We all have heard about the fact that what we eat is what reflects on our faces. It is essential to take care of the largest organ of our body. External factors like pollution, humidity, sun exposure, and too much washing of the face contribute to damaged skin. Stress is also an important factor that controls the quality of the skin. Let’s have a look at the various ways your skin responds to stress.
- Under-Eye Bags
Late-night project submissions, deadlines, and family problems are very stressful. It affects your mind and sleep patterns. Stress affects the salt balance in the body. It gives you puffy eyes due to the fluid pooling below your lower eyelid. People who sleep on their stomachs also get puffy eyes due to gravity effects. A minimum of eight hours of sleep will reduce your stress levels. Avoid using your mobile phone or any electronic device at least an hour before bed as they simulate sunlight. You can make yourself a cup of chamomile tea to induce sleep.
- Dehydration
Stress causes dehydration, draining out the plumpness from your face. It weakens the role of the skin’s barrier. Your exterior skin layer guards you against all kinds of bacteria that can seep in. This function reduces when you are under stress due to high cortisol levels. When you are under pressure, you don’t drink enough water daily. You might also indulge in drinks like coffee and aerated drinks that also contribute to dehydration. Carry a water bottle to work, which you fill up at regular intervals. At your desk, keep a glass to drink water and take small sips throughout the day instead of drinking six glasses of water at once. Keep a water thermos bottle of water at your bedside as well so you can hydrate yourself right away in the morning. And lastly, try and switch at least one glass of coffee or soda with water.
- Aging
When you are in stress, you tend to make facial expressions like pressing your lips or furrowing your brows, which, if not controlled, will lead to wrinkles. Studies show a link between cortisol, collagen breakdown, and elastin. The cortisol hormone breaks down the elastin and collagen, breaking down your skin structure. Another study showed that during stress, the cells accountable for aging, i.e., telomeres shorten. The environment you are in affects the length of the telomeres and the set of proteins(shelterin, telomerase) that support the telomeres.
Your lifestyle choices, mental, and emotional stress influence the length of the telomere. It causes wrinkles and sags your skin. You can reverse these aging signs if you learn how to manage stressful times. There are many ways to make the face look stress free and puffy, you can opt for buccal fat removal in New York, NY. Take conscious actions to control your facial expressions when there is too much going on in your workplace. Exercise regularly or sign up in any activity to take your mind off the stress. Once your stress is in control, you can manage your aging signs.
- Irritated skin
Recent studies have shown that psychological stress might provoke multiple skin diseases. Factors like your mental, emotional, and physical pressure contributes to psychological stress. When these factors are out of your control, then your brain recognizes it and releases stress hormones like a corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), epinephrine, and glucocorticoids. Skin issues like hives, rosacea, dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis are all inflammatory skin diseases. You can combat these inflammatory diseases by finding and getting rid of the cause. Finding out the reason behind your stress can be difficult and takes time. Meanwhile, you can discipline your lifestyle with healthy eating habits, therapies, and workouts.
- Acne
Your skin acts differently due to the chemicals and hormones in your body, causing breakouts. Stress causes an imbalance between the good and bad bacteria in your stomach, which shows on your face in the form of acne. Under stress, you tend to overeat and drink alcohol, which is not healthy for your stomach. Studies have shown a connection between your gut, brain, and skin acne. Your chin and mouth regions are more prone to stress-induced acne. Slow breathing exercises can help in calming your stress level. Eat healthy, high-quality proteins, vegetables, fruits, and drink lots of water to maintain the balance of good and bad bacteria in your gut.
6. More sensitive skin
Abnormally high cortisol levels can lead to thinning of the skin. An increase in cortisol hormone is a result of high-stress levels, which leads to the breaking down of dermal protein. It makes the skin look nearly paper-thin, noticeable blood vessels, and easily susceptible to tearing and wounding. It is a common symptom noticed in a hormonal disease called Cushing syndrome, which comes with other symptoms like muscle weakness, low immunity, and glucose intolerance. Visit a doctor if you notice any of these symptoms. The doctor will prescribe you medications to manage your cortisol levels.
7. Dullness
Skin dullness is one such skin issue that occurs due to stress. Someday, you wake up feeling fresh and rejuvenated, and on other days you wake up feeling low in energy without a glow on your face. You might be overlooking these signs, but they tell a lot about your inner health. Dull skin is the exact opposite of healthy, glowing, and youthful skin. Stress affects the appearance of your skin, making you look tired.
Your skin’s healing process slows down in times of stress. The cortisol hormones are very receptive to pressure. So, when cortisol levels increase, it interferes with the production of cytokines that help in the healing process. The renewal of skin is altered due to stress, leading to the dullness of your complexion. You can resolve it by regular exfoliation to remove dead skin cells and promote cell regeneration. Taking healthy omega-3 fatty acids will nourish your skin with essential nutrients and bring back the glow to the surface. Eat food rich in healthy fats like avocados, salmon, and almonds.
Conclusion
The above-mentioned are the seven ways how your skin reflects stress. Though it is not evident in the same way in everyone, we all experience stress in our personal and professional lives.
