Stress is unpredictable and can hit hard. With more light being shed around mental health, Mental Health Awareness Week in May, Self Care Day in July and World Mental Health Day in October, it’s important we take a deep dive into how stress affects our skin through the “mind-skin connection”. Pause for some quick science.

Psychodermatology understands that there is an intimate relationship between our mind and our skin, and whatever our mind experiences – whether that is stress, depression, anxiety or joy and happiness – our skin and body are influenced as a result.

Essentially this can be the difference between breakouts, inflammation, and a calm complexion. Stress is visible in our bodies and on our skin. From acne to eczema flare-ups, discover how stress affects the skin and hair and how to treat stressed complexions with a recommended products routine to take and share.

How Stress Affects the Skin

Stress affects everybody differently and therefore affects everybody’s skin differently. According to Dr Natasha Berridge, BSD Practitioner and Consultant Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon, stress can impact the skin in two ways: “directly via the release of the body’s stress hormones (catecholamines) including adrenaline and cortisol or indirectly by negatively affecting our physical well-being through our lifestyle choices (e.g., unhealthy diet, cigarette smoking) when coping under pressure”. And If you experience chronic stress, this can also lead to a constant increase in cortisol and inflammation, which can have a severe impact overall on our skin’s health.

Symptoms of Stressed Skin

Dr Berridge goes on to say that for our skin, the excess amount of hormones can cause conditions to flare up, such as;

Inflammatory skin responses like eczema, psoriasis and rosacea

Extreme sensitivity
Rashes, hives and redness
Severe dryness
Dehydrated skin
Irritation and itchiness
Stinging and burning sensations
Increased breakouts
Dull and lacklustre complexions
Scarring through picking and pulling at scabs and spots

We know it is frustrating and upsetting to see how your skin and skin barrier react under these stressful conditions but despite the hard times, remember there are solutions to soothe and calm the skin once again.

Treating Stressed Skin

Skincare Recommendations

For the skin, you first want to look at your skincare routine. Make sure that there aren’t too many products, and that the products you are using are as nourishing and hydrating as possible. Your skin barrier is stressed, so avoid over-exfoliating and overdoing your routine. Instead, introduce soothing ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, ceramides or squalene to soothe, hydrate and nourish your barrier as well as prebiotics and postbiotics to balance and settle the gut and skin. “Choose a gentle cleanser rich in antioxidants to help protect against environmental aggressors,” adds Berridge “Also, try adding retinol, a popular anti-ageing product that accelerates skin cell exfoliation and promotes collagen production. It can also be helpful to those that suffer from stress-related changes in their skin’s dryness or oiliness.” You may also find some natural home remedies such as aloe vera, a relief when soothing stressed skin.

Stressed Facial Skin Product Routine Recommendations

Here, we’ve curated a selection of effective skincare products to help you build a 5-step routine full of gentle, hydrating and soothing products to protect and strengthen your barrier while adding treatments and exfoliants to improve any stress-related changes such as dullness and dryness.

Step 1: Gentle Cleansers

Step 2: Gentle Exfoliation

Step 3: Treatments

Step 4: Hydrating Moisturisers

As always, Step 5 we ask you to not forget your sunscreen. Ideally a broad spectrum of at least SPF 30 should be applied daily and reapplied every 2 hours to maintain protection from UV rays that can exacerbate existing skin sensitivities.

Stressed Body Skin Product Recommendations

Yes, the skin on our body is tougher than the skin on our face, however, it still needs some TLC. Try a gentle wash like Bioderma Atoderm Face & Body Shower Gel. If experiencing breakouts or dry skin, try a hydrating scrub like Ameliorate Smoothing Body Exfoliant. Always follow up with a nourishing cream like Cantu Coconut Oil Hydrating Body Lotion regardless of stressed body concerns.

Lifestyle Recommendations

Some lifestyle options are expert-recommended such as exercising regularly, maintaining a balanced diet, getting the right amount of sleep for your body and finding hobbies and activities that help you to relax and reduce the impact of stress.

How Stress Affects Skin of Colour

Stress affects everybody’s skin one way or another, but for skin of colour, there is more emphasis on the development of long-term darkened (and sometimes lightened) patches of the skin, causing dull and uneven skin tone. Dr Berridge highlights that “stress kickstarts our skin cell turnover, as part of the inflammatory response, to protect our skin leading to hyperpigmentation and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH).” She says, “stress may play a role in developing autoimmune disorders such as vitiligo, which is characterised by the development of pale white spots that can occur anywhere on the skin and is more common in black people.”

Stress & Its Effect on the Hair & Scalp

Not a subject often talked about, but stress also impacts your hair and scalp. “Stress on the scalp is most visible on those who are prone to allergies and autoimmune conditions and this often present as redness, itching, scaling and flaking and small pustules flaring up across the scalp,” shares BSD Practitioner and Consultant Trichologist at Fulham Scalp and Hair Clinic, Eleanore Richardson. She explains that we start new habits such as picking at scabs and flakes and excessively playing with our scalp and hair while we are stressed. As a result, “the more likely we are to pick things that shouldn't be picked, encouraging the spread of bacteria and the development of infection.”

In more severe cases, hair shedding and Alopecia Areata (a type of hair loss mainly triggered by stress) is noticed about 6-8 weeks after the stress trigger but should recover entirely as long as the stress has been removed, Richardson says. However, book in to see a trichologist and receive the correct diagnosis and treatment if you're concerned.

ESSENTIALLY…

As we lead more demanding family and work lives, periods of stress are unfortunately inevitable. By giving patience and treating ourselves gently - mind, body and skin included - we can restore ourselves to glow again. Share and save this feature for those stressful moments.

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Stressed skin & how to treat it