Stress is a normal response to difficult situations, such as the fast pace of our society, excessive work or changes in daily life. It’s not bad in itself, but prolonged exposure to stress can have negative effects on our health, because it alters almost all processes in the body and mind, leading to physical, psychological and emotional discomfort.
When the level of cortisol, the so-called stress hormone, is high, we can feel anxious, nervous and sad. But when these effects are prolonged, muscle pain, cramps, migraines, high blood pressure, memory loss, and fatigue also appear. In more serious cases, it can cause cardiovascular problems, heart disease, digestive disorders, diabetes and obesity, among other diseases.
Many people think that being stressed is just a state of mind, but that’s not true: stress can affect the entire body, including the health of the skin, which is the largest organ in the body. Dr. Amparo Rodriguez Alvarez, a dermatologist with extensive experience in skin health and treating sensitive skin, said in an interview with this medium that, “In cases of fear or stress, the body secretes two main hormones: adrenaline and cortisol,” which explains this process.
“When this stress persists over time, inflammatory substances are created that change the skin barrier, reducing its protective capacity, slowing down its regeneration process and limiting collagen production, while promoting its degradation and decrease in elastin. As a result, the skin loses elasticity and firmness, which translates into deeper wrinkles and greater sagging: it is stressed skin.”
Aside from the inflammatory process, Rodriguez Alvarez adds another factor: “Oxidative stress, the generation of free radicals that directly attack skin cells, reducing collagen production and altering cell renewal.”
In conclusion: “Constant stress accelerates skin aging and encourages the appearance of more wrinkles,” highlights this specialist, who works as a dermatologist at the Comprehensive Dermatology Institute of Barcelona and also runs her own center.
It is clear that the skin suffers from stress, like any other part of the body, and this appears with various symptoms, but according to the doctor, the most common ones are: the early appearance of wrinkles; Dull tone and lack of shine due to lack of oxygen and accumulation of dead cells. Dryness and dehydration due to altered skin barrier and water loss. Greater sensitivity to external factors, with a tendency to redness and inflammation of the skin, and a higher incidence of inflammatory processes.
How can we treat stressed skin?
Lack of sleep or lack of rest also translates into dull skin, with bags and dark circles, aging your appearance. Such as age: “Years have a decisive influence on the skin’s ability to regenerate. In young people who suffer from constant stress, it is more common to observe acne processes or oily skin, but they always show a greater ability to reverse damage,” explains the dermatologist. “On the other hand, in mature skin, stress translates into accelerated skin aging, with more wrinkles, increased sagging, dryness, and loss of luminosity,” he adds.
Regarding the advice that we can put into practice to avoid skin fatigue, Rodriguez suggests, first, trying to manage this condition by changing habits, exercising, more hours of sleep, following a good diet and, when necessary, taking advice from specialists. Additionally, she recommends using products that reinforce the skin’s barrier: a good cleansing routine, hyaluronic acid to retain water and boost hydration, ceramides and niacinamide.
Do not forget daily protection from the sun, which is necessary to prevent the appearance of blemishes and improve skin tone and hydration level.
The specialist advises, in some cases, “to deal directly with the problem by firming the active ingredients, but above all it is interesting to treat it from the root, by acting on the factors that alter the accelerated aging of the skin.”
Thus, regarding a facial routine to repair stressed skin, which he considers essential, Rodríguez Alvarez emphasizes that it basically “should focus on hydrating, restoring and soothing the skin.”
He suggests a few simple steps: gentle cleansing with neutral pH soap that does not alter the skin barrier; Soothing serum with niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and plant extracts (such as Centella asiatica); Broad spectrum sun protection covering UVA, UVB, IR and visible light; Regular use of hydrating masks, and if you want to go further, go to a dermatologist to determine and customize your routine.
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