To say stress is ubiquitous will not be an exaggeration. Even if you are going Zen today, trying to uncomplicate your life, your family, friends, the world –hello, pandemic –might have a mind of their own.
Hence, it is not always possible to moderate stress levels. While you can do some things like meditation and yoga to regulate stress, its impact may still run amok on your body, especially when there is a peak in the cortisol levels.
Whereas acute stress may help your skin, increasing collagen production, it is the chronic stress that you need to watch out for.
It leads to plenty of skincare issues, thanks to increased inflammation due to high-stress levels, but it also exacerbates existing skin conditions, meriting the intervention of the Best Dermatologist in Model Town Lahore then.
The impact of stress on your skin
Acne
Acne is a painful condition that is aggravated by high-stress levels. Heightened cortisol levels cause an increase in the activity of sebaceous glands that produce oil. Too much of it then leads to clogged pores, thereby creating conditions for an acne outbreak.
Furthermore, increased cortisol levels also alter the pH of the skin, which in turn changes the microbiome of the skin. As good microbes help in keeping the skin healthy and keeping the acne-causing bacteria in check, the creation of their inhospitable environment allows acne breakouts then.
Dry skin
Increased cortisol levels decrease the production of facial oils. These oils are important to keep your skin hydrated and smooth. A dearth of oils then leads to the skin becoming dry and irritated as a result.
Furthermore, the layer of oil helps in keeping the skin healthy and ensures that the water barrier stays put.
Moreover, perpetually high levels of cortisol also lower the production of hyaluronic acid, which is a humectant i.e., it helps in attracting water to itself. This in turn also causes the skin to become dry. Alarmingly still, even if you use topical hyaluronic acid, it won’t be able to cope with the high cortisol levels.
Dull skin
We all want our skin to look radiant, however, this feat is difficult to achieve when you are suffering from chronically high levels of stress. One of the reasons is during high-stress levels, you are less likely to pamper your skin.
Similarly, inflammation and damaged microbiome also causes the skin to lose its luster. Moreover, high stress also allows the free radicals to do greater damage to the skin –and the body – thereby taking more of the radiance away from your face.
Rashes
High stress levels can also cause the appearance of rashes, since it leads to weakened immune system. There then occurs an imbalance of good and bad bacteria, resulting in the appearance of rashes. You might also see rashes if you are prone to breaking out into hives.
Increased redness
Similarly, stress also causes aggravates certain skin conditions like rosacea, eczema, dermatitis, and they in turn lead to increased redness on the skin.
Microbiome in danger
Good microbes present on the skin helps in keeping the skin healthy. These feed on the dead skin, regularly exfoliating the skin. They also moderate the oil production, so the levels remain optimal. Furthermore, they also protect against sun and pollution damage.
Stress jeopardizes the microbiome balance, and naturally, problems ensue with regards to the health and appearance of the skin.
Skin consequently becomes easily irritated and prone to breakouts. It also becomes more sensitive.
Wrinkles
Chronic stress also jeopardizes the production of collagen, the skin protein that helps in keeping it taut and hydrated, leading to wrinkle formation. Alongside losing moisture, skin also loses elasticity and youthful appearance.
Game plan
If you are experiencing high-stress levels, you need to get help from a mental health expert, whereas for the consequent skin problems, schedule a visit to the Best Dermatologist in DHA Karachi.
