Stress affects our entire bodies; even though it feels as though the only part of us being affected by stress is our minds. If left untreated, stress can become much more than just negative thoughts – it can turn physical.

Physical signs of stress include:

• Aches and pains
• Difficulty sleeping
• Headaches and dizziness
• Muscle and jaw tension
• Skin problems

The latter is something we have seen time and time again at our cosmetic skin clinics in Jersey, Guernsey, and Belfast. Stress is difficult to hide when physical symptoms, such as skin problems, begin to show. Whether your skin becomes dry and itchy, oily, or you suffer from acne, once you can see your stress on your face, the problem can actually worsen as you then become stressed about that.

Getting help from medically trained dermatologists is almost guaranteed to fix your stress-related skin issues.

Why Does Stress Affect Skin?

Stress is much more than just a feeling; it’s a chemical imbalance in your body that releases hormones, affecting your whole body, not just your thoughts. Your sympathetic nervous system reacts and can release cortisol, a stress hormone that increases the production of oil in your skin, leading to acne breakouts and clogged pores.

In addition, anxiety can cause sleep problems, which in turn affects your skin. Not getting a good night’s sleep can leave your skin looking washed out. Conversely, being well-rested is what gives you that glowing complexion.

When you’re stressed, dormant skin conditions can flare up, including eczema or acne. Similarly, you could experience new skin issues, which can be challenging to deal with if you have no previous experience. If this is happening to you, our dermatologists can help, so please don’t hesitate to contact our team to see what we can do for you.

What to Look Out for When Your Skin is Being Affected by Stress

You know yourself more than anyone else does, so you’ll more than likely have experience understanding your body when it’s stressed. Many suffer from physical symptoms such as headaches or sleep deprivation when dealing with anxiety, but acne flare-ups or dry skin could be a new symptom you’re not familiar with.

If you’re struggling with a skin issue, the first step you should take is identifying where the problem lies. You may not even realise that you’re stressed, which is causing your skin issues, so finding the link is essential.

What Can You Do to Reduce Your Stress?

Once you have identified that the reason you’re suffering from skin problems is due to stress, you can address both issues separately. Managing stress can be challenging, but it’s crucial for your mental and physical health.

Figure out what it is that’s causing you stress. Is it money issues? Family or relationship dramas? Whatever it is, tackle it head-on and seek help if you need to, either from someone you know and trust or from a professional. Then, continue with your daily routine as best you can, which includes getting a good night’s sleep and eating well to fuel your body with goodness and give it the rest it needs to heal.

What Problems Can Arise if You Ignore the Issues?

If you ignore your stress-related skin issues, they will worsen. Your body’s largest organ is your skin, making it susceptible to a long list of various conditions that can be brought on faster by untreated stress-related problems.

For example, if you’re suffering from acne due to anxiety and ignore it, you could be left with permanent skin damage. We understand that acne scarring can have a tremendous psychological effect on a person, leaving them self-conscious about their appearance. Here at Aesthetic Skin Clinic, we have several treatments that can tackle and rectify acne scarring, including resurfacing and texture refining treatments such as Fraxel Skin Resurfacing.

What Can You Do to Treat Your Skin?

Once you’ve faced your stress, it’s time to deal with your skin. Getting into a proper, professional skincare routine is the best thing to do as it will provide your skin with stability and give it what it needs to heal. The products you use in your routine will depend on your specific skin issue, so if you’re unsure of where to start, we can help. Our dermatologists have years of experience and can provide you with everything you need at our cosmetic skin clinics in Belfast, Jersey, and Guernsey. For example, our Obagi Clenxiderm M.D. Acne Therapeutic Systems. This breakthrough acne solution from leading professional skincare brand Obagi treats and prevents acne and is the only treatment system of its kind with a liquid form of benzoyl peroxide, delivering visibly clearer skin as early as two weeks into the regime.

Additionally, we would also recommend getting regular facials. Not only will this help improve your skin’s health, but the procedure of a facial is relaxing and will give you the time you need to de-stress and wind down. One of our most popular acne treating facials is our Hydrafacial, combining deep cleansing, pore extraction, and lymphatic drainage massage techniques to purify the skin and provide you with a clean, fresh, and glowing complexion.

Many people report that routine facials leave them with rejuvenated, glowing, and younger-looking skin. So, if anti-ageing is also on your agenda, this is the perfect solution.

Similarly, we offer a wide range of other treatments to help you tackle stress-related skin issues such as acne. For example, our Intracel Radiofrequency Microneedling denaturalises the cells in the dermis, helping eliminate the causes of acne and acne bacteria in the sebaceous glands.

If this or any other treatments mentioned in this article sound like something you could benefit from, speak to our team today and book in for a consultation.