoliating a few times a week can help your skin regenerate new cells, clear away blockage from pores, and leave your skin feeling smooth and soft.
Fine Lines
Have you ever heard of worry lines? You can blame these fine lines on unbalanced hormone levels caused by stress. Cortisol, when produced in excess, can spike blood sugar levels, and this can damage the collagen in the skin cells. Collagen is what keeps our skin firm, hydrated, and plump, so when its production is hindered, the result is fine lines.
Look for beauty products that contain retinol, otherwise known as vitamin A, because this will assist your body in retaining its normal collagen levels. Within a few weeks of use, you should notice a difference, and hopefully be less stressed!
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