Correlation between Stress and Skin Health

Stress triggers the release of the hormone cortisol in the body, which in turn can increase oil production on the skin. This excess oil (sebum) production can clog pores and cause acne. In addition, stress can also slow down the skin’s healing process, making the skin more prone to inflammation, irritation and other skin problems such as eczema and psoriasis.

When we are stressed, the skin also tends to lose its natural moisture, leading to dry and dull skin. Not only that, stress can also trigger an inflammatory response in the body, leading to signs of aging such as wrinkles and fine lines. Wow, what a complex relationship between the two!

Follow these ways to overcome it…

Stress is not a mental illness like depression or anxiety, so there are steps we can take to reduce it. For example:

Increase Exercise and Physical Activity

If you’re tired and in a bad mood, try to move regularly! Regular exercise has been shown to improve symptoms of even common mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression.

Sereni-Trees does not need to force itself to be an active individual. Simply start with light activities such as walking or cycling. Choose an activity that you enjoy so that you can increase the chances of sticking to it in the long term.

Avoid Too Much Smartphone Screen Time (Screentime)

We can’t deny that cellphones, laptops, or computers have become commonplace in this era. In fact, they are needed every day either for study or work. However, excessive use can increase stress levels!

Too much screen time is also linked to lower psychological well-being and increased stress levels in both adults and children.

In addition, excessive screen time can affect sleep, which in turn can increase stress levels.

Implementing Self Care

Taking time for self-care can help reduce stress levels. Some examples of practical self-care include: taking a bath, lighting candles, using a diffuser with a calming scent, or yoga.

People who regularly engage in self-care tend to have lower stress levels and a better quality of life, while a lack of self-care is often associated with a higher risk of stress and burnout.

It doesn’t have to be complicated! An easy example can start from using Serenitree’s calming body wash. Combined with the calming lotion, the ritual and aroma of lavender essential oil can definitely have a calming effect. In addition, your skin will stay clean and healthy! Win win solution!

Daily Journal Writing

Believe it or not, regular journal writing can help reduce stress and anxiety! It can provide a positive “outlet” to pour out all our thoughts and emotions, bad or good.

Regular journal writing has been linked to better quality of life and more proactive self-care behaviors. Are you interested in giving it a try?

Avoid Too Much Sugar and Caffeine

You are what you eat. What we consume certainly determines our physical and mental health. Consuming too much caffeine can worsen anxiety and also disrupt sleep. As a result, it can increase symptoms of stress and anxiety.

Tolerance to caffeine is different for everyone. If caffeine makes you nervous or anxious, consider cutting back by replacing coffee or energy drinks with decaffeinated coffee, herbal tea, or water.

When it comes to sugar, when we consume too much of it, the body produces insulin to lower blood sugar levels. After the blood sugar drops rapidly, the body responds by producing stress hormones, such as cortisol, to help stabilize the blood sugar. These fluctuations can trigger anxiety and stress.

Practicing Deep Breathing

Deep breathing exercises not only slow down the breath, but also lower the heart rate, reduce blood pressure, and calm the mind. When we breathe deeply, oxygen flow to the brain increases. This can improve focus and mental clarity. In addition, deep breathing can distract from stress-inducing thoughts, thus helping to create a sense of calm and peace.

For deep breathing exercises, we can do it regularly 1-3 times a day. Each session can last for 5-10 minutes. However, it all depends on your needs! As long as we maintain our routine, we will definitely feel the positive effects!

Practicing Mindfulness

Mindfulness is a mindfulness practice where we focus on the present moment without judgment. This practice will increase self-awareness, reduce protracted thoughts, and help accept experiences as they are.

It also trains the brain to be more perceptive and calmer in the face of stressful situations, thus allowing us to respond more thoughtfully rather than react impulsively.

Examples of activities include yoga, meditation, or taichi. There are many more activities that can support us to practice mindfulness!

Supplement Support (Optional)

It is also possible that the stress we are suffering from is due to a lack of nutritional intake! Therefore, another option could be to take supplements (in consultation with your doctor and body condition). 

For example: B vitamins, such as B6, B9 (folic acid), and B12, play a role in brain function and the production of neurotransmitters that affect mood. Vitamin B deficiency can lead to fatigue, anxiety and depression.

Zinc plays a role in mood regulation and brain function. Zinc deficiency can be associated with mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. For more information, consult a professional directly, Sereni-Trees!

So, those are 8 ways we can control our stress levels. Remember, stress not only affects your mental health, but your physical health too. It is the source of all diseases! Therefore, let’s handle it well!

The post Correlation between Stress and Skin Health, What’s the Impact? appeared first on Serenitree Indonesia.

Let’s learn to control our thoughts to be healthier for our health investment!

