How stress affects skin condition

Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to avoid stress, sooner or later everyone faces it. The saddest thing is that, in addition to emotional breakdown, stress has a negative effect on the general condition of the body, including the skin. Tension tortures us not only mentally, but also physically. The most obvious symptoms are headache, insomnia, and decreased immunity. But not everyone thinks that itching, peeling of the skin, rashes on the face, back, chest are also a consequence of stress.

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So how does stress affect the skin?

Prolonged tension and emotional outbursts make themselves felt by various skin problems. It can be both sudden inflammation on the face and exacerbation of chronic diseases, for example, eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis. How do you know if your skin problems are due to stress or other causes? The skin and the nervous system are firmly connected even before our birth (between the third and eighth weeks of conception, the ectoderm forms – a layer of cells that gives rise to both the skin and the nervous system).

This explains a lot. It turns out that no matter how boring advice about meditation and finding peace of mind may seem, this is really half of the solution to skin problems. Ideally, the approach should be holistic:

• dermatological treatment;
• emotional control, stress reduction;
• diet;
• healthy full sleep;
• physical exercises.

To get started, start observing how your body reacts in various stressful situations. Consider any discomfort such as headaches, muscle fatigue in the neck, back, or itchy dry skin. These signs can be a clue to how your body is responding to an emotional distress.

How long does it take for the skin to react to stress?

The effect of stress on the body is individual. The reaction can be immediate, ranging from excessive sweating to an outbreak of acne the next day. Other body responses may be more subtle. The skin begins to lose moisture and gradually becomes sensitive and irritated.

How to treat stress-related skin problems

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All skin problems have a stress component – either as the cause of the skin disease or as a consequence. Initially, you just need to start paying attention to the main stimuli in your life and your reaction to them. Relaxation and concentration practices can be the best beauty tonic for your skin. There are many resources to help with this, from yoga classes to guided visualization recordings, progressive relaxation, and breathing exercises.
Adequate sleep is also important for the psyche and skin. It is important to learn to go to bed and get up at the same time. Watching TV and social networks on your phone before bedtime stimulates the brain and prevents it from resting. Try to finish everything an hour before bedtime, put your smartphone and laptop aside. An integrated approach is the key to solving psychological problems, and therefore skin problems.