Stress has become an unfortunate yet ubiquitous part of our lives often triggered by factors such as work pressure, relationships and financial concerns. While we're aware of the detrimental impact of stress on our physical and mental health, few of us realise that it also takes a significant toll on our skin health. Chronic stress can lead to inflammation, breakouts and several skin conditions. Moreover, stress makes us appear older than we actually are and is a major factor that can trigger and worsen skin diseases and these diseases also reflect a person’s general health.

In a conversation with Jagran English, Dr. Simrat Sandhu, Cosmetic Physician at Cosmetique By Dr. Simrat Sandhu explained how stress can impact our skin and also listed easy ways to keep your skin healthy.

Impacts Of Stress On Skin

Oil Production Raise- Sebaceous glands are stimulated to an increased degree with the emission of cortisol which results in heightened oil production. This leads to acne breakouts and skin damage.

Weakens Skin Barrier- Moisture retention and skin healing become a challenge with chronic stress. The skin further becomes sensitive to irritation and prone to increased itching and dryness.

Inflammatory Skin Condition Trigger- Psoriasis, eczema and even rosacea are known to worsen with stress due to an increase in bodily inflammation.

Wound Healing Delay- Healing of the skin is delayed with stress due to the slower natural healing cycle which lengthens the duration of acne scars as well as skin wounds.

link between stress and skin

Ways to keep your skin healthy (Image Credits: Canva)

Ways To Keep Skin Healthy When Stressed

1. Stress Management Approaches

Mindfulness and Meditation- It is believed that practices such as meditation, mild yoga exercises and even deep breathing can help in reducing pre-existing stress.

Regular Workout Routines- Skin health has been linked with an activity surge as workout routines enhance blood circulation and decrease skin stress hormones.

Rest- Quality of sleep is 7 - 9 hours. Lack of or lack thereof leads to heightened cortisol levels which worsen already inflicted skin conditions.

2. Changes To Skincare Routine

Apply soothing ingredients like ceramides, aloe vera and niacinamides to inflammatory areas.

Do not apply skincare products easily in an attempt to calm stressed skin.

Apply a moisturiser free of any scent or exfoliative agents to deeply hydrate the skin and reinforce the skin barrier.

3. Healthy Diet And Drinking Habits

Consuming a healthy diet containing anti-oxidizing agents such as vegetables, fruits and or green tea is beneficial when fighting inflammation caused by stress.

Keeping hydrated by drinking plenty of water aids in skin hydration as well as detoxing the skin.

4. Consulting A Professional

If self-help methods do not resolve the issue, visiting a dermatologist can prove beneficial in providing the right treatment for the stress-related skin issue. In certain scenarios, therapy aimed at managing stress may also be helpful.

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