Understanding the Effects of Stress to Skin Health
While stress in small amounts is good for you (exercise, deadlines, etc), chronic exposure to stress is considered to be one of the biggest factors that lead to poor overall health including skin health.
Stress is a combination of biological and psychological responses by your body every time it detects a stressor or threat. Stress can be triggered by various situations such as personal relationships, death of a loved one, job loss, transferring residence, as well as many others. When we are stressed, the body reacts as if it’s being attacked. Releasing a barrage of hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol. This, in turn, triggers a cascade of chemical reactions such as increased heart rate, sweaty palms and aged skin.
What stress does to your skin
As the largest organ in the body, the skin is also negatively affected by stress. The following examples demonstrate how stress disrupts the skin’s normal structure and function:
- The hormonal reaction to stress disturbs the delicate balance of bacterial growth in your body, giving way to overgrowth of opportunistic bacteria that leads to breakouts and other skin issues.
- Oversecretion of the oil glands (due to elevated levels of adrenaline) can block the pores resulting in trapped dead skin cells and the consequent appearance of whiteheads, blackheads, and acne.
- Stress can also release chemicals that prompt more serious inflammatory disorders in the skin.
Skin care often takes a backseat when one is highly stressed, aggravating existing skin care conditions. Remember, the holidays are coming soon. Another stressor!
Talk to our licensed aesthetician or Dr. Herte to learn about the treatments and procedures that can help you deal with skin care issues associated with stress. Call today at 702.732.9600 to set up an appointment.