Ever wondered why you end up with a huge pimple on the day of an important event? Or why your eczema gets worse around the holidays? Dermatologists now understand how stress and the nervous system influence the skin. Physiologically, stress causes inflammation in the skin and irritates pre-existing conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea. Stress also makes us more sensitive to irritants, and more likely to react to allergens.
Stress affects the skin in other ways too. When we’re stressed, we neglect our skin. We may skip our skin-care regimen because we’re just too tired. We may drink more coffee and alcohol – both have dehydrating effects – in order to stay awake and/or cope. We may eat more junk food – because it’s easier or makes us feel better (temporarily). All these things take their toll on our bodies, and skin, exasperating underlying problems.
Reduce Stress by Caring for Your Skin
- Take a few moments to yourself and wash your face. Use a gentle cleanser and warm water. Take a few deep breaths at the same time. Even if you only get 30 seconds without stress, it’s 30 seconds well spent.
- Make happy hour happier, and healthier, by brewing a cup of herbal tea at the end of a stressful day.
- Don’t skip your workout. Sweat out the stress – you’ll feel better and you’ll ditch some inflammation-causing toxins while you’re at it. Even a 10-minute walk can clear your mind.
The Specialist doctor from the University Hospital in Gothenburg, alumnus UC Berkeley. My doctoral dissertation is about Digital Health and I have published 5 scientific articles in teledermatology and artificial intelligence and others.