April is Stress Awareness Month, and it is a good opportunity to think about any lifestyle and beauty routine adjustments that could make us healthier and happier. Of course, it’s not possible to avoid stress entirely, but prolonged stressful episodes can disrupt sleep patterns, sap our energy levels and leave us feeling on edge and irritable.
Stress also takes its toll on our skin, leaving it dull or inflamed, exaggerating the signs of ageing and making it more prone to rashes or acne breakouts. Here’s a look at the different ways stress might be showing up in your skin, and what you can do to combat it.
Acne breakouts
When we are stressed, our body produces more cortisol, which causes an increase in sebaceous gland activity. This leads to clogged pores, and as the oil mixes with bacteria on the surface of the skin, spots or cysts can form.
Even if you are generally not prone to breakouts, you might notice that your skin feels greasy or spotty when you’re going through a demanding time in your life.
What to do about acne
It can be tempting to reach for harsh over-the-counter creams or gels to dry up spots, but often these can leave your skin feeling uncomfortably dry and inflamed in the long run. Instead, use a gentle cleansing lotion once or twice a day, and keep your skin soft with an oil-free moisturiser.
If your skin does not improve, you may want to consider a professional treatment such as an acne facial at our skin clinic in Birmingham. The Hydrofacial involves a mutli-step deep cleansing process that is designed to exfoliate, extract, hydrate and tighten the skin. It can significantly improve the appearance of enlarged pores and acne prone skin.
Dull and tired complexion
Stress disrupts the sleep cycle and affects the circulation, which can make the skin lack radiance and clarity. High cortisol levels also make it more difficult for the skin to retain water, and it also increases perspiration rates, making us more prone to dehydration.
Stress can also make us more prone to consume caffeinated drinks and salty foods, which further deplete the body’s fluid balance and dry out the skin. The blood is mostly made up of water, and when levels are low, it is more difficult for blood to circulate effectively around the body.
This means that less water, oxygen and nutrients are available to replenish the skin cells, leading to a dry and unhealthy looking complexion.
How to address a dull, dry complexion
Making some lifestyle changes can help, such as ensuring that you drink at least two litres of water per day, and limit diuretics that make the body produce more urine, such as coffee, tea, and alcohol. Swap salty snacks such as crisps for water-rich foods such as oranges and grapes.
Regular gentle exfoliation can help to remove the build up of dead skin cells on the surface of the skin, which will result in a clearer and brighter looking complexing.
If this does not bring satisfactory results, then consider a professional skincare treatment such as an injectable skin booster. This delivers intense hydration at a subcutaneous level, leaving the skin feeling soft, smooth and supple. Combine with a chemical peel if your skin has persistent dry patches.
Exaggerated signs of ageing
It’s normal to experience extra lines and facial folds as we grow older, but stress can accelerate the signs of ageing. Persistent elevated cortisol levels slow down many of the body’s non-essential functions, including the production of collagen and elastin, which are the proteins that support the skin’s structure.
What to do about accelerated ageing
Addressing the source of your stress will help your body and skin to rebalance naturally. It is not always possible to simply remove stressors from your life, but learning some stress management techniques, such as meditation, deep breathing and yoga can be beneficial. Get plenty of sleep if you can, and eat a balanced diet.
If you are concerned about the signs of ageing and want a more immediate way to address them, then consider a microneedling treatment. This is delivered via a handheld device that uses tiny fine needles to puncture the skin, simulating the healing response and boosting the production of collagen. This results in a firmer and more youthful looking complexion.
