Stress is Making you Look Older- It's a Skin Care Nightmare

I know this will not make your day. But… Stress is really, really bad for your skin. It’s right up there with smoking, bad habits and poor nutrition. Effects of stress in the skin:

  • 2nd leading cause of premature aging.
  • #1 rosacea trigger.
  • Suppresses the immune response.
  • Reduces surface antimicrobial peptides (Web definition “Antimicrobial peptides are part of the innate immune response and are found among all classes of life”.

Not convinced?

  • Stress lengthens wound healing time up to 30%.
  • Stress effects every element of your skin, from pores to dermal proteins to the DNA locked inside every cell.
  • Stress alters your genetic code and shortens the productive lifespan of skin cells.
  • Stress makes every skin condition worse.

That massage you keep putting off is looking better all the time isn’t it? But, sometimes stress is not something we bring on ourselves. For example you have an illness or loved one who is ill. In these instances all we can do is manage our stress the best we can. Manage your stress by creating routines and doing them everyday:

DO NOT feel guilty about taking care of yourself. Even the simplest action of taking care of yourself can reduce your blood pressure and ease your stress. Do some of these tasks throughout your day and check in with yourself consistently about your stress level:

  • Get a massage or facial.
  • Take a hot bath.
  • Take a walk.
  • Do some deep breathing. Technique: Breath in through your nose expanding your lower abdomen and lungs for a count of 6, out through your mouth pulling in your lower abdomen squeezing air from lungs for a longer count of 7-8.
  • Do some stretching.
  • Meditate. Technique: In a quiet environment, lay or sit, relax your muscles and mind without sleeping. If your mind is still reeling take each thought and visually wrap it in a pink bubble and watch it float away. Do this until your mind is clear.
  • Get some excercise.
  • Do some yoga.
  • Get a mani/pedi.
  • Get a good hug.
  • Take a nap.
  • Do something that will make you laugh: A TV show, a movie or a visit with a hilarious friend.
  • Have some sex- ya baby!

It’s time to take charge of yourself, identify where your stress comes from and do something about it. It will improve your overall health, most importantly, and the big bonus is your skin and hair will thank you for it in return. Credit- Effects of stress on skin: Rebecca James Gadberry- Class materials “Skin Care Ingredients for Cosmetic Professionals” UCLA Extension. ]]>

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