Happy mind, Happy skin - the effects of stress on the skin and how to manage them.

Mondays – some say stimulating, I say stressful.

We’ve all experienced the early-week anxiety that comes with saying goodbye to the breezy weekend and hello to the storm of real life.

But what a lot of people don’t realise is the direct effect this mental stress can have on our physical wellbeing, particularly with regards to our skin.

Many skin complaints, including eczema, rosacea ,and acne, flare in tandem with our heightened emotions.

As an urticaria sufferer, I find that my condition worsens when I’m over-tired or stressed. I’ve also spoken to many customers who have had healthy skin all their lives but suddenly develop chronic conditions such as psoriasis after experiencing trauma or grief.

Why is this?

‘Our mind and body are very much connected’ says mind detox therapist Sandy Newbigging in today’s Metro. ‘When we are sad, our eyes produce tears and when we’re anxious, we get butterflies. These are everyday physical reactions to a mental stimulus.’

As the body’s biggest organ, the skin is the site of millions of tiny nerve-endings that send messages to your brain. Conversely, the brain also sends messages back, causing the skin to play out our psychological peaks and troughs.

Some of these effects can be biologically proven – acne flares, for example, can stem from increased levels of cortisil, the stress hormone, which encourages oil production and leads to blemishes.

Others are more intangible – eczema sufferers often ‘habit’ scratch under stress, which in turn makes skin itchier and leads to a cycle in which the eczema becomes worse and worse.

How can I manage this?

Though it is of course important to find holistic ways of treating skin complaints, maintaining a serene state-of-mind can help to lower their severity and frequency of flare-ups.

Here are a few tips for living stress-free: 

• Sleep – tiredness and lack of energy are major contributors to stress. If you’re one of those people who count tomorrow’s tasks when you should be counting sheep, keep a notepad by your bed to jot down those niggling thoughts and sleep soundly.

• Holidays – remember to work to live, and not the other way around. Take regular breaks and commit to activities in your spare time so you can’t be tempted to check those emails!

• Exercise – *warning*, boring fact approaching. Exercise releases chemicals that help you focus, and reduces the release of those that cause stress. Though high-energy sports can be a good outlet for pent up frustration, simple yoga and meditation exercises relax the mind and zen the skin!