It’s not uncommon to hear that a person’s skin is bad because they’re stressed out or anxious, but it turns out there’s actually a lot of science behind skin and mental health. Stress and anxiety can cause your body to produce more cortisol, which increases oil production in your skin. That oil clogs up your pores and leads to breakouts.
This is just one example of how mental health affects your physical health. In fact, it’s estimated that over 80% of all illnesses are caused by stress! So if you feel like you’re struggling with a mental health issue, it might be time to see a doctor or therapist. It could be one of the best things you ever do for yourself.
But what about our skin? Could the state of our mental health be affecting our skin health?
In short: Yes! Stress has been shown to cause acne, eczema and other skin conditions. So if you’ve been feeling down lately, it might be time to consider how your mental health could be affecting your skin.
Here are some ways that your skin can be affected by bad mental health:
Eczema:
You may notice that if you have eczema, it gets worse when you’re stressed or anxious. This is because stress can make your body produce more cortisol (the “fight or flight” hormone). Too much cortisol can cause inflammation in your skin and make it break out in a rash.
Acne:
Acne is usually caused by hormones called androgens. When you have too many of these hormones, they can stimulate oil production in your skin and clog up pores, causing acne to develop. If you have severe acne, it can be linked to depression or anxiety because of how much pain and embarrassment it causes.
Itching:
Itching is another sign of an underlying medical condition like eczema or psoriasis that might be affecting your mental health, even though most people think itching is just something annoying that happens every now and then when they’re
Skin infections like eczema, acne and itching are common in people who suffer from depression or anxiety disorders—and they’re not always easy to treat. But there are ways to manage your skin and keep it healthy despite what’s going on inside your head.
See also: 7 HEALTHY LIFESTYLE TIPS FOR WOMEN IN TECH
Here are some steps you can take:
Keep your hands clean.
Wash your hands with with soap and water whenever possible (and don’t forget to wash behind your ears!). This will help prevent bacterial infections like impetigo or ringworm from spreading to other parts of your body.
Stay hydrated
Dry skin can make you feel uncomfortable, but if you drink enough water every day (about 8 glasses), it’ll help keep your skin moisturized and healthy too.
Use moisturizer
If you have dry skin or eczema, using lotion on a regular basis can help keep it under control by adding extra moisture into the outer layers of skin where it needs it most. It’s important not only during cold weather months but also throughout year round when temperatures fluctuate.
Watch what you eat.
It’s well known that eating too much sugar and high-fat foods can lead to inflammation in the body, which can cause acne breakouts. If you’re struggling with depression or anxiety, try cutting down on these types of foods for at least two weeks before seeing if it helps clear up any existing acne.
Change up your routine.
If you feel like your skin isn’t doing quite as well as it used to, try changing up your daily routine! Go for a walk outside in the fresh air instead of spending all day sitting at home watching TV or playing video games. You’ll get more sunlight and Vitamin D which both help keep skin looking healthy and clear!
Exercise regularly
Exercise releases endorphins, which help your mood! Try doing yoga or walking on the treadmill for about 30 minutes each day (or more often if possible).
We all want beautiful skin but how often do we stop to think about how our mental state can affect the condition of our skin? We agree that the two are largely unrelated but there is still a link. And sometimes the best thing you can do for your stress, anxiety or depression related skin condition is to seek professional advice to help manage your mental health and so improve your skin too.
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