Stress and your skin

Stress can happen at any time of life, and at any time of the year. It affects our wellbeing, and it can have a significant impact on the health and appearance of our skin.

For many people the run up to the festive season can be a stressful time.

Whilst we can’t take away the stress, we can help with its effects on your skin.

Here, we share some advice and treatments focused on stress and skin health, and ways in which you can practice self-care to alleviate the impact of stressful periods.

Stress and the festive season

This time of year can be great fun and it’s something many of us look forward to – but it can be stressful too.  

We can put a lot of pressure on ourselves to make sure things are ‘just so’. There is often a lot to buy, to wrap, to cook, to organise, and this can get on top of us.

There are other factors that can make it difficult too. Not all of us enjoy socialising or get the opportunity to, and there may be people we are missing particularly at this time of year. All these things can contribute to stress.

The positives about stress

Short-term stress can be a good thing, it can focus the mind and spur us on to get things done. It also gives us the ability to focus on aspects of life that are important and need our attention.

However, chronic or long-term stress can be more harmful for our general wellbeing, and for the health and vitality of our skin.

Learning how to recognise and manage stress can be very beneficial.

How does stress affect the skin?

Stress can have a negative impact on our skin. It can trigger or exacerbate certain stress related skin conditions.

There are several common indications that stress is having a detrimental effect on the skin:

Can stress cause itchy skin?

Where patients suffer from inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, ‘stress skin rash’, or flare-ups that aggravate itching and redness, can be more common at stressful times.

Acne breakouts

Because stress triggers the release of hormones such as cortisol, this process in the body can stimulate oil production in our skin’s sebaceous glands. Excess oil can clog pores and result in acne breakouts.

If you are suffering with acne and would like some advice about managing your skin, our dermatologist can recommend pharmaceutical-grade skincare products that can help.

If you have scarring due to acne breakouts in the past, we have a range of gentle treatments, which can significantly reduce the appearance of scarring. These include scar fillers to plump out indentations, Potenza RF microneedling to stimulate your skin’s natural regeneration, or a specialist skin peel to deeply exfoliate and even out skin texture.

Skin barrier function

Factors such as stress and the resulting poor sleep or lifestyle regimes can compromise our skin’s natural barrier function.

This means that our skin is less able to hold onto its protective cholesterol, fatty acids and ceramides, making it more susceptible to external allergens and irritants. This can lead to increased sensitivity and skin reactions.

If you are concerned about skin sensitivity or a particular issue, at a specialist skincare consultation our dermatologist can assess your skin and recommend products to soothe, nourish and protect it.

Stress and skin ageing

Long term or ‘chronic’ stress can have a significant impact on the skin’s ageing process.

Cortisol production is higher during stressful periods. If produced in excess over a long period, cortisol has a negative influence on our skin by degrading its supportive collagen and elastin.

This can lead to the development of fine lines, wrinkles, and general skin laxity. 

We offer a wide range of gentle, non-invasive treatments to combat skin ageing, and rejuvenate and revitalise your skin.

Hyaluronic acid-based treatments such as skin boosters and dermal fillers deeply hydrate and add volume. Exfoliating peels refresh and brighten the skin, whereas CACI (the non-surgical facelift), fractional mesotherapy and laser rejuvenation provide more general rejuvenation.

Forgetting self-care

When we experience stressful periods in our lives, it can lead to unhealthy habits like insufficient sleep, dietary changes, or poor skincare.

We can get caught up in the business of day to day life, especially during the festive season, and neglect to spend time on self-care. This can trigger or worsen skin issues.

Spending time on your skin is important in keeping it clean, nourished and healthy. In general, time spent on self-care has benefits for how you feel in yourself too.

Skincare routine

A consistent skincare routine with products suited to your skin type, and that address any specific issues you may have, will help to manage your skin’s health to help it withstand life’s stresses.

Time for yourself

Treating yourself to some ‘me time’ is very beneficial for managing stressful times.

A bespoke facial not only gives you important time for yourself, it is an excellent way to give regular nourishment and conditioning to your skin.

We tailor our approach to hydrate and purify your skin in the most effective way for your specific skin type, so that it feels cared for and protected.

Talk to us about your skin health

If you would like to talk to us about managing the health and appearance of your skin, we offer a free initial consultation. You can book online, call us or email  info@meliorclinics.co.uk.

Wider support

For wider help and support with managing stress, the NHS offer 10 stress busting tips, and Mind provides links to a range of information and advice.