Are you stressed out? Your skin can show it. Studies show that both acute and chronic stress can exert negative effects on overall skin wellness, as well as exacerbate a number of skin conditions, including psoriasis, eczema, acne, and hair loss.
But it’s not just a one-way street. Research has also shown that skin and hair follicles contain complex mechanisms to produce their own stress-inducing signals, which can travel to the brain and perpetuate the stress response.
“Stress can kill us in so many ways. From heart disease, mental illness and even visible effects on the skin.”, said Marcela Luevanos, a skin care specialist and owner of Skin by Marcela.
“Stress may manifest itself on the skin through red spots, hives, itching in different parts of the body (which could be or develop eczema and/or rosacea) and most commonly, acne.” adds Marcela, based in Los Angeles.
Tips by Marcela:
-Do some kind of exercise regularly.
-Do something that makes you feel good and that you enjoy.
-Walk at least 20 minutes a day.
-Practice stress-relief techniques such as breathing exercises, yoga, or meditation.
“The best way to start a treatment is to go to a skin expert such as an esthetician. An esthetician will be able to examine the skin visually and through a series of questions during a consultation to offer an appropriate and personalized treatment to the skin type.” said Marcela.
Psychological stress can also disrupt the epidermal barrier — the top layer of the skin that locks in moisture and protects us from harmful microbes — and prolongs its repair, according to clinical studies in healthy people. An intact epidermal barrier is essential for healthy skin; when disrupted, it can lead to irritated skin, as well as chronic skin conditions including eczema, psoriasis, or wounds. Psychosocial stress has been directly linked to exacerbation of these conditions in small observational studies. Acne flares have also been linked to stress, although the understanding of this relationship is still evolving.
The negative effects of stress have also been demonstrated in hair. One type of diffuse hair loss, known as telogen effluvium, can be triggered by psychosocial stress, which can inhibit the hair growth phase. Stress has also been linked to hair graying in studies of mice. The research showed that artificial stress stimulated the release of norepinephrine (a type of catecholamine), which depleted pigment-producing stem cells within the hair follicle, resulting in graying.
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