Stress is a seemingly universal concept that we all face at one point or another in our lives. Most people view stress as a part of life, but did you know that stress can affect more than just your mental wellbeing? It can affect your bodily health too. Stress can exacerbate many preexisting skin conditions such as rosacea, psoriasis and eczema. It can cause your skin to break out in hives or trigger the formation of a fever blister. In extreme cases, it can even cause hair loss.
When you are stressed, your adrenal glands can send messages to the rest of your body to release certain hormones such as cortisol that can change your mental wellbeing. This can translate to your physical wellbeing as well which plays a role in the overall appearance and health of your skin. Stress can cause breakouts and make your skin appear dry and irritated.
SHORT TERM EFFECTS ON YOUR SKIN:
- -Redness
- -Rash
- -Breakouts
- -Fever blisters
- -Itching
LONG TERM EFFECTS ON YOUR SKIN:
- -Continuous breakouts
- -Dry, dull looking skin
- -Negative change in overall skin texture
- -Fine lines and wrinkles
- -Worsening of pre-existing skin conditions
In addition to affecting the health and appearance of your skin, significant stress level may cause changes to your hair or hair loss. Various types of stress can have a negative impact on your hair causing it to become brittle or fall out, change its color and even disrupt the growth cycle of your hair. Fortunately, there are various treatments for hair loss such as PRP, or Platelet Rich Plasma. PRP involves spinning the patient’s own blood on a centrifuge to separate the vital growth factors. The platelet rich portion is then injected into the areas affected by hair loss to promote healthy growth. Our very own Dr. Belaidi recommends PRP for hair loss as a minimally invasive treatment to help patients regrow their own hair. While you aren’t likely to avoid all sources of stress in your life, there are measures you can take to reduce the amount of stress you have in your day to day.
WAYS TO REDUCE STRESS:
- -Develop a daily routine
- -Exercise
- -Meditation and Breathing exercises
- -Change your surroundings
It’s important to remember to stick with your skin care regimen even when you are stressed. If you become lax with your routine, your skin may become dry, irritated or break out. If you have concerns about skin care or if you would like to reassess your skin care regimen, visit one of our eight locations across Middle Tennessee! One of our skilled dermatology specialists will help develop a personalized skin care regimen tailored to fit your needs.