We, all feel stressed from time to time, but when it gets continuous, it can affect our health severely. Stress can increase the chances of depression, affect your immune system badly, and also increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. When you feel stressed, it appears on your face and leaves a mark on your face. It can cause dry skin, wrinkles, and acne. In this article, we will discuss the different effects on your face because of taking stress.
How does Stress shows on Your Face?
When stress is getting chronic, it appears on your face in two ways. First, when you feel stressed, your body releases hormones, that can lead to physiological changes that negatively impact your skin. Second, it can lead to bad habits like biting your lips or grinding your teeth.
Some specific signs of stress appear on your face.
Acne
When you feel stressed, your body releases more of the hormone, named cortisol. Cortisol causes the hypothalamus (a part of your brain), to produce a hormone called corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH). It stimulates sebaceous glands to produce extra oil around your hair follicles. Which can lead to clogging your pores and lead to acne. It’s widely believed that stress causes acne, but only a few studies have the data which proved it. As per the data of a 2017 study, the effect of stress was seen in female medical students between the ages of 22 to 24. The researchers concluded that chronic stress causes acne. As per the research of 2011, stress, lack of sleep, menstruation, and alcohol consumption can worsen acne.
Breakouts
Eating unhealthy food and drinking items can cause breakouts. When we feel stressed, usually the consumption of unhealthy food or drinking items increases. This is only because when we are stressed, our emotions are high, and the cortisol levels increase and trigger your oil glands to produce more oil. That oil then feeds acne-causing bacteria in your skin, which leads to acne. You can help yourself by decreasing your cortisol levels by doing some exercises or workout sessions.
Bags Under Your Eyes
Bags under the eyes are defined by swelling or puffiness beneath your eyelids. They are common in 30+ women since the supporting muscles around the eyes are weakened. Sagging or losing skin loses its elasticity, which can result in eye bags. Lack of sleepiness also causes bags under the eyes, or other signs of aging, such as fine lines, reduced elasticity, and uneven pigmentation.
Dry Skin
Our outer skin is the stratum corneum which contains protein and lipids, that help our skin to keep hydrated and create a skin barrier that protects the skin underneath. When you take stress, it doesn’t work properly, and your skin can become more dry and itchy.
Rashes
Chronic stress can weaken your immune system, which can lead to an imbalance of bacteria in your skin, which causes redness or a rash. Stress increases several skin conditions like rashes, inflamed skin, psoriasis, eczema, and contact dermatitis.
Wrinkles and Fine lines
Stress is also responsible for the aging signs, when you are stressed, it can reduce your skin’s elasticity, which can contribute to wrinkling and fine lines formation.
How to reduce your stress level?
Here are some tested ways to cope with stress and minimize it.
- Exercise or Physical activities
Schedule a time for some physical activities or exercise, it makes your feel relaxed and helps you to reduce stress.
- Adopt Good lifestyle habits
Avoid an unhealthy lifestyle and move towards a healthy lifestyle. Get plenty of sleep, it will help your body better manage stress
- Stay Active
When you stay active, your stress hormones reduce and give you some time to take your mind off the cause of your stress
- Talk to Your Loved ones
Talk to any family member, a friend, or any mental health specialist, they help you to deal with stress
- Avoid alcohol and drugs
Don’t take alcohol and drugs when you feel stressed, it can worsen the situation, and affects you badly.
Takeaway
Stress is a part of our life, but you should avoid making your stress chronic because it can affect your health and face badly. Acne, grey hair, and dry skin are just a few signs that stress may show itself.
Minimize avoidable causes of stress and learn techniques to minimize the signs of stress.
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