Written By: Pavitra Sampath | Published : November 10, 2014 6:17 PM IST
Stress and skin issues go hand in hand. While most of us think that stress is unique in itself, the condition can affect all your organs, including your skin, adversely. It is a well known fact that skin conditions like acne, eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis and stress are related, and studies have found that these skin conditions may be related to certain emotional states.
How does it work? You ask, well according to Dr. Mohan Thomas, world s leading cosmetic surgeon and MD, The Cosmetic Surgery Institute, Mumbai, when stress hormones are released they affect our immune system adversely. Also, a constant state of anxiety causes levels of adrenaline and cortisol to stay high in the body. Stress also leads to gorging on certain foods that might not be the best for our body. All these factors put together may give rise to skin issues. In this article Dr Thomas tells you how negative emotions and feelings can affect your skin.
Stress
Stress produces cortisol. A heightened level of cortisol can considerably harm your facial skin cells because it interferes with your blood flow patterns. Due to this interference, it weakens the facial blood vessels. This process in-turn leads to ageing. If someone is already has problems like acne, psoriasis and eczema, stress can worsen these condition(s). Read more about how stress affects your skin.
Anger
Anger is another factor that plays havoc with your skin. It affects your facial muscles, decelerates its healing, produces dark spots and fastens wrinkling.
Embarrassment
Embarrassment is an emotion that aggravates acne issues. The organic structure of our skin cells weaken and enzyme production rates are altered. This leads to multiple conditions premature hair loss, skin pigmentation and an increased fat content in the hip areas.
What happens when we feel fear? There is an adrenaline rush! It is produced as soon as the first thread of fear runs through our body. Due to this, our muscles get tensed and sweat glands start over working. Fear inadvertently also causes frowning, which in turn increases wrinkles a state wherein the skin loses its natural firmness, folds appear, and we look older.
Depression
When depressed, we have a tendency to constantly frown. Regularly furrowing causes wrinkles. Long-term depression has even more serious adverse effects on the skin. The chemicals associated with the condition can prevent your body from repairing inflammation in cells. As these hormones affect sleep, it shows on the repair of your skin in the form of baggy, puffy eyes, or even a dull complexion.
The other skin conditions that are caused due to depression are acne excoriee, neuropathic itching, eczema, and trichotillomania being the most common amongst them.
Hormonal imbalances
Hormones play a large role in the physiology of the skin and body. Excessive testosterone affects the scalp and your hair adversely and is known to cause androgenic alopecia. In females, it results in hirsuitism as well as severe acne. Estrogen brings about glow in skin whereas prolactin is responsible for acne. Polycysctic ovarian disease/syndrome is the most common example of hormonal imbalance resulting in bad skin conditions.
Lifestyle
Diet is the most primary factor that affects our skin adversely. The other two that are amongst the top lifestyle factors are water intake and smoking. Fatty and junk food, especially foods with high sugar, are responsible for acne breakouts. Lack of water is another huge factor contributing to poor skin. When toxins aren t flushed out, it shows in the form of bad skin. Smoking, like we all know, it extremely bad for health. Skin too is badly affected by the tobacco intake.
A well-balanced, healthy lifestyle is one of the biggest contributors to glowing skin. This comprises a well-balanced diet, appropriate water intake, adequate sleep and exercise, and of course no addictions. When the nutritional supply to the skin is adequate, when the body is fit due to exercising, hormones are balanced, toxins, flushed out from the body, the skin does not need any external factors for it to glow.
Ways to prevent skin damage
Get some exercise
Exercising helps immensely in such cases since it helps release endorphins or the happy hormone. Not only does exercise help elevate your mood, but it also helps keep your skin healthy and glowing.
Meditate or practice some yoga
The benefits of yoga and meditation are well known to all. Deep breathing not only regulates your breathing, but it also clears your airways and rids your body of of toxins, helping you glowing skin. Here are 7 yoga asanas that can give you glowing skin.
Don't worry about ageing
Most of us worry about ageing and its signs, but it is best left alone. Not only does it lead to emotional disturbances but may also be so severe as to lead to sleep disturbances and improper eating patters -- all factors that hasten the process of ageing. It is essential for you to know that the signs of ageing are not dependent of your age but the way you care for your skin, both externally and internally, also plays a significant role.
Get proper treatment for acne
Cleansing, toning and moisturising are ideal steps to curb the progression of acne. But if you suffer from a case of active acne, it should be treated with the use of topical antibacterial and keratolytics. As a cautionary note: do not pick on acne. If done, it will lead to scarring. You can read more about how you can get rid of acne scars with home remedies.
Here are some quick fix
Adequate water intake (minimum two litres), maintaining a healthy lifestyle, incorporation the practice of cleansing, toning and moisturising on a daily basis, are a few steps to take to have a glowing skin.
Photo source: Getty images
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates! For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter.
