Stress not only affects your mental health but also causes various skin problems, especially your face. Therefore, it is best to be aware of the negative effects of stress on your face and how to deal with stress in the review below.
Skin problems that often occur due to stress
Stress is a mental health problem that occurs due to changes in the body's response to pressure, threats, or new situations.
Not only does stress affect your mental health, it also causes a chemical response in your body that makes your skin more sensitive and reactive. It can also make skin problems harder to heal.
For example, your face is more likely to break out when you're stressed. This is because stress causes your body to produce hormones like cortisol, which tells your skin glands to produce more oil. Oily skin is more prone to breakouts and other skin problems.
In addition, skin problems caused by stress include:
1. Acne often appears on the face.
Stress can increase levels of the hormone cortisol, which is produced when the body is under stress. When cortisol is elevated, the sebaceous glands produce more oil on the surface of the skin, making the skin more prone to breakouts.
In addition, stress can affect the balance between good and bad bacteria in the gut, leading to acne on the face.
2. Dry skin
When you feel stressed, your levels of the hormones adrenaline and cortisol are more likely to increase. When adrenaline is increased, you sweat more, which leads to a loss of fluid in your body, also known as dehydration.
If you don’t hydrate your body, your skin can easily become dry. People with dry skin are more likely to develop eczema due to stress, and this is one of the triggers for eczema on the skin.
Read more: A moisturizing body lotion for dry skin.
3. More oily skin
When stressed, the brain produces higher amounts of the hormone cortisol. A side effect of this increase in hormones is increased activity of the sebaceous glands in the skin.
This condition can easily cause the skin to become oily, leading to clogged pores and acne.
4. The skin becomes more sensitive.
When the immune system is weakened, this condition also affects the epidermis, which is clogged with natural moisturizers.
Therefore, the facial skin becomes weak and prone to allergies and cannot tolerate certain chemicals from the cosmetic products you use.
Read more: Recommendations for Vitamin E Supplements That Are Good for Skin and Immunity
5. Dark circles under the eyes (Panda Eyes)
The skin around the eyes is the most delicate area of the face and is therefore prone to skin problems. One sign that your skin is experiencing stress is the appearance of dark circles around your eyes.
In addition, bags under the eyes can also be swollen due to certain factors, such as lack of sleep, dehydration, or staring at a monitor or other devices for too long.
6. Dull skin
It’s easy for your skin to look dull when you’re under stress. This can be caused by the body losing fluids, also known as dehydration, so the body can’t get rid of dead skin cells.
In addition, dehydration can cause the skin to feel dry or flaky. This is not limited to dry skin, but also oily skin.
7. Red marks on the face
When the skin is under stress, another symptom is itching, which causes the face to become red. This condition is called 'stress rash'.
As the name suggests, rashes are usually red in color and cause itching and burning. People with a history of skin conditions often experience redness on their skin when they are stressed.
8. Small wrinkles appear on the face.
Your face will experience signs of aging as you get older. However, when your skin is exposed to stress and fatigue, this can accelerate the appearance of signs of aging such as wrinkles and fine lines on your face.
In addition, increased levels of the hormone cortisol can also inhibit collagen production and bind to proteins that the skin needs. This condition can cause fine lines on the face.
9. Sensitive skin
Although many factors cause stress, the skin response is directly linked to the brain and the changes in brain chemistry during stress. The brain-controlled nervous system can trigger neuroinflammation by releasing inflammatory neuropeptides.
Vasodilation and histamine release can cause inflammation, such as redness, scarring, flare-ups, and itching.
This condition can appear during times of stress, when the skin becomes less resilient to the environment and the skincare products you use regularly can irritate it.
10. Pigmentation
Chronic and long-term stress can have a negative effect on the skin, causing dark spots. Hormones are called hormones. Adrenocorticotropic (ACTH) is produced and secreted by the anterior pituitary gland, often in response to biological stress.
