When Stress Gets Under Your Skin: Understanding and Managing Its Impact

In our bustling lives, where we juggle personal lives, careers, and our ambitions, stress has become a frequent, if not constant, companion. But did you know it can really get under your skin? Yes, literally! Today, let's dive into how stress impacts our skin and explore some soothing solutions that not only nurture our skin but also our spirits.

The Skin-Stress Connection: What's Happening Beneath the Surface?

Our skin is the most visible indicator of our internal wellness and, sadly, our stresses. When we're under pressure, our body produces more cortisol, the stress hormone, which can lead to a domino effect of skin woes. Increased cortisol levels can boost oil production, it can also accelerate aging by breaking down the collagen and elastin that keep your skin firm and youthful.

Moreover, stress can disrupt the delicate balance of our gut, often referred to as our "second brain," which communicates directly with our skin through the brain-skin axis. This can lead to inflammation, one of the main culprits behind skin redness and sensitivity. Psychological stress can even impair the skin's barrier function, leading to irritated skin and chronic conditions like eczema and psoriasis. So, when we say "I'm feeling stressed," our skin is really listening!

Soothing the Stress Away: Tips for Calmer Skin and a Calmer You

  1. Embrace a Skin-Caring Routine: Sometimes, the simple act of pausing for a skincare routine can be a soothing ritual. Use gentle, clean products that comfort the skin, like our Squalane Facial Oil. This single ingredient is 100% olive-derived and a COSMOS-certified product is perfect for reactive skin. 
  1. Mindfulness and Meditation: These aren't just buzzwords; they're powerful tools for managing stress. This doesn’t mean you need to chant ohm in the lotus pose, meditation can be as easy as coloring, playing an instrument, or in my case calligraphy. It’s finding something to focus your mind on, a singular task to quiet your brain. Fun fact:  five minutes of meditation can decrease cortisol levels and lead to clearer, more radiant skin.
  1. Get Moving: Exercise isn't just great for your body; it's a miracle worker for your skin. It boosts circulation, helps to deliver oxygen and nutrients to your skin, and kicks up endorphin levels, reducing stress.
  1. Feed Your Skin: What you eat impacts your skin. Foods rich in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids are known to help fight inflammation and help your skin cope with stress better. Think blueberries, wild-caught salmon, and leafy greens—not just good for your body but glorious for your skin.
  1. Sleep On It: Never underestimate the power of a good night's sleep. Sleep is when your skin does most of its magic, so give it ample time to recover from the day's stress and for your products to get to work. There’s a reason why they call it Beauty Sleep. 

Remember, your skin is your friend and sometimes, it's your most honest one. It reflects your life's ups and downs, so taking care of it is taking care of yourself. Let's not allow stress to take the driver's seat. Instead, let's approach our skin care as an act of self-care that reminds us of our worth and our resilience. The skin can even produce its own stress hormones in response to environmental stressors, perpetuating the stress cycle. By managing stress through lifestyle factors, we can break this cycle and promote healthier, more radiant skin.

Xx, Indie


References:

Arck, P. C., et al. (2003). Mind and matter—psychological versus environmental stress in murine stress models. Current Opinion in Investigational Drugs, 4(8), 947-952.

Krutmann, J., et al. (2014). Pollution and skin aging. Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 25(2), 132-141.

Dhabhar, F. S. (2018). The short-term stress response–Mother nature's mechanism for enhancing protection and performance under conditions of threat, challenge, and opportunity. Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology, 49, 175-192.

Kiken, L. G., et al. (2015). Mindfulness-based interventions for physical health conditions: A narrative review. Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 803.

Slominski, A. T., et al. (2020). Stress and the skin. Physiological Reviews, 100(2), 675-789.