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The Connection Between Stress and Skin Conditions

thesaurus definition of stress

Stress can take a significant toll on our bodies, affecting both our physical and mental well-being. While we often associate stress with anxiety or depression, it’s important to understand that it can also have an impact on our skin. In this blog post, we’ll explore the connection between stress and skin conditions and discuss strategies to help manage stress for healthier skin.

Physiological Effects of Stress

When we experience stress, our bodies release hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones increase heart rate and blood pressure, and can result in inflammation and oxidative damage to cells. This can lead to a weakened skin barrier, making skin more susceptible to infections and irritations. In addition, stress can cause the release of histamines, which can trigger allergic reactions and inflammation in the skin.

Achieving Stress-Free Skin: Understanding the Impact of Cortisol

When under stress, cortisol levels increase, impacting hormones, digestion, and toxin clearance. These elements play a significant role in glycation, hormonal abnormalities, and excessive toxicity, causing collagen production to suffer, cells to produce less energy, and cells to age.

Elevated cortisol levels can cause a range of skin conditions, including acne, rosacea, eczema, and weakened barrier conditions on the face, back, and chest. Prolonged stress can also lead to weariness, low blood pressure, sensitivity to light, and sleeplessness, which further exacerbate the impact on the skin.

Therefore, it is crucial to recognize and acknowledge the effects of stress on your skin. Practicing stress-reduction techniques can help lower cortisol levels, reducing insulin production and stabilizing melatonin levels. Over time, this can lead to better skin health, as the body becomes restored and balanced after sleep and recovery.

Common Skin Conditions Associated with Stress

One of the most prevalent skin conditions linked to stress is eczema. Stress can trigger a flare-up in those with pre-existing eczema, and can even cause the condition in those who have never experienced it before. Other unwanted skin conditions including rosacea, psoriasis and acne share a connection to gut microbial imbalances brought on by long-term stress. Stress can also exacerbate existing skin conditions like acne, rosacea, and hives.

Stress and skin conditions connected

Acne

Acne is a common skin disorder that is exacerbated by stress. Studies have shown that stress can lead to an increase in androgens, hormones that can stimulate oil production in the skin. This excess oil, combined with dead skin cells, can clog pores and lead to acne breakouts. Managing stress levels can therefore be an effective tool in reducing acne flare-ups.

Rosacea

Rosacea is a chronic skin disorder that leads to facial redness, bumps, and pimple-like breakouts. Stress can trigger flare-ups of rosacea, as it can cause blood vessels in the skin to dilate and become more visible. In addition to stress management, individuals with rosacea can benefit from avoiding triggers such as spicy foods, alcohol, and extreme temperatures.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disorder that results in thick, scaly patches of skin. Similar to other skin conditions, psoriasis can be exacerbated by increased stress levels. Studies suggest that stress can alter the immune system and contribute to inflammation, which in turn triggers psoriasis flare-ups.

Gut Health

Stress can also have a profound impact on gut health, which is closely linked to skin health. Our gut is home to trillions of microorganisms that play a crucial role in our overall health, including our skin. Long-term stress can disrupt the balance of gut bacteria, leading to a variety of skin issues such as acne, eczema, and psoriasis. Maintaining a healthy gut through a balanced diet and stress management can therefore help to improve overall skin health.

Ways to Manage Stress for Healthier Skin

Reducing stress begins with making lifestyle changes such as getting more sleep, practicing mindfulness and meditation, regular exercise and maintaining a healthy diet. Practicing stress-relieving activities like yoga, tai chi, acupuncture and massage can also help to reduce stress. Reducing screen time, unplugging from technology, and spending more time outdoors in nature can also be helpful. Another way to reduce stress is by finding support from others, such as through social support networks and therapy.

Skincare for Stressed Skin

Apart from mindful breaths, skincare can also help with stressed skin. Occasional at-home pampering sessions with relaxing natural face masks can help with de-stressing while still providing the necessary nutrients for the skin to stay healthy. A nurturing skin care routine can provide the protection for the skin’s barrier function by using products that replace and nourish the skin’s natural lipids which will aid in keeping the skin’s pH balance in check.

