Have you ever experienced a stressful time and thought, Am I looking older all of a sudden?
Well you are not alone, stress is definitely the second biggest premature aging contributor that we see in clinic, other than UV sun damage.
When we experience stress, our bodies release cortisol, commonly known as the "stress hormone."
Elevated levels of cortisol can lead to increased inflammation in the body, which in turn affects the skin. This inflammation can disrupt collagen production, leading to a loss of elasticity and firmness in the skin.
Additionally, stress can impair the skin's natural barrier function, making it more susceptible to environmental damage and moisture loss.
Inflammation in the skin can also exacerbate existing skin conditions such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea.
Additionally, stress can disrupt the balance of oil production in the skin, leading to an increased sebum production and clogged pores.
Furthermore, stress also affects our immune system's ability to fight off bacteria and viruses that may contribute to skin infections or slow down the healing process.
It can also impair the natural barrier function of the skin, leaving it more susceptible to environmental aggressors like pollution and UV radiation.
Stress effects on the skin is one of the main contributing factors that we see in clinic, that can not only cause premature ageing, but also prevent greater results from in clinic treatments. While we are stimulating collagen from our treatments, if you are in a stressful period, stress hormones will be depleting the new collagen that is formed and in response you may not gain the results you would like.
Pairing this with poor home care routines, under active ingredients and sporadic sun screen use, can further enhance negative results achieved.
To mitigate these effects, it's crucial to incorporate effective stress management techniques into our daily routines. Engaging in activities like exercise, meditation, deep breathing exercises, or seeking support from friends and family members can help reduce overall stress levels and improve both mental well-being and skin health.
By understanding this relationship and taking steps to manage stress effectively, implement great home care routines and balance internal health, we can support healthier-looking skin and slow down premature aging and stress aging.
At our clinic we are very passionate at what we do, and it’s our job to help you understand and educate you on potential effects from contributing factors, that could be stopping you on your skin goals.
As we always say in our clinic it’s a team effort between us and you, creating a plan that you we can work on in clinic and a plan you can work on at home.
We give you the whole story, if you only listen to part, you could be missing out on something to gain.
Book a complimentary consultation with one of our skin professionals and we can write your skin story together.
This is a prime example kindly shared by Gry the clinic owner of HUD Skin Clinic in Melbourne.
This is a powerful example of the effects that stress can have on our skin, the left photo is pre lockdown and the right is just after lockdown was lifted in Melbourne.