When feeling a bit overwhelmed or stressed, have you ever noticed that your complexion seems to be stressing out right along with you? No, you’re not going mad. While stress isn’t a direct cause of acne, it can trigger or exacerbate the symptoms of acne, causing what seems like breakouts during periods of stress.
Stress in the body can cause adrenal glands to stimulate sebaceous glands (the oil glands in your skin) to secrete more sebum, which in return, causes a breakout of spots. While emotional stress won’t trigger a new case of acne, it can worsen matters due to excess sebum, the oily substance that mixes with dead skin cells and bacteria to clog the hair follicles, leading to a pimple or acne cyst.
Yes, skin treatments, creams and prescriptions can help, but there are other ways that you can limit stress in your life. Here are a few ideas…
Take Time for You
Life can be so fast-paced that it can be easy to forget to take a moment to relax. A hot bath after a long day, a nice cup of tea on the sofa on a rainy day, or a relaxing SkinBase treatment to soothe and calm your skin.
Cut Out The Crap
Caffeine, sweets, alcohol and nicotine can all cause flare-ups of the skin. Instead of reaching for that bar of chocolate when you need a sweet fix, consider swapping it with some fruit instead.
Up The Exercise
A busy lifestyle can mean that exercise can take a back seat. But it’s vital that you keep up the physical activity for a healthy mind and body. If you take steps to lead a healthier, more active lifestyle, it can work wonders in improving your skin.
image:istock.com/AaronAmat
