The Effects of Stress on Skin

Stress, Skin and How to Treat Your Stress Breakouts

The effects of stress on skin are not good. In the same way that stress can affect your mood, appetite and sleep schedule, it impacts the way that your skin functions. In order to understand the skins’ needs in times of distress, you must first understand how your skin reacts with it.

Stress, whether emotional, physical, or environmental, can manifest in a myriad of ways on our skin. At a physiological level, it triggers the release of the hormone cortisol. Elevated cortisol levels can lead to increased oil production, making the skin more prone to acne breakouts and other related conditions. Furthermore, stress can compromise the skin’s barrier function, reducing its ability to retain moisture and defend against external irritants and pathogens. This can result in dryness, sensitivity, and an increased risk of inflammatory skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis. Additionally, chronic stress can exacerbate pre-existing skin conditions and can accelerate the aging process, leading to premature formation of wrinkles, fine lines, and loss of skin elasticity. Beyond its direct effects, it can also influence skin health indirectly by disrupting sleep, leading to poor dietary choices, and reducing the motivation for maintaining a regular skincare routine. Thus, managing stress becomes pivotal not just for mental well-being but also for maintaining a healthy, radiant complexion.

Effects of Stress on Skin

Studies show that psychological stress is correlated with weakened skin barrier function, meaning that when you endure stress, your skin loses its ability to properly protect your skin.

Some signs of stress on skin are:

Acne

Bacterial or fungal skin infection

Dehydrated skin

Dry/Flaky skin

Dull Skin

Eczema

Face Flushing

Irritation on the skin

Itchy Skin

Psoriasis

Redness

Rosacea

what is the skin barrier

Skin Barrier Function

The skin barrier protects your skin from infection and dehydration and needs to be kept healthy in order to do its job. The weaker the skin barrier function, the more susceptible the skin becomes to allergens, and irritants.

Transepidermal Water Loss (TEWL)

TEWL is the measure of water that evaporates after passing through the outermost layer of the skin (the epidermal skin layer). More simply, it’s how much moisture your skin is losing. When your skin loses higher than normal amounts of water, it becomes dry and dehydrated.

If untreated, this skin can develop complications that require more nuanced treatment, such as:

Redness

Irritation and/or itchiness

Flakeyness

More pronounced wrinkles and fine lines

You might be experiencing additional stress because of skin conditions you already have

Skin Problems Increase Our Feelings of Stress

Many tools, like the Acne Disability Index and the Dermatology Life Quality Index, show that there’s a strong connection between how our skin looks and feels and our mental health. A study from 1966 to 2000 found that many people don’t realize how much skin problems, like acne or psoriasis, can affect someone’s emotions and daily life. People with these skin issues can often feel really sad or anxious, and this can seriously change how they live their lives. In fact, mental health problems play a big part in about 30% of skin conditions. For some, the stress of having these skin problems can even make them think about harming themselves. It’s essential to understand how someone’s skin issue affects their overall well-being.

environmental stressors

Environmental Stressors on Skin

Environmental stressors like pollution play a significant role in damaging our skin. Polluted air contains harmful particles and toxic chemicals that can settle on the skin’s surface. Over time, these particles can penetrate deeper skin layers, leading to dehydration, inflammation, and a weakened skin barrier. The long-term exposure can accelerate the aging process, resulting in premature wrinkles, fine lines, and an uneven skin tone. Moreover, pollution can increase the production of free radicals, which further damage skin cells and diminish the skin’s natural glow and elasticity. Protecting our skin from the harmful effects of pollution becomes essential in maintaining its health and youthful appearance.

How to prevent stress breakouts

Preventative Measures

The greatest way to reduce stress breakouts is to minimize stressors. If stress breakouts are common for you, consider ways in which you can nurture your mental health. Sometimes life gets in the way and psychological concerns are unavoidable, so you should consider the following ways that you can proactively protect your skin barrier.

Hydration

Staying well hydrated is crucial to maintaining your skin’s health. When we drink water, it is distributed and used to fuel different parts of the body. If the body does not get enough water, it eventually stops functioning well (and if we spend a hot summer day under the sun, this happens even quicker!). The skin operates the same way and when it lacks hydration, so does the skin. With dehydration comes weakened skin barrier function and reparability. To avoid dehydration, be sure to drink at least two liters of water each day.

Apply Sunscreen Daily

Wearing sunscreen daily ensures that your skin is protected by harmful UV rays which further weaken your skin barrier function. UV light damage can also lead to discoloration of the skin, pronunciation of dark spots, and worsened skin texture. Adding sunscreen to your routine not only protects your skin barrier from these visible effects but also fuels your skin’s ability to repair itself from damage.

Cut out Physical Stressors

While psychological stress is sometimes unavoidable, there are physical factors that can be impacting the way your skin reacts to stress. Consider switching to a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser, or a creamy cleanser. When possible use a humidifier in your home to add moisture in a dry climate. Small adjustments like these can help your overall skin health in the midst of psychological distress.

treating stress breakouts

Treating Stress Breakouts

Stress breakouts are inevitable and while we can do our best to prevent these break outs, we need a plan of action for treating them when they flare up. You should continue preventative measures even after a breakout occurs, most importantly keeping yourself well hydrated.

