Stress, the most human thing about human beings. Stress can be caused by a tonne of things. From work, to the environment you’re in and even relationships. But did you know that stress can actually affect more than just your mental health? Experts across the world have (ironically) stressed that stress can have disastrous consequences for your skin. Here are a few ways stress can damage your skin.
Acne
Stress in your mind, activates the production of cortisol, a hormone that increases the production of skin oils or sebum. Overactive sebaceous glands can increase the chances of acne outbreaks. So instead of stressing, a calming walk, a long shower (of course with our ACV shampoo), some yoga or meditation and you could be done with acne, and instead enjoy stress free skin and life!
Alopecia
Alopecia also known as male pattern baldness is a fairly common problem. While most common in middle aged men, alopecia can also be a manifestation of stress. With alopecia the body’s immune system is known to attack hair follicles and causes hair fall. So the next time you feel stressed, don’t reach for your hair, instead use a quality conditioner.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition that can be aggravated by stress. Characterised by outbreaks of bumps and patches on the skin, it can be very itchy and painful. Stress hormones including cortisol, adversely affect the skin’s internal functioning and increases the healing time for psoriasis.
Dryness
Hyaluronic acid is the skin’s primary moisturizing agent. When stress hormones like cortisol are secreted, they can lead to the reduction of this element, leading to rough and scaly, dry skin. It therefore pays to take a chill pill and invest in quality skincare products.
What can you do to control stress?
Stress by all accounts is quite all encompassing. Considering that it can originate from any and all walks of life, you can’t always avoid it, however here are a few things that you can do to control it.
Keep fit
Keeping fit through diet and exercise is a definite must-do, whether or not you’ve a stressful life. Exercise releases endorphins that keeps you in a good mood physically. This means that in the face of stress, physical release actually helps control your mind and mood, and negates the stress hormones that get produced in the process.
Meditate
Meditation is shown to have a calming effect on practitioners. Breath control and pranic meditation or yoga are all excellent modalities with which to train and control your mind, ensuring that external factors have a minimal effect on you.
Cook
This may seem like a strange thing to say, but cooking has a calming effect on most people. The process of chopping (helps with a physical release of stress), combining flavours (mental efficacy increases), and watching your dish come together (emotional release) can help in relieving you of even the most messed up stress.
Skincare Routine
It is said that if you have a skincare routine, you’re likely to be less stressed, as against if you don’t. The tactile action of applying skincare products to your skin is said to increase happy hormone secretion. Little wonder then that women almost always get a facial, a pedicure or a massage when faced with stress, right?
Stress can have an absolutely horrible effect on your skin. But as we always say, the man with a skincare plan can leave stress far behind!
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