Do you know stress can damage your skin and overall well-being?

Stress is common nowadays. According to a survey by The American Institute of Stress, about 33 percent of people suffer from stress. Having stress in any stage of life is not a big issue, but not treating stress is not recommended at all. Not treating stress can cause other health issues such as depression, memory issues, and skin issues as well, which can affect your overall well-being.

I know you might think about how stress can cause skin problems. Different researchers proved that prolonged stress or mental breakdown can cause skin issues such as acne, rashes, hives, dehydration, eczema, prognosis, rosacea, etc.

How does stress cause skin infections?

According to numerous types of research, stress can cause different skin problems because Stress produces the hormone cortisol, which causes the overproduction of sebum. This overproduction of sebum leads to acne breakouts. Additionally, Stress makes your skin more sensitive and reactive. It triggers rashes, hives, and redness.

A Report by DR. Ghada A. Bin Saif and a fellow dermatologist showed that Stress worsens inflammatory skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, etc.

1. Hives

The skin infection in which red-colored raised itchy welts form on the skin are called hives. In a study report by American family physicians, about 20 percent of the world population will experience hives once in their lives. According to a report by The American Academy of Dermatology, the major reason for hives is an allergic reaction to something, especially foods, medications, insect bites, or pollen. Stress and exercise can also trigger them.

Normally hives end in 24 hours. The most effective therapeutic drugs for this are oral antihistamines (Benadryl, Zyrtec, Claritin, etc) and topical steroid creams.

2. Dehydration

When you are going through depression or stress, you stop taking care of yourself. Due to stress, you can't sleep well. You stop drinking water and eating healthily. In this way, your body becomes dehydrated, and your skin gets dull.

According to clinical cosmetic and investigational dermatology sleep, hydration, and healthy food are essential to having good skin. Moreover, sleeplessness can cause skin aging. Diet also has a great role in your skin health.

3. Rosacea

Do you feel a red flush tending to creep across your face after drinking a few glasses of wine? Or when or after you are outside in the heat for some time? It is due to rosacea. It is a chronic illness of the skin that is triggered by some mental breakdown and emotional stress. As we know, stress can lead to inflammation. Inflammation worsens the rosacea.

You should use mineral sunscreen and avoid products that can irritate your skin. People experiencing rosacea, should contact their healthcare provider, and use those medications which are specially formulated for people with sensitive skin.

4. Eczema

Eczema is mostly seen in babies, but some adults can also have it. Almost 10 percent of American adults have skin-related problems. Eczema people have an overactive immune system. Some irritating ingredients and stress trigger eczema. Eczema is a sign of unhealthy skin. For this, you will have to do proper moisturizing. Your skin barrier will require more focus and attention. You can also try out a DIY eczema treatment".

5. Psoriasis

In psoriasis, the skin becomes thick, and red patches appear on the skin. Moreover, stress can trigger this condition. According to British research by E W M Verhoeven and other researchers, psoriasis patients who were worried about their diseases have worse symptoms. It is highly recommended that those experiencing this ailment follow care providers' advice alongside any DIY remedies. Treatments for psoriasis are steroid creams, rich moisturizers, coal tar, and retinoid cream. See Healthcare providers.

6. Acne

Acne is the most common but least severe skin condition in which small, usually round-shaped pimples are produced on the skin. There are different kinds of acne. There is a deep connection between the more you feel stressed, and the more your body produces the hormone cortisol. Cortisol induces the hypothalamus to produce "corticotropin-releasing hormone" CRH produces the oil from sebaceous glands. Excessive oil production causes acne.

In 2017 a study was conducted on acne in female medical students aged 22 to 24 years by two dermatologists Shadi Zari and Dana Alrahmani. In the results, the researchers stated that stress or mental breakdown was the cause of acne in many of these participants.9

Dae Hun Suh and other team members studied 1236 people. They found that they have acne due to potential aggravating factors such as stress, lack of sleep, and smoking.

7. Rashes

Red sticky large spots on the skin are called rashes. Stress affects the protein in your skin and decreases its elasticity. This causes wrinkles to form.

Stress weakens the immune system. Weak immune system imbalances the bacteria in GIT and skin, known as symbiosis, in the skin, which causes rashes.

What if I eliminate stress, will my skin clear up?

Yes, decreasing stress helps you get rid of many skin problems. You know many skin infections occur due to stress, such as acne, rashes, hives, eczema, etc.; when your stress level decreases, the production of unwanted hormones causes skin infection. But the question is how to reduce stress.

The best way is to contact a psychotherapist or psychologist because a psychotherapist can help get rid of chronic stress. By taking his therapy session, you will feel stress-free. If you can't afford private sessions, follow these mentioned tips.

Get a quality sleep of about 7 to 8 hours a day, and sleep at the right time.
Eat healthy because healthy food contains healthy nutrients which are good for mental health.
Do exercises, because exercises help to stress level. Exercising engage the brain of the person toward positive things.
Read books in your free time
Spend time in nature; nature gives eye-soothing feelings and relaxes your mind too.
Get time for yourself, and do the things you like to relax your mind. Adopt a skincare routine because it will help you to improve your skin health.

Conclusion

Skin health and stress are related to each other. As you know, stress causes different issues such as depression, anxiety, and hypertension, and disturbs your overall wellbeing. It affects the skin too. There are various skin conditions or diseases that are related to stress. That's why everyone should get rid of stress to prevent skin diseases.

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