Can Stress Affect Your Skin?

Yes, stress can have a huge impact on your skin health. It can be one of the reasons you are seeing a decline in your overall skin health.

Do you know that you break out more when you’re stressed? Stress can affect your whole body, including your skin, hair, and nails. As it’s a part of life, you should really learn how to deal with it.

What stress can do to your skin?

Here are some of the evil things stress does to your appearance:

• Under eye bags – Stress can keep you away from getting enough sleep. This can cause fluid to pool below your lower eyelid area, resulting in under eye bags. Your puffiness can get worse due to gravity.

• Dry and flaky skin – If you’re stressed, chances are you’re not drinking enough water. There is a chance that you might be drinking more coffee or soda, which can dehydrate your body. Your skin will end up feeling dry and flaky if your body doesn’t get the proper hydration it needs.

• Acne – Stress flares up various skin issues such as acne, psoriasis, or eczema. Stress releases cortisol hormones in your body, causing breakouts on your face or body. Moreover, stress can upset the balance between the good and bad bacteria in your gut, resulting in more acne and scars on your skin.

• Fine Lines: Constantly making certain facial expressions, like furrowing your brows or pursuing your lips when you’re stressed, can lead to fine lines or deeper wrinkles over your face.

• Graying Hair – Stress can reduce the production of the melanin in your hair, leaving your hair gray. It can also cause your hair to become thinner over time.

Ways to ease the stress effects on your skin

You probably can’t avoid stress completely, but with these tips, you can try to handle stress in a better way.

1. Exercise regularly. It’s good for your skin and for your health too.
2. Take care of your skin properly, even if you’re tired or stressed. Don’t forget to clean your face twice a day – morning and night.
3. Apply moisturizer to your body daily. It will keep your skin hydrated.
4. You can practice stress management techniques such as meditation, yoga, breathing exercises, or visual imagery.
5. Get enough sleep of at least 7-8 hours.
6. Take a walk around the block.
7. Limit your alcohol intake.
8. Quit smoking.
9. Keep yourself hydrated.
10. Eat healthy.
11. You can seek support from a family member, or a friend, or consult a therapist.