Stress and Your Skin – Ida’s Tips

As an esthetician for over 35 years, it is safe to say that nearly half of the clients we treat come to us with problematic skin conditions directly related to stress. 

Stress causes chemical reactions in the body which make your skin more reactive. Your body tries to protect itself from stress is by increasing the production of hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol otherwise known as “stress hormones.” This hormonal chemical change is known as your body’s “fight or flight” response.

Your body views stress as a threat to its survival. Fight or flight responses support the body’s effort to stabilize itself when a threat occurs. It does this by conserving resources such as blood flow for vital organs like the brain, heart, lungs, and kidneys. Your body is trying to help you survive. Unfortunately, this phenomenon has a negative impact on your skin in three ways.

1. Acne Breakouts. The increase in adrenaline and cortisol affect your skin because they trigger the adrenal glands to produce more oil than normal, with a thicker consistency. More oil means your pores are more likely to get clogged, leaving your skin more prone to breakouts and cysts.
2. The Dullness of the Skin. As mentioned earlier, your body reallocates blood flow during fight or flight responses, and sadly the skin (and particularly the skin on your face) gets the least of its share under stress. The loss of circulation causes the skin to appear dull or lackluster; giving you the appearance of tired, unhealthy skin.
3. Wrinkles. Last but not least, stress causes muscle tension (even in the face.) When the muscles around your face are tense it causes the skin attached to those muscles to be pulled. Over time, this movement causes fine lines and wrinkles. 

By understanding the body’s response to stress we can help you reduce the side effects by recommending treatments and products that will soothe your skin as your body recovers and gets back to a normal state.

This is why at Juno we say, “everyone has a skin-story.” It is our job to pay close attention to the signals your skin delivers by frequently evaluating your skin and asking questions. It is our hope that this information will serve as a great reminder of how important it is to take the time for self-care; as many of us prepare to go back to the hustle-and-bustle of the school year. We hope you will plan some stress-reducing relaxation time for yourself, and Juno would be honored to serve you.