Stress is a completely normal and necessary emotion. Its purpose is to let us know when we are taking on too much and when our mind is reaching its capacity of things it can deal with. Although it might not be the most exciting feeling to process, without it, we would never know when we were overwhelmed, frustrated or upset.
Skin has the ability to reflect what a person is feeling inside. Certain skin conditions can be triggered by stress, as it can increase oil production in the skin, leading to breakouts and acne. Chronic negative stress can disrupt your skin’s natural barrier, causing your skin to look dull, your face to lose volume and fine lines and wrinkles to appear.
While stress isn’t necessarily something that you can avoid, there are ways to monitor and manage your feelings of distress. Taking part in regular self-care activities, such as meditation or reading a book, can make you feel good and give you a release. Following a daily skin care regimen will also help prevent stress from showing signs of premature aging and other skin conditions. In addition to following a skin care regimen, scheduling regular facials can help your skin recover from the damage of stress, while providing you with a high-touch personal service that can give you many of the physical and emotional benefits of massage.
There are a number of ways in which you can reduce the effect of stress on your skin:
- Exercise regularly
- Get a good night’s sleep—7-8 hours a night
- Relax
- Take time for personal hobbies