This hormone stimulates melanin production, which is the process by which skin pigments are produced. It should also be noted that increased inflammation of the skin (caused by stress) is also a cause of dark spots.
This type of “stress” pigmentation tends to start on the outside of the face and spread inward. All forms of hyperpigmentation are aggravated by UV exposure, so use a high-level sunscreen (SPF50) every day.
How to care for skin damaged by stress
Stress is a part of life and it is impossible to avoid it altogether, but it is important to address its causes and how it affects skin health.
Here are some tips to care for stress-damaged skin:
1. Drink water.
When you are stressed, your skin is more prone to breakouts. To avoid acne or other skin problems caused by stress, you should drink more water.
The benefits of increasing water consumption include keeping your skin hydrated and healthier. It is best to drink at least 8 glasses of water every day to meet your body’s fluid needs.
2. Get enough sleep.
Getting enough sleep is very important for overall health, including your skin. Sleep is a crucial time for your body to repair itself every day.
Keep in mind that sleep deprivation can increase cortisol levels, which leads to excess oil. Sleep deprivation also weakens the immune system, making the skin more susceptible to issues like dull skin and the appearance of wrinkles earlier.
To prevent damaged skin from getting worse from stress, you should get enough sleep, at least 7-8 hours every day. Getting enough sleep can help overcome the effects of stress on the skin because when you sleep, your body repairs damaged body tissues, including skin tissues.
3. Clean your face properly.
Even if you are experiencing stress, you should not forget to cleanse and care for your face. Cleanse your face twice a day and do it properly.
To make sure your face is really clean, you can do this. Double cleaning–
The next step is to cleanse your face using Wash your face To keep your face clean and free of makeup and dirt.
4. Consume probiotics.
The benefits of consuming probiotic drinks or foods are not only to improve digestion, but also to maintain healthy skin.
Good bacteria (probiotics) have many benefits for skin health, including helping to fight acne, healing wounds, and protecting the skin from sun damage.
5. Sports
In addition to making your body stronger, regular exercise can also help reduce the negative effects on stressed skin. If you exercise regularly and correctly, exercise can help improve blood circulation, which helps increase the absorption of nutrients from dead skin cells.
In addition, the benefits of exercise also help brighten the skin and prevent skin inflammation from worsening. Exercise for about 20-30 minutes a day for maximum results.
6. Consume skin supplements.
The food you eat has an impact on your overall health, including your skin health. In addition to consuming healthy foods rich in vitamins and minerals,
You can also keep your skin healthy, soft and radiant by taking supplements or vitamins that your skin needs, such as vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D and vitamin D.
Read more: Recommended vitamins for dry skin that are worth trying!
7. Exfoliate regularly.
If your face is oily but you are too lazy to clean it, the leftover makeup and dirt can clog your pores. This can lead to acne breakouts.
To prevent breakouts from occurring due to stressed skin, exfoliate your skin weekly. Exfoliation can be done in two ways: mechanical scrubs or chemical scrubs using acidic ingredients, for example. Lactic acid– Alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) and Beta hydroxy acid (BHA).
8. Avoid skin care products that contain alcohol.
Stress can increase testosterone production and produce excess oil on the skin.
To deal with oily skin, you should use non-oil-based beauty products and avoid skin care products that contain alcohol.
9. Use Blindfold Or eye cream
When bags under your eyes turn black (panda eyes) or swell, there are several ways you can treat the area around your eyes.
You can compress dark circles under your eyes using a washcloth soaked in cold water, an old tea bag, or Blindfold Or eye cream
10. Use products that contain retinol and antioxidants.
In addition to losing moisture to the skin, cortisol also breaks down collagen and elastin, which prevents the production of new skin cells.
If this occurs, use a moisturizer that contains retinol and antioxidants, which will help increase the production of collagen and elastin in your facial skin.
Although stress can cause skin problems, follow the above methods to overcome stress. However, if skin problems from stress worsen, and self-confidence interferes with activities, consult a dermatologist immediately.
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