Why does stress affect our health?

Did you know that 60% to 80% of diseases have something to do with stress! One of the reasons is because high levels of stress can lower our immunity. If our immunity is reduced, we will be more susceptible to various diseases. This includes skin problems!

The simple explanation is that when our body experiences high pressure, the hormone cortisol will be produced. This hormone is also known as the stress hormone. If the cortisol hormone appears too often, inflammation will appear. Indeed, our body can fight germs and diseases, but if it happens continuously, it will create problems with our immune system! The effects that we can feel include emerging infections, exacerbating chronic diseases, fibromyalgia, and many more. Not to mention, white blood cells (which are in charge of fighting infections) can decrease when our bodies are under chronic stress. How dangerous is that?

Last but not least, chronic stress will have a negative impact on the hormonal balance itself. Problems can include menstrual problems, sex hormone imbalance/decline, erectile dysfunction, fibroids, and PCOS.

It’s clear that stress has a huge impact on our health!

The Impact of Stress on Skin

Not only internal health, stress also has a visible impact on our body. One of them is through the skin. As the largest organ in the body, the skin often reflects what’s going on inside the body. 

Indirectly, if we are under intense pressure all the time, the risk of inflammation increases and wound healing slows down. A lot of negativity can be seen on our skin. Get to know some of the symptoms, Sereni-Trees:

• Dry and flaky skin

When the body is stressed, the production of the hormone cortisol increases, compromising the skin’s ability to retain moisture. As a result, the skin can become dry and unhealthy-looking.

• Breakout and increased oil production

Stress can also trigger acne. Increased cortisol levels can cause the sebaceous glands in the skin to produce more oil. Pores get clogged and pimples pop up. The condition of acne that appears a lot at the same time can be referred to as a “breakout”. 

• Risk of premature aging

Cortisol can break down collagen, a protein that keeps skin supple and elastic. As a result, skin can develop wrinkles and fine lines sooner than it should.

• Disturbances in skin pigmentation

Increased inflammation in the body will affect the production of melanin, (the pigment that gives skin its color), causing dark patches on the skin.

• Triggers skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema

If you have a history of skin diseases, then the impact of stress includes triggering the recurrence of these skin conditions. Examples include psoriasis and eczema. The symptoms can also become more severe and difficult to control!

If you experience these symptoms, especially for a long time, you must do an examination so that it can be resolved immediately! 

The Impact of Stress on Other Areas of the Body

Apart from the skin, visible physical symptoms can also appear in other areas of the body such as hair and nails. Generally, hair will get thinner and take longer to grow. This is because stress can push the hair follicles into a resting phase so that they fall out more. The scalp can also be affected such as dryness and itchiness. 

Meanwhile, the nail area will also look like nails that are prone to breakage and slow growth due to disruption of blood flow to the nails. This leads to a lack of nutrients in the nails. Not infrequently, there is also a change in the color and texture of the nails (yellowing and bumpy due to fungus). Stress can lower our immunity, making us susceptible to fungal infections. 

And then there are the psychological effects! Excessive intense stress often makes us unconsciously bite our nails. This activity is not only destructive, but also puts the surrounding area at risk of injury and infection! Wow, it turns out the effect is that scary, Sereni-Trees?

Essential Oils Can Be One Solution to Stress

Having stressful thoughts has become a common thing, anyone must have felt at a certain phase in his life. Whether it’s about work, finances, or other issues. It’s inevitable! What can we do about it? We can learn to overcome and control these negative thoughts. Various activities and things can be a solution, for example:

• Meditation

This activity is simple but generally effective in overcoming negative thoughts and excessive anxiety.

• Breathing exercise

It’s easy, just start and end the day with five deep breaths from the abdomen. This can stimulate a calm response in the body with deep relaxation exercises including diaphragmatic breathing and progressive muscle relaxation.

• Engaging in activities and hobbies

Distract your mind and feelings of stress by doing something you enjoy! You can do hobbies or activities that stimulate endorphins like yoga or dancing.

• Using essential oils

The aroma of essential oils is famous for its powerful function of calming the mind. Recommendations for body care products with original essential oil aromas can choose Serenitree Body Wash calming variants! It’s very easy to use, just use it as a body wash and rinse. This natural aroma will calm problematic skin and relax our minds. 2 in 1 really, no loss dong of course! Not to mention, this product is environmentally friendly and suitable for all skin types.

So, those are some of the ways we can manage stress. But we must be careful, if intensive stress occurs on a prolonged basis and interferes with our well-being, we should immediately consult! Remember, a healthy mind is the key to a healthy body!

The post The Impact of Stress on Skin, Hair, Nails, and Health! appeared first on Serenitree Indonesia.