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How Stress Messes With Your Skin
“Happiness is a habit, so is skincare.”
Stress is a normal psychological and physical reaction to the ever-increasing demands of life. And we all experience varying levels at different times and in many situations. Under these circumstances the brain’s hard-wiring system kicks in. When it perceives a threat, the brain signals your body to release a burst of hormones to fuel your capacity for a response. This has been labeled the “fight-or-flight” response and is a normal bodily reaction that is meant to protect us.
However, as we now live in a world of never-ending stress, our brain’s alarm system rarely shuts off.
Over time and without stress management high levels of stress can lead to serious health problems including a myriad of skin issues.
Hormones, neuropeptides and other signaling molecules released during stressful times may be second only to sunlight in aging the skin. And what’s worse is that women are more prone than men to get stressed. That means wrinkling, loss of tone and increased levels of sensitivity, particularly as we age.
Additionally, proteins and DNA in the epidermis and dermis are broken down by prolonged periods of stress and this in turn can cause acne, rosacea, psoriasis, eczema and hives.
