How does mental wellbeing effect skin health?
Stress can lead to skin issues
Stress can cause many skin issues, including acne, eczema and general sensitivity. Studies have shown that people who are under high levels of stress tend to break out in acne more often. Stress is a major cause of acne, as it activates the flight or fight response, moving blood away from inner digestive organs (and your skin) to be used in your muscles (primarily your legs and arms). This lessened blood flow, in combination with surges of adrenaline and cortisol cause the body's production of oil to increase, and this excess oil clogs pores on the face.
Allergies are also linked to anxiety and stress
Allergies are also linked to anxiety and stress. If you have an allergy, your body produces antibodies that react to the allergen in the air or food. When this happens, your immune system sends antibodies to attack the allergen and stop it from harming you - this process may also cause a feel of stress or uneasiness in your body. Allergies can be caused by stress as well as by other factors like our environment or lifestyle choices such as smoking cigarettes or eating processed foods with artificial ingredients. Stress has been shown to trigger allergic reactions by making our bodies overreact to potential allergens in places where there actually aren’t any such things present.
Depression and skin health
Depression can cause skin problems and vice versa. The link between depression and acne is well documented, with research showing that people who have moderate to severe depression are more likely to suffer from acne than those without depression. It's thought that those with the condition may be more prone to picking at their skin because they're often in a state of distress or low mood.
Healthy habits to follow for better mental health
When we nourish ourselves with healthy foods, exercise regularly, take out time for rest and get good quality sleep, our skin naturally benefits. How you decide to unwind is a very personal Taking care of yourself by spending time with friends and family is also good for both mental and physical health, as well as self-confidence and happiness. And if you do things that make you happy (ahem: watching Netflix in bed), then why not indulge? Just make sure those indulgences don't turn into addictions. Finally, when life gets tough or stressful, try doing something fun instead of turning to unhealthy coping mechanisms like drinking alcohol or smoking cigarettes.
Our skin is a reflection of our inner health, but it’s also an organ that can be affected by our mental wellbeing. By investing time in taking care of ourselves and managing daily stressors in our lives, we are greatly setting ourselves up for success and avoiding the many negative effects stress has on our skin.