Last note

Our bodies and skin are intricately connected, and it’s important to understand how stress can contribute to common skin conditions like eczema, acne, and psoriasis. With lifestyle changes, stress-relieving activities, and support from others, we can manage stress more effectively and support healthier, happier skin. By prioritizing self-care and making stress reduction a priority, we can promote overall wellness for our bodies and minds. Let’s make a conscious effort to prioritize our health and practice self-care, for the betterment of our entire beings. In addition, paying attention to our gut health through a balanced diet and probiotic use can help to alleviate skin issues related to microbial imbalances brought on by stress. Remember, taking care of your skin goes beyond just topical treatments, it requires a holistic approach that prioritizes stress management and overall wellness.

About author

Selma Durmo M. Pharm

“As far as I can remember I have always struggled with sensitive skin. The issues culminated in my mid-twenties when I started having rosacea flares and redness. My personal quest for effective, safe solutions took a professional turn, and I was given the opportunity to apply my (Pharma) background in developing a new skin friendly product line. My goal was to create something new, a clinically proven sustainable skincare brand. This science backed probiotic skincare derived technology is a product of years of research and innovation in personal care products. Metabiotics contain naturally produced hyaluronic acid, lactic acid, SMase, lipoteichoic acid, over 40 peptides and enzymes. All assigned with specific tasks for activating the skins native repair mechanisms.” 

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Clean

Following the principles of Clean Beauty, we have joined the dedicated stream of safe, non-toxic beauty enthusiasts.

Our products contain carefully selected hypoallergenic ingredients suitable for sensitive and reactive skin.

We’re committed to formulating with natural, organically-derived, and skin-friendly synthetics while excluding popular “good feeling” and potentially harmful compounds to provide the best skincare solutions.

“It is easy to get hooked on conventional products, with inviting perfumes and the instantly pleasant skin feeling. The sooner you understand that those sensations are short-lived the better! Choose Clean Beauty and allow the science backed ingredients time to work wonders on your skin.”

Cinically proven

Our products’ superiority has been proven in a controlled study on 50 volunteers where it was shown that four-week product use leads to a significant increase in skin moisture levels (39%), increased skin elasticity (50%), and a decrease in the appearance of wrinkles (23%).

Other beneficial effects include decrease in skin sensitivity, increase in skin cleanliness, evenness of the skin tone, decrease in acne formation.

This study serves as proof of the skin’s gradual return of its protective layer, integrity, and balance. All study results have been published in a peer reviewed journal as well as the full study report.

“Putting all science aside, we are most proud of our users’ testimonials. All tested volunteers claimed visible and tangible improvement in skin feel and appearance.”

Transparency

The greatest breakthrough discovery we stumbled upon is that skincare and cosmetics should not be sensational.

Personal care should be comprehensive, accessible, and efficient, just as all solutions that come from nature are.

We are often faced with labels such as anti aging skin care, organic skin care, natural skincare products, which lack the necessary explanation… What do these phrases actually mean?

“Grown tired of all the misleading, incomprehensive, irrelevant information used in the beauty industry we decided to stick to a no-nonsense approach. It is what it is, and skin care is not magic! It requires commitment, patience and understanding your skins’ needs.”

Sustainable

We are dedicated to neutralizing our negative impact on the environment as much as possible and have joined the stream of sustainable skincare brands. We’re taking you on for the ride (we’ve even packed the goodies)!

To help minimize our carbon footprint, for every product order a tree will be planted thanks to our amazing planters at One Tree Planted. It’s estimated that a mature tree nullifies around 20lbs of CO2 a year.

We’re doing our best to reuse, reduce and recycle. Wishing to inspire a circular economy we have partnered up, to create a customized recycling program. Collect three empty plastic packages to receive your Anbiome Recycling Envelope and follow the instructions on how to take part in our recycling mission. 

Your good deed shall be rewarded. For every three products recycled you receive one product gift!

Technology

Today’s trends in skincare require the use of synthetic active ingredients which interact with the skin. Our approach is to distinguish natural alternatives, which mimic the skins native repair mechanism and are more efficient and ecologically sound.

Translating solutions from nature into industrial settings is hardly an easy task, but it’s one we enjoy undertaking.

We have screened 500+ different wild probiotic strains from the nature, to find the most powerful ones.

Special fermentation process was developed to harvest powerful molecules (HA, LTA, SMase, LA and 40 peptides).

Result is the composition of native signal components and molecules that keep the skin balanced, healthy and protected.