With the COVID crisis and a type of stress none of us have ever experienced, skin can do crazy things. Sometimes I am not sure we realize that stress can affect our body in ways we may not recognize. Here are some Skin Symptoms that show you may be stressed.
- Acne - I have received a lot of messages of breakouts since the beginning of this craziness. Chronic stress increases levels of stress-related hormones such as cortisol and sends skin's sebaceous (oil) glands into overdrive, which mixes with dead skin cells and breakout-causing bacteria.
- Hives - There can be a number of hormonal or chemical changes that occur in response to stress. These changes can trigger blood vessels to expand and leak, causing red and swollen patches of skin.
Skin conditions can get worse for example:
Stress can aggravate psoriasis, rosacea, and eczema. It can also cause hives and other types of skin rashes and trigger a flare-up of fever blisters.
Cold sores:
Stress can trigger a flare up of a cold sore which often results when the immune system is compromised or weak.
Sores on the side of the mouth:
This can often be a B vitamin deficiency and B Vitamins are depleted quickly when we are stressed.
Consider some of the following to determine if this might be you. Of course chatting with your Dr. Would be the first thing, but there may be ways you can manage your stress such as:
- Exercise - Cardiovascular exercise in particular can help balance the stress hormones and also release good hormones for our mental health.
- Sleep - Easier said than done ( coming from someone who struggles with insomnia). Get help in determining the cause of your difficulty with sleep. It just may be as easy as shutting down your electronics earlier for some.
- Anti-inflammatory food - Diet, in general, can aid in the general health of the body. Minimizing alcohol, high-fat foods, and of course sugar.
- Ensuring you have the correct products for your skin type and talk to moi if you need some help with your skin.