Stress is inevitable. The world we live in is full of rife with innumerable stressors which seems to be unavoidable. The never-ending work deadlines, the carpool that is always lined up, the train that never runs on time, the notification feed that is filled with urgent messages, the constant loop of tragedy popping in the news outlet, and oh yes, the laundry that does not fold itself! – And this has just become a morning routine. Not just the life-changing experiences that rock our core, these daily dosages of stressors are equally chipping us down. Being agitated and irritated is not just the effect of stress, it also has wreck havoc on our faces and bodies. This calls upon aging way faster than a lifetime of bad eating habits and smoking.
How Does Stress Really Impact You
During stressful events, our blood pressure and energy level go up and the functions shut down that are essential for survival for instance digestion and reproduction. Since the body is on high alert, we can think more clearly. Likewise, learning and memory are enhanced, which is very useful in a dreadful situation. However, we have started reacting with a similar level of stress-response even in a minor incident. It is then manifested physically inside out.
What Is Stress Doing To Our Faces
Dr. Day, a dermatologist from Newyork says, “ the release of adrenaline- a stress hormone is triggered by constant worrying -which over time impacts negatively to our skin.” Aside from the onset of “bitch face” , stress can also turn our face to veritable wildebeest. Here is how stress can outnumber our good looks:
Breakouts
Studies show that long-term stress suppresses our immune system, including our skin making us more susceptible to infections and even disrupting our menstrual cycles, which can lead to hormonal breakouts.
Skin Conditions
Normally, cortisol levels oscillate by our internal circadian clock, with the peak level in the morning and lowest in the mid-night. When we are stressed, cortisol levels are disrupted and can cause acne and exacerbate conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea.
Dull Skin
Even though we live in a skincare-obsessed culture, we pay much less attention to it since they are least important for survival. So, at times of stress, valuable minerals and vitamins are preserved for vital metabolic processes of our bodies. Skin is the external barometer of what is happening internally and we often see dull faces at times of fatigue and stress.
Wrinkles
A dull complexion is the least of our worries, we can expect fine lines and wrinkles too. A consistently high level of cortisol is catabolic to our body, meaning we are breaking down tissues and failing to repair them which leads to decreased collagen and elastin production.
Fine Lines
Constantly making certain facial expressions like, furrowing eye-brows, pursed lips can cause the appearance of fine lines in our face, which may again lead to deeper wrinkles over time
Puffy Eyes
The stressors can make you awake till late at night and keep you away from getting a beautiful sleep. This causes the fluid to collect under the eyelid and you end up with a puffy mess in the A.M.
Puffy Face
When we are stressed, we tend to take short, shallow breaths. Often we may find ourselves holding breath which can cause redness and flushing of our face.
Teeth
The mouth is the first thing to be affected during times of stress. Stress can cause clench and grind our teeth resulting in joint and muscle pain called temporomandibular disorders (TMD), this results in headaches, backaches, worn-out teeth. Eventually, this leading to an unattractive look.
How Do We Lift Stress From Our Faces
A touch of self-care on a daily basis can mitigate the facial issues related to stress. Some of the things we can incorporate for a healthy face include:
- A healthy balanced
- High factor SPF incorporated with moisturizer
- Soothing ingredients such as aloe vera, chamomile, oatmeal
- Yoga and meditation
- A good sleep routine
