De-Stress and Regenerate Your Skin
It is undeniable that our nation is under duress, and when devastating stories make headlines, they can exacerbate existing stress, which can have a direct impact on our health. Work may be stressful, home may be stressful, or an event in your life may be causing stress. Americans are resilient, and we have become experts at managing stress, until something happens that affects us deeply. When people begin to see visible signs of stress in their skin, it is a sign that other physical things are occurring on the inside and in the mind. Skin conditions, similar to mental and physical health, will deteriorate over time with chronic and untreated stress. Stress is not something everyone needs medication for, and many seek holistic approaches to reducing stress in their lives. Things like diet, lifestyle, and sometimes a career change are necessary to bring stress back to a manageable level that does not harm the body.
Stress and Skin Health
The skin’s top layer, the epidermal barrier, keeps skin moist and protected. Healthy skin is incredibly efficient at warding off environmental factors that may be damaging to the skin/ Stress weakens this layer, which disrupts the skin’s natural ability to heal, which is why stress often shows up in rashes or outward signs of stress. Psoriasis, eczema, and slow healing are all indicative of stress being the possible culprit. Hair loss is another reason many people visit dermatologists because they are trained in hair, skin, and nail health. If you watch those in high-level positions, they often seem to age faster than others. This is no coincidence – stress can cause people to appear to age more quickly. Gray and white hair, dark circles under the eyes, and rosacea can go side by side with a stressful job.
Sustained Chronic Stress
Stress that stays. Stress that becomes a part of daily life can harm the body over time. Once an acne breakout or eczema rash appears, it can create additional stress as individuals struggle to manage their skin appearance, leading to feelings of self-consciousness and social isolation. The cycle of chronic stress and health is directly connected, which is why it is essential to find ways to manage stress in your own life.
Environmental factors can also cause chronic stress. In many cases, those struggling with rashes may have something in their home or workplace that is causing a reaction. Working with a professional dermatologist often removes the mystery surrounding the reaction and guides how to mitigate these environmental factors. There have been multiple occasions where children and adults have visited a dermatologist for a skin condition that won’t go away, and they come to find out they have a mold issue in their immediate environment. One way to minimize stress is to work with professionals in their fields to address different stressors or unknown skin conditions.
Overcoming Acute Stress
Unexpected loss and tragedy can cause immediate reactions on the skin. Individuals may feel nausea or other physical responses to high levels of stress. Although these symptoms may go away within a reasonable time after the stress passes, the skin may continue to reflect the body’s response to acute stressful situations. Hair loss, brittle nails, breakouts, and inflammation have been directly connected to stress and the body’s response. Not everyone will have the same response, and some individuals will not have any reaction. However, if a person feels their skin reflects their body and mind’s health, it is best to seek the professional skincare insight of a skilled dermatologist.
Don’t Stress About Stress
The cycle of stressing about how you are stressed, or about how stress is affecting your skin and hair, will not be beneficial. When skin is showing signs of stress, the first thing to do is find ways to identify and manage the stressors in your life. Although a dermatologist isn’t an expert in stress management, they are trained in identifying environmental factors that may worsen skin conditions. They can also help manage outward signs of skin conditions that can help alleviate some of the embarrassment of an itchy rash, acne breakout, or cold sores.
Diet will often be something patients are asked about, as well as smoking and drinking habits. Sleeping is also found to be essential to allow the skin to rejuvenate and refresh. Losing sleep night after night can intensify stress and its associated symptoms. Putting your phone away thirty minutes before bed, turning off the lights, and not eating or drinking before bed are only a few things that individuals can do to help create a pre-sleep routine that may benefit them with a few extra hours.
If you live in Atlanta and want to visit a professional dermatologist, contact Dr. Sherrie Straughn at Buckhead Dermatology. She has incredible insight and has helped patients from all over the Atlanta area find affordable, safe, and effective skincare treatments. If stress is a factor, she will provide guidance and also help create a treatment plan to treat skin conditions. Contact Buckhead Dermatology today!