The impact of COVID-19 has been truly unprecedented, causing an immeasurable amount of stress in everybody’s lives. These stressful conditions have triggered many detrimental reactions, both emotionally and physically. While some people get headaches or migraines from stress, others experience an array of skin conditions. Quite literally, the skin becomes a physical reflection of their emotional stresses and anxieties.
The skin and the mind are closely intertwined. Many skin conditions often have a psychological dimension that can be explored further. In fact, studies have shown that stress plays an influential role in aggravating a number of skin conditions. There is even a new field called ‘psychodermatology’, which addresses the impact that emotions can have on the skin.
In recent weeks, you may have experienced certain skin problems caused by stress. Some of these symptoms may be entirely new to you, while others are pre-existing conditions that have been intensified by the current developments. Either way, you may be interested in learning more about these skin problems, along with the treatments that Beauty Med can offer for your skincare recovery.
Here are seven common skin problems that can be caused or exacerbated by stress:
Problem #1: Skin Dullness
Skin dullness is a problem often caused by dehydration, poor eating habits, and lack of sleep. When you’re especially stressed, healthy habits easily fall by the wayside. You might start sleeping fewer hours to make more time in the day. You might skip meals unintentionally because you have no appetite. You might not give proper hydration a fleeting thought.
When you aren’t drinking enough water due to stress, the problems can start to show on your face. Your skin can start to look grey, dry, and cracked. In other words, your skin can lose its natural glow. The simplest way to get rid of this skin problem is by improving your daily habits, implementing a skincare routine, and getting a facial done. When you are taking of yourself, this reduces your stress levels and it will revitalize your skin health again.
Problem #2: Skin Acne
Stress causes your body to release natural stress hormones, like cortisol. These hormones can increase your skin’s oil production. When you have excess oil on your skin, you are more prone to acne. To make matters worse, the stress can make you pick at your acne, which can lead to further scarring and slow healing.
Microneedling is a great technique to combat this skin acne problem. The cosmetic treatment comes with many skincare benefits, including its notable ability to reduce and remove stubborn acne scars.
Problem #3: Skin Hives
Do you have an unexplained rash on your body? This could be a stress rash or stress hives, as a result of your body reacting to undue emotional stress. While hives are typically attributed to allergic reactions towards pollen, insect bites, foods or medications, stress can also trigger this common skin problem.
Some days can be especially stressful, leaving you covered in swollen, itchy pink welts. Fortunately, these hives usually go away within 24 hours. However, they can also persist for 6 weeks or more. Often, the stress and unhappiness these hives cause will prolong the skin condition, making it difficult for your body to heal.
If they become too uncomfortable, stress hives can be treated with topical steroid creams or oral antihistamines. In addition, it’s a good idea to address the underlying stress, especially if these hives become a recurring skin problem.
Problem #4: Skin Eczema
Eczema is a skin problem often attributed to an overactive immune system. Unfortunately, stress can trigger an autoimmune response and make your eczema even worse. The eczema weakens the protective layer on the outside of the skin, which leads to irritation and dryness.
If stress is wreaking havoc with your skin’s microbiome and manifesting itself as eczema, give your skin barrier some added protection by moisturizing regularly to help your skin heal. And of course, work on reducing your stress levels to prevent eczema flareups from occurring regularly.
Problem #5: Skin Rosacea
Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that can be triggered by several factors, including emotional stress. That’s because stress can lead to inflammation, which compounds this skin problem since rosacea is aggravated and made worse by inflammation.
The body’s chemical response to stress can make the skin more reactive and sensitive, so the healing process is potentially difficult. It is best to seek professional treatment to recover from rosacea properly.
Problem #6: Skin Psoriasis
Psoriasis is another chronic skin condition that you may experience due to stress. This skin problem is characterized by thick, red patches that appear on the skin, often covered in white scales. In some cases, these symptoms can worsen when stress is involved. Studies have shown that people who experience higher stress levels, including those who stress about their psoriasis, tend to have worse outbreaks.
Like many chronic skin conditions, you are advised to seek professional help to recover from psoriasis. There will be dermatological treatments available that can make the psoriasis condition appear less severe.
Problem #7: Cold Sores
Cold sores, often called fever blisters, are groups of small, painful blisters that develop on the lips and around the mouth. You can go years without having a cold sore, but they may suddenly appear front and centre on your lips. What is the common cause? Stress. While cold sores are initially caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV), stress can cause flareups by putting pressure on your immune system, thus reducing your resistance to the virus.
Fortunately, there should be a wide variety of medicines, creams, and balms to treat this common skin condition. You can apply any of these cold sore remedies and shorten the healing time for this skin problem.