Re-Hydration

Psychological stress has been linked to the loss of moisture in the skin, particularly on the face. If you’re experiencing a stress breakout on your face, increase your daily water intake. Aside from water’s role in strengthening your skin barrier function, studies show that dehydration can lead to impaired mood/concentration, and general mental performance, which suggests that hydrating can actually curb thinking patterns that lead to psychological issues.

Moisturizing

Moisturizing is equally as important as drinking water to keep skin hydrated. Be sure to pick moisturizers that contain barrier repair ingredients.

Antioxidants

When we feel stressed, our body releases chemicals that can harm our skin. One of these chemicals is called free radicals, which can speed up aging and make our skin look tired or dull. Antioxidants are like our skin’s superheroes. They fight against these free radicals, helping to keep our skin looking fresh and young. By using skincare products with antioxidants or eating foods rich in them, we can help protect our skin from the negative effects of stress. This means fewer wrinkles, a brighter complexion, and healthier skin overall.

Bottom Line

Hydrate, moisturize, and nurture (your skin and your mind!). If you find yourself dealing with breakouts often, consider changes you can make to your day-to-day to mitigate stress or consult a medical professional to explore adjustments that can help. To curb and treat the breakouts you can’t avoid, be sure to drink enough water and make sure you are using the best skin care products for your Baumann Skin Type.

DQH Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? It’s easy to create a skincare routine, but knowing how to use it is another thing entirely. In most cases, if you’re not getting the desired skin results, it could be due to the layering of conflicting ingredients. So, is it possible that salicylic acid and vitamin C are such ingredients? Or are these active ingredients the duo that’s been missing from your skincare routine? If you want answers, stick around because today we are going to explain the benefits of salicylic acid and vitamin C and how they can be used in your daily life. What are the benefits of salicylic acid for skin? Salicylic acid is one of the most commonly used beta hydroxy acids and is favored by many people with oily, acne-prone skin. This acid is derived from willow bark, and unlike its water-soluble relatives (called alpha-hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble, which means it can penetrate deeper into the lower layers of the skin. Once it reaches the lower layers, it can help unclog pores of excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, debris, and impurities. This results in clearer skin tones and greater definition. Not only does salicylic acid benefit the underlying layers, but the outer surface of the skin benefits as well. When applied to the skin, salicylic acid removes the buildup of dead skin cells. This is accomplished by breaking the bonds that hold dead cells to the surface. Over time, this can cause the complexion to look dull and prone to acne, blackheads, and other blemishes. If you’d like to learn more about salicylic acid and how it can improve your skin, check out this dedicated blog post from a beauty insider. What are the benefits of vitamin C for skin? Vitamin C is considered one of the most powerful antioxidants, which means it is very effective at fighting free radicals and preventing them from causing further skin damage. Examples of free radicals include pollution, central heating, UV rays and harsh climate. They attack proteins, fats and cell membranes as soon as they come into contact with the skin, causing signs of premature aging such as fine lines and wrinkles as well as hyperpigmentation, flaky patches of skin and loss of elasticity. Many people usually prefer to use vitamin C in their morning routine as this ingredient gives the complexion a radiant glow. You’ll also find that vitamin C can target areas of hyperpigmentation, plumping the skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The thing about vitamin C is that there are a lot of outdated studies going back to the 1950s that describe vitamin C as an unstable skin component. Thanks to improvements in modern technology, this is no longer the case as all products now contain a stable form of vitamin C. Visit The Beauty Insider to learn more about vitamin C. So please check out our blog post. Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? Yes, you absolutely can. In fact, it’s thought that using salicylic acid before using vitamin C ensures it penetrates faster and works faster. This is an efficient way to utilize two power sources, and the reason has to do with pH. For example, the skin’s natural pH is about 4.7, making it slightly acidic. Salicylic acid and vitamin C are also both acidic, and you’ll find that vitamin C is absorbed quickly into the skin. Therefore, using salicylic acid beforehand can increase the acidity of the skin and allow vitamin C to penetrate into the skin faster. While this is considered an effective way to combine two powerful ingredients, you need to be aware of your skin type and how it reacts to certain active ingredients. Even people with perfect, normal skin can experience skin sensitivity and irritation. Therefore, always consult a doctor or dermatologist before using any new products on your skin. It’s also important to follow skin application rules. In this case, you need to use the product correctly to ensure you get the best results for your skin. If you’re not sure what I mean, the basic rule for skin is to start with the thinnest consistency and work your way up to the thickest consistency. This prevents a barrier from forming on the surface, preventing other active ingredients from penetrating the skin. Can I use salicylic acid at night and vitamin C in the morning? Yes, absolutely, this is considered the most effective way to get returns without any adverse side effects. This is because there is enough time between applications to ensure that the skin’s pH levels return to balance. You’ll also find that Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants and is perfect for use in the morning to ensure your skin is protected and looking its healthiest. Due to the small size of salicylic acid molecules, it is an acid that is able to reach the deepest parts of the skin. While this is effective at keeping skin clear, it also increases the risk of irritation and photosensitivity. Therefore, many people prefer to use powerful BHAs in their evening routine without exposure to UV rays, pollution, or harsh weather. Warning: If you avoid using sunscreen every day, none of these ingredients will do what your skin needs. The combination of chemical peels and powerful ingredients increases the risk of further damage to the skin’s surface. Use SPF 50 every day to keep your skin protected and your lipid barrier healthy, even on cloudy days, keeping your skin in top condition.

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