What is Stressed Skin?

Stress affects the skin in more ways than one. From what you apply topically to your environment and emotional wellbeing, different types of stressors can all take a toll.

Did you know a high-stress lifestyle makes you look up to 3.5 years older?* 33% of people feel they are living with extreme stress; †48% say they are more stressed today than five years ago, and ‡96% believe stress impacts the look and feel of their skin.

“Chronically high levels of cortisol have severe adverse effects on almost all tissues throughout the body, but particularly skin tissue, which results in skin atrophy and impaired wound healing. In vivo studies have shown that exposing skin to cortisol results in reduced pro-collagen production. This suggests that high levels of cortisol could lead to premature ageing of the skin via a reduced production and repair of the collagen matrix” (excerpt from the Psychoneuroendocrinology Journal).

Types of Stress That Affect Your Skin

Topical Skincare Stress

• Aggressive skin care: excessive peels, exfoliants, lasers, high-powered ingredients

• Not using regular skincare: not cleansing to remove irritants, skipping hydration.

• Not protecting skin from the environment after using retinols and active ingredients.

• Maskne: increased sensitivity, inflammation, and breakouts from wearing a face mask

Environmental Stress

• Weather changes, cold climates, wind

• Irritant exposure, pollution

• Blue light and infrared radiation from prolonged use of devices

Emotional Stress

• Psychological stress: fears, frustration, information overload, perfectionism, lack of control, insomnia, disturbed sleep

• Psychosocial stress: relationship difficulties, lack of social support, lack of financial security, isolation, social media 

Chronic emotional stress has a real impact on the skin. Stress triggers a release of hormones including cortisol. Cortisol slows down the body’s natural regeneration of skin cells, reduces the skin’s ability to retain water which impacts the skin.

Symptoms of stress that show on the skin:

• Dryness from a weakened skin barrier
• Expression lines from impaired collagen and elastin
• Dullness from irregular cell turnover
• Redness and irritation from changes in the skin’s immune system
• Puffiness from retention of blood and fluid
• Dark circles due to collagen loss skin becomes thinner, enhancing the appearance of blood vessels beneath the eyes, making them appear darker