Have you noticed that you suddenly get pimples, strange skin irritations and other troubles on the eve of a responsible day, when you must be perfect? The reason for this is stress.

The mechanism is simple: during stress, the body intensively produces cortisol and other stress hormones that make the sebaceous glands work more actively. If the skin pores are not clean enough to cope with the increased secretion of sebum, pimples appear.

Stress is one of the main causes of various problems with the skin, ranging from small cosmetic troubles to the exacerbation of eczema, psoriasis and many other serious diseases. Stress makes it difficult to treat the already manifested diseases. Nowadays, this problem has become so urgent that even the term “psychodermatology” appeared, which allows using a more complex approach to dermatological diseases.

Studies show that at least 30% of skin problems are caused by an ignored psychological problem. If you often face the same dermatological troubles, it makes sense to think if you cope with stress. Avoiding it completely is hardly possible, but there are ways to weaken its effect on your body. Use our recommendations to cope with the most common symptoms of stress on the skin.

Dryness

Chronic stress increases the level of cortisol, which leads to the weakening of hydrolysed mantle, loss of moisture, and visual dullness of the skin.

How to cope: use hypoallergenic moisturizing creams with the most natural composition and without aggressive ingredients. Special support can be provided by the creams and emulsions with ceramides, which perfectly strengthen the weakened skin. Wash your face with warm water: excessively hot water is categorically contraindicated to dry skin. To cleanse the skin, use only the most gentle products: milk, hydrophilic oils, and gentle foams. Remember that anti-stress skin care should be aimed at restoring and maintaining the protective functions of the skin.

Wrinkles

Cortisol provokes an increase in the level of sugar in the blood. Sugar, in turn, triggers the process of reducing the amount of collagen, elastin, and protein fibers that provide the skin with elasticity and smoothness. The result is wrinkles.

How to cope: creams with retinol and antioxidants stimulate the production of collagen in skin tissues. Would you like to have an instant result? Botox injections can help you (the result lasts about 4 months).

Reddening

Stress affects blood pressure. The capillaries widen, and the skin turns red. Moreover, the appearance of rosacea can also be a result of stress. Because stress weakens immunity, the consequences can persist for a long time.

How to cope: regular use of creams with allantoin, licorice root extract, anticancerous components (for example, rosewood ether) will help keep excessive reddening under control. In more serious cases, laser vascular therapy may be necessary. The treatment of rosacea should be carried out by a dermatologist.

Acne

As we have already mentioned, the appearance of acne is an ordinary consequence of stress, as stress and inflammatory processes are closely interrelated.

How to cope: a lotion containing salicylic acid and non-medicated moisturizing cream will help you. If your skin does not respond to treatment within a few weeks – contact your doctor.

Under-eye circles

Anxiety and mental overload deprive us of sleep. The skin around the eyes is one of the first to react to the lack of sleep as it is very thin and delicate. Edema, dark circles, bruises, and bags under eyes are the consequences of stress that manifest themselves very quickly.

How to Cope with Stress?

Below are a few tips on how you can cope with nervous overloads or even avoid stress at all.

• Do not neglect regular skin care, even if you are tired and there is no time at all. Clean and healthy skin will easily cope with any possible problems. Many cosmetic procedures seem to have been specially created to deal with stress. For example, a warm bath with essential oils of nard and lavender combined with facial masks is a very effective remedy for relieving tension and helping the skin look perfect.
• Exercise regularly. This will help to strengthen immunity and enhance metabolic processes. Besides, the “pleasure hormones” developed during a workout will help you cope with any troubles in life.
• Learn to say no. Many are stressed because they do not dare to say the word “no”. If you feel that you are not coping with the situation, think about what matters are really the most important for you at the moment, and calmly postpone other matters for later.
• Take time for yourself. Every day, do what you really like in order to feel distracted and relaxed. Walking, reading, and taking a bath with essential oils – even 10 minutes spent doing something pleasant will protect you from mental and physical overloads.

• Get enough sleep! While dreaming, the body is treated and restored, and the brain gets rid of unnecessary and traumatic information.
• Learn to relax. Negative emotions leave their mark on the face. Therefore, watch how the facial muscles respond to stress. When the first signs of stress appear, take a few deep breaths that will improve blood circulation and help clear your thoughts. Then try to relax the muscles of the face, blink, and massage the corners of the mouth to relieve tension from the jaw muscles. If possible, just sit for 15-20 minutes with your eyes closed and concentrate on the rhythm of breathing.

Many people suffer from constant stress, and the effects of stress are manifested in different ways. Still, we can prevent its negative impact on the health of not only the skin but the whole body. The minutes dedicated to cosmetic care can play an important role in getting rid of daily stress. Look after yourself, listen to yourself, and take care of yourself.