How Your Stress and Skin Health Connect (Especially During the Holidays)

Stressors are unavoidable. Whether you get stuck in traffic or face growing pressures at work, your body feels the tension along with your mind. Learning how stress and skin health connect could make it easier to control your most frustrating symptoms. We’ve got a few popular solutions you can consider, too.

Stress Hormones Influence Your Skin Every Day

Your stress levels depend on how much cortisol your body produces. While that changes day to day, too much cortisol can exacerbate autoimmune and inflammatory dermatological symptoms. Skin reacts to high cortisol levels by producing side effects like:

• Breakouts

• Excess oil

• Psoriasis flareups

• Fine lines

Everyone’s typical dermatological reactions to stress differ. The annoying symptoms might also fade away after a few days. If you live a high-stress lifestyle, the long-term cortisol exposure can lead to other troubling conditions.

How Your Skin Changes With Long-Term Stress

Imagine someone eating an unhealthy diet. At first, they might not notice anything other than an upset stomach or low energy. If they keep eating an unhealthy balance of foods, their body may eventually develop high cholesterol or diabetes.

You can also face health issues if you live with cortisol for too long. Stress causes central nervous system changes that exacerbate underlying issues like acne, eczema, or psoriasis. You’re not just tired or frustrated. Chronic stress affects your entire body, including the nervous system regulating your health.

Understanding how stress and skin health connect could explain why you have certain side effects during tense periods. Once you know how your body works, you may feel encouraged to access effective treatments.

Our Recommended Solutions to Reverse the Damage

While it’s always good to manage your specific stressors with lifestyle changes, you can also manage related skin conditions right away. Consider some of the common treatments for side effects that don’t have to frustrate you anymore.

1. Unclog Pores With Chemical Peels

There are many ways to combat stress-induced breakouts, but chemical peels can help between battles. After your skin heals from temporarily bad acne, schedule a chemical peel. We’ll let you know if you’re a good candidate for the treatment before applying any products.

The peels pull oil and contaminants from your pores to reduce the chance of recurring pimples. They even smooth emerging wrinkles that could develop while you’re stressed. An occasional chemical peel could be exactly what you need to reset your skin.

2. Use Microneedling to Minimize Fine Lines

Contracting your facial muscles more often and dealing with higher cortisol levels could make tiny wrinkles appear. Resolve them with one of our easy microneedling appointments. The needle points encourage natural collagen production during the healing process. You’ll reduce acne scars, uneven skin texture, and fine lines without any extended downtime. 

If you’re one of the many people who feel nervous around needles, we totally understand. You don’t have to sign up for anything before we talk you through the experience. Ask for further explanation during your consultation appointment. We can chat about what microneedling feels like to decide if it’s the best thing for you right now.

3. Sit for an IV Session

IV therapies can help during stressful times. We provide a Meyers mix that tackles multiple things simultaneously. Say goodbye to stress, fatigue, chronic pain, and other challenging symptoms by scheduling an IV session. Sometimes, we feel the effects of stress more easily because we’re not getting the necessary nutrition to stand strong against life’s challenges.

Your body will get essential nutrients directly into your bloodstream so it can use every ounce effectively. Nothing gets lost in your digestive system if your veins carry vitamins and minerals directly to your organs — including your skin.

Manage Your Stress and Skin Health Better

Stress shouldn’t make you feel uncomfortable in your skin. Whether you’re dealing with seasonal or recurring tension, give your body some extra care by scheduling a consultation appointment. We’ll talk about what stress-related symptoms concern you most and help you find the best treatment possible.