Can Stress Affect Your Skin?

If you’re feeling stressed out, it can have an impact on your entire well-being, including the health of your skin. The body’s response to this can cause breakouts, dryness, irritation, and even diminish your skin’s ability to heal itself.

The Body’s Stress Response and Your Skin

The body’s response to stress involves the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis or HPA. This includes three glands that can stimulate the production of hormones involved in your fight-or-flight response and cortisol. When these substances are released, they can send immune cells to the skin and cause inflammation. Cortisol also prompts the skin glands to produce more oil, which can cause oily skin. Many people experience acne breakouts, because of the increased oil production.

How Stress Affects the Epidermis

It can also compromise the epidermis’s ability to repair itself. The epidermis is the outer layer of the skin, and it acts as the body’s barrier against microbes. This can prolong the healing process for a variety of skin issues. The epidermis also keeps your skin moisturized, so when it’s affected by this, it can cause dryness and irritation. The effect on the epidermis can even exacerbate chronic skin conditions such as eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis. 

Ultimately, it makes your skin more sensitive, which increases the odds that you’ll experience negative reactions. Your body’s response can also prolong the healing period for skin problems. 

Managing Stress to Protect Your Skin

Managing it by getting enough sleep, regular exercise, and relaxation methods like yoga and meditation can help you fend off skin problems. Additionally, it’s important to maintain a skincare routine even if you’re feeling stressed out. For an added boost, you can talk to the experienced estheticians at Amaris Skin about the skin treatments available to help you combat common skin issues. Contact us today to request a consultation!