Stress Less for Radiant Skin: Understanding and Managing the Impact of Stress on Your Complexion

It’s no secret that stress has a detrimental effect on so many aspects of our lives, but are you aware it can even leave its toll on your skin?

There is a major link between stress and skin health and stress-induced skin issues are numerous. Fortunately, though, if you’re aware that stress is having a negative effect on your skin there are things you can do to help protect it.  

In this article we’ll look at stress management techniques to help get your skin back on an even keel.

Stress Skin Conditions  

According to the National Institutes for Health, common skin complaints that are thought to be a result of stress include -  

• Hair loss
• Acne
• Itchy skin
• Dandruff and/or psoriasis in the scalp  

And an article by Harvard Health Publishing reports that: “both acute and chronic stress can exert negative effects on overall skin wellness…”

Complexion Issues

Stress causes increased inflammation of the skin, a slowing down of the wound healing process, and also ups sebum production which can result in both excessively oily skin and acne.

But it doesn’t end there. Stressed skin can even fast-track the ageing process as it changes the levels of proteins in your skin which, in turn, leads to reduced elasticity. And if stress is making you frown a lot, you’ll be welcoming in frown lines and wrinkles to the mix too. All in all, we think it’s pretty clear to see that stress is far from your skin’s best friend.

Can Stress Cause Itchy Skin?  

Have you noticed your skin feeling constantly itchy? Or do you develop itchy skin when you’re experiencing periods of high stress and/or anxiety? Unfortunately itchy skin is one of the most common skin complaints when it comes to stress and it can be hard to break the cycle.

That’s because when we’re stressed, our bodies release the stress hormones - cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones can alter the flow of blood that reaches our skin and thus the itch develops.  

As stress weakens our immune systems, it can also make you more susceptible to itchy skin conditions such as hives or rosacea.

To help combat stressed itchy skin and get your radiant complexion back again, try tackling the problem with these options. All are shown to help deal with the negative effects stress has on our bodies and could help alleviate your skin woes and ease your stress.  

1. Exercise - whether it’s a calming yoga routine, a run around the park, or just a brisk dog walk - all of these will get your endorphins pumping. Exercise boosts circulation and blood flow which both help to ensure your skin gets the oxygen and nutrients it needs in order to flush out toxins

2. CBT - cognitive behavioural therapy can help you respond better to stress and offers methods to use to cope with any stress you’re facing. If you can tackle stress at its root and help your body navigate it in a positive way you should - hopefully - notice positive changes to your skin too

3. Mindfulness - is about being present in the here and now. By steering your mind to focus on what’s in front of you, you can help lower stress and decrease negative emotions that can also affect the skin. Mindfulness should help quell bouts of anger, which will help relieve stress-induced skin issues like rosacea for instance  

Can Stress Cause Dry Skin?

Dry skin can be yet another sign of stressed-out skin. In fact, if you’ve noticed you’ve developed dry scaly patches across your body, and your stress levels are higher than usual, those dry skin patches are probably a physical manifestation of the stress you're feeling.

Help combat dry skin by making sure you keep your body well hydrated. Try and drink eight glasses of water a day, and look to products that can help boost moisture and lock it in too. Skincare products with ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and ceramides will help boost moisture in stressed, dry skin. Oat-based bath products are also good for sensitive skin that’s prone to excessive dryness.

Can Stress Cause Acne?  

Sadly, it’s another yes - stress acne is yet another annoying skin condition. Want to know how to get rid of stress acne? Try these tips -  

• Embrace a regular skincare routine. If your skin is well looked after it will be much better able to deal with any stress that comes its way. A regular skincare routine such as a personalised MiQuest subscription can reap multiple benefits for your skin, and as it’s all personalised to you, you can be sure your skin will be getting the active ingredients it needs to thrive
• Avoid picking any spots - picking skin will only further exacerbate the problem by spreading bacteria from spot to spot, and the breakout cycle will continue
• Develop some healthy stress-busting habits such as journaling, mindfulness, and exercising - all of these should have a positive effect on the way you’re feeling which will also help your skin

Personalised Skincare for Better, Less-Stressed Skin  

Obviously, the best way to tackle stressed skin is to address why you’re feeling stressed in the first place. Once you’ve been able to alleviate these stress levels you should see an improvement in your skin. However, a regular skincare regimen will give your skin its best chance of success whatever it has to face. With MiQuest, your skincare routine is as quick and simple as it gets: three products in the morning and three in the evening.  

• Morning: Cleanse, moisturise, apply SPF
• Evening: Cleanse, moisturise, apply your Q-Stick  

Your Q-Stick is the product that’s packed with all your personalised active ingredients. If, for instance, your stressed-out skin is suffering with rosacea, you may find active ingredients such as niacinamide and azelaic acid. If your skin is breaking out in acne, however, your Q-Stick may contain tretinoin and clindamycin.  

Our AI facial scanning analysis allows our prescribers to accurately diagnose and prescribe the right ingredients for your stress-induced skin issues so you can relax in the knowledge that your skin is getting what it needs. Don’t let stressed skin get you down, let the experts at MiQuest help get it back to its best self. Subscribe today and get your skin glowing again.