7 Effective Ways to Reduce the Effects of Stress on Your Skin ...
By Lisa • 8 Comments
By Lisa • 8 Comments
Want to know some ways to reduce the effects of stress on your skin? If you weren’t already aware, stress does a number on various areas of our bodies but it can easily show up on our skin. There are a number of reactions our bodies have when we’re stressed, such as wrinkles, producing more oil, compromising our skin’s ability to repair itself and releasing chemicals that can cause itchy, irritated skin. Some of the effects of stress on our skin can’t be undone, so it’s important to try and get things under control when we can. Keep reading for some helpful tips on how to reduce the effects of stress on your skin.
One of the best ways to reduce the effects of stress on your skin as well as take good care of it is to get in a regular skin care routine and stick to it. Sometimes when we’re stressed we tend to skimp on certain things since we’re too tired or frazzled to think about moisturizing or spot-treating. This can actually make skin conditions worse. Sticking to a skin care routine will help maintain your skin and keep it healthy whereas neglecting our skin can result in more stress.
Another way to relieve stressed skin and a stressed mind is to work out. Grab a jump rope, dumbbells or go for a run and work off all that negative energy. Exercising will not only make you feel better physically, but it’ll also help you feel better emotionally. Sitting and worrying isn’t going to make things better; might as well burn off that stress.
An important part of your skin care routine should include sleep. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, stress reduction can decrease the production of chemicals and stress hormones. Not getting enough sleep would only exacerbate skin conditions as well as decrease our well-being. Get in the habit of going to sleep and waking up at the same time and allow yourself to take short naps when you need to recharge.
If you’re stressed out, allow yourself to relax, indulge or do a lot of both. Life is short and spending all your time worrying is a waste. Regularly engage in things you like to do to break up the monotony and enjoy life more. Go for a walk in the park, read a trashy novel, take a long bath, run in the grass or enjoy your favorite food. Enjoyable activities can help relieve overall stress which can help keep skin looking and feeling better.
Deep breathing is one of those things that I thought was a bunch of New Age hoo-ha until I tried it for myself. Taking slow, long and deep breaths not only feels good, but it releases tension. When we’re stressed we tend to take shorter, shallow breaths which results in less oxygen intake. Do your mind and body a favor by taking time out for deep breathing.
Sometimes we get so caught up in our busy lives that we know we’re stressed, but we don’t know exactly what’s bothering us. If that’s the case with you, think about it. What exactly is causing you to feel this way? Is there a person or situation that brings about negative feelings or anxiety? It might be uncomfortable to think about it, but it’s worth looking into. You can’t change things or reduce the stress in your life without getting to the bottom of your feelings.
It might not seem like loving yourself is associated with skin care and stressed skin, but it can help. Apart from doing things you enjoy, it’s also important to love and take care of yourself. Things like setting boundaries, eating well, and getting a massage can all help you feel better, which in turn can curb the release of stress hormones which helps your skin.
Eliminating stress completely might not be possible, but it is possible to live healthier and reduce stress in our lives. Stress is a nasty thing that can wreak havoc all over our bodies so make it a priority to help yourself feel better and reduce the amount of stress in your everyday life. How do you like to reduce stress?
Sources: aad.org, oprah.com