How stress and lifestyle affect acne: management tips
Acne is considered a teenage problem. But up to 54% of women 25-40 years old also face it. No small role in the appearance of acne, black dots is played by poor ecology, hormonal disorders. But the main factors are stress, errors in diet, bad habits, lack of sleep, rest.
In the article we will consider how stress and lifestyle provoke the appearance of acne. We will give advice on its treatment in SPA and by changing daily habits. We will tell you how to care for rash-prone facial skin.
Mechanism of stress effect on the skin
Stress negatively affects the entire body. But usually we notice its manifestations only on the skin. Emotional shocks, overstrain, fatigue can lead to rashes, redness, inflammation, dryness. They also provoke or aggravate allergies, rosacea, psoriasis, eczema.
Skin problems due to stress are attributed to two mechanisms of exposure:
The production of the hormones cortisol, adrenaline
The adrenal glands release them in any stressful situation. If the stress is one-time - the level of hormones quickly returns to normal. But when they are constant, prolonged - pathological changes occur.
Cortisol increases the activity of sebaceous glands. Sebum (skin fat) production increases. It clogs pores, which leads to acne and comedones.
Adrenaline release causes constriction of blood vessels. Disrupts blood supply, skin nutrition. It becomes dry, dehydrated. Wrinkles and other signs of aging appear on the face.
Decrease in general and local immunity
Stress activates inflammatory mediators, cytokines, reduces immunity. These factors worsen the barrier function of the skin, slowing down regeneration. As a result, it becomes more vulnerable to the effects of microbes, bacteria, fungi. Which provokes or aggravates acne.
The impact of lifestyle on acne
Nutrition
The gut plays a key role in the regulation of immunity. It is where 80% of immune cells are concentrated. Therefore, proper nutrition can reduce inflammation, and improper nutrition can worsen it.
Causing clogged pores, acne, black spots:
- fast food;
- sweets;
- convenience foods;
- fried, spicy, greasy foods;
- canned goods;
- sodas.
Reduces inflammation, reduces rashes:
- Fiber (vegetables);
- antioxidants (fruits, berries);
- fatty acids (nuts, fish);
- magnesium (legumes, cereals);
- zinc (eggs, seafood);
- B vitamins (lean meat, liver, pumpkin seeds).
Harmful habits
Lifestyle greatly affects the condition of the skin. It is impossible to get rid of acne if you do not eliminate bad habits:
-
smoking:
disrupts blood supply to the skin, dehydrates it, accelerates aging;
-
alcohol:
provokes inflammation, reduces immunity, increases the work of sebaceous glands.
Ruzanna
17 years experience
Sleep
During sleep, the body rests, recuperates. Irregular schedule of waking and resting negatively affects the face. Its color becomes earthy, there are dark circles under the eyes, swelling, rashes, wrinkles,. Plus lack of sleep is the main cause of chronic stress in 67% of women.
Therefore, you can improve your facial condition by normalizing your sleep:
Physical activity
Regular physical activity helps fight stress. They lead to the production of happy hormones: endorphin, serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin. Exercise normalizes blood flow, improves tone, and boosts immunity. All this reduces inflammation, prevents or reduces acne.
It is advisable to exercise at least 2-3 times a week for half an hour. And alternate between different types of exercise:
Practical tips for managing stress and improving your lifestyle
Changing your lifestyle, getting rid of daily bad habits, and managing negative emotions can help improve your skin. These ways work better if you start acne treatment with salon methods and acne treatments.
Relaxation techniques
It is impossible to completely eliminate stress. But you can change your attitude to it, learn to react more calmly to negative situations.
To control your mood, attitude to life situations will help regular exercise:
Time Management
The path to healthy, clear, inflammation-free, acne-free skin starts with changing your daily irregular schedule. The following tips will help you better organize your tasks, reduce stress, and make time for rest:
Professional help
It can be difficult to fight acne due to stress and poor lifestyle on your own. Professional help is often needed:
Psychotherapist
Will help change old habits into new habits that will benefit you. He will offer techniques to combat stress, special methods to change lifestyle, introduce new rules, improve schedule. For people with sleep disorders, apathy, depressive manifestations will prescribe medications that will give strength, help to fight negative emotions.
Esthetician specialist
Will recommend professional treatments to get rid of acne. Often esthetician will prescribe ultrasonic facial cleaning, chemical peels, laser therapy. He will select professional at-home skin care products. He may also suspect hidden diseases that cause acne, comedones, rosacea, dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis. In such a case, he will recommend a more thorough examination.
Ruzanna
17 years experience
Skin care recommendations for stress
With chronic stress, the work of the sebaceous glands changes. Therefore, the face during this period needs special care. It will prevent or reduce acne.
Esthetician specialists recommend:
Acne is a complex problem. It cannot be solved by using only one cream labeled "from acne". A holistic approach is necessary: getting rid of bad habits, normalizing sleep and rest, fighting stress and chronic fatigue, changing the diet.
The first step to a clean skin without acne is its cleansing in SPA. Learn how to make your face young, radiant and healthy at a consultation with esthetician ANNAZUR!
