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    5 Ways to Reduce The Effect of Stress on Your Skin

    The link between your brain and your skin is undeniable. Your mind and your skin are connected in more ways than one. Everything you feel can affect your skin in the same way the foods you eat affect your health. If you are under constant work-related pressure or if you do not sleep enough, your skin will suffer. If you worry too much, your skin will suffer. And when your skin suffers you feel even worse, closing a vicious circle of negative state of existence.

    Not so long ago the link between stress and skin was just a hunch, an educated guess at best. Now, it is a well-documented and researched topic amongst medical scientists, with proofs that stress contributes to skin inflammation, immune disorders, dull complexion, acne and untimely aging.

    Reducing the stress

    We often think stress is something that we can’t reach and grab with our hands, therefore, something invisible and unbeatable. And it’s true, it is difficult to fight against something you can’t even see. Although we can argue that stress is, basically, a hormonal imbalance that is wreaking havoc on your body, there are few things you can still do if you want to reverse that balance in your favor. The important thing to have in mind is that everything can be fixed. Use this as your mantra.

    First, acknowledge the problem. If you’re under a lot of stress as a working person, a parent or as a student, you will notice negative changes in your skin. All of these problems are caused by hormones, mostly cortisol and adrenaline:

    • Your skin is either dry or very oily
    • You notice new skin lines and wrinkles that weren’t there before
    • Unexplained skin rashes, eczema and acne breakouts
    • Itching of the skin, psoriasis
    • Sudden redness of the skin

    5 tips for erasing stress from your skin

    1. Sleep

    Sleep is one of those things everyone keeps underestimating. We all think that we are stronger than we actually are. The truth is, we aren’t. Sleep is necessary because it is our body’s technique of rebooting and restoring itself. Without sleep, we are exhausted, tired and barely functioning. And it shows on our skin.

    1. Healthy nutrition and skincare

    A healthy diet should be your first and last line of defense against stress. If you do not eat well, start immediately. If you do, eat even healthier. Do everything in your power to increase your chances against stressors. Healthy foods and drinks can help reinstating much needed chemical balance in your body. Do not forget to hydrate your body. Sometimes, all of those headaches and migraines are amplified because you’re dehydrated. It is also important to keep your skin hydrated every day. Use moisturizers and skin brightening creams that will nurture your skin and soothe the stress.

    1. Meditation

    Yoga is probably the best way to do it. Just 10-15 minutes of daily yoga practice will make all the difference. Whether you are doing yoga positions or just contemplating in peace and quiet (or even listening to your favourite music), your mind will clear itself of daily concerns and anxieties.

    1. Exercise

    Physical exercise will benefit your body in every possible way. It will detox your body and mind. When you exercise, your blood flow increases and you feed your body cells with more oxygen. You can run, ride bike and swim. Daily exercise releases hormones that regulate the chemical balance in your body, making you feel relaxed and stress-free.

    1. No alcohol and smoking

    Sometimes, we feel the stress is implanted in every pore of out being. Each of us copes with stress in different ways. Smoking and alcohol consumption should not be on that list. Cigarettes and alcohol contain pollutants that can only worsen your skin, acting as one of the stressors instead of calming you down.

    Conclusion

    Stress is known to be the cause of many psychological and physical consequences. It can be a constant threat to your well-being, day in and day out. You can feel those consequences in a week, but you can also feel those consequences years later, especially when it comes to skin.

    The good news is, you can help yourself fight off stressors. Start today.

    References:

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4082169/

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4106357/

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4241367/

    Evlin Symon
    Evlin Symon
    Evlin Symon is a freelance health writer from New Jersey. She enjoys learning about a wide variety of wellness issues and staying up-to-date on the latest research. She is also the author of many active blogs. She is expert in fitness, weighhtloss, health, beauty and nutrition. You can connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.

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