The common refrain is that stress is a mental game, but why does our skin often show the results if that’s true?
If you’ve ever noticed a sudden breakout before a big meeting, dullness after a tough week, or an eczema flare-up during a stressful time, you’re not imagining it. Your skin and your nervous system are closely connected: when your cortisol levels rise, the impact shows on your complexion. Here’s how stress affects your skin and what you can do to restore balance and regain your glow.
How Stress Affects the Skin
When you’re under stress, your body releases cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones are helpful in short bursts (like when you need to meet a deadline or finish a tough workout), but chronic stress keeps them elevated. Over time, that hormonal overload can lead to breakouts, inflammation, and fatigue. In other words, stress doesn’t just feel bad in the moment — it’s bad for you.
How to Restore Calm—Inside and Out
Luckily, skin is resilient, and with the right care, you can reverse many of the visible effects that stress leaves behind.
Prioritize Barrier Repair
Chronic stress elevates cortisol, which can thin the outer layer of your skin and reduce its ability to retain moisture. When your skin barrier is compromised, you’ll often experience dryness, sensitivity, or flaking.
Look for products rich in ceramides, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid to replenish hydration and strengthen the skin’s defenses.
We recommend the EltaMD Foaming Facial Cleanser. This gentle enzyme-based cleanser removes impurities without stripping your skin, helping maintain a calm, healthy barrier. (And it’s 20% off this April!) *While supplies last.
Focus on Anti-Inflammatory Management
Stress activates your sympathetic nervous system, which increases inflammation and can trigger or worsen conditions like rosacea, acne, and eczema.
One of the best in-house treatments to get ahead of inflammation is IPL. It targets and constricts dilated blood vessels, reducing redness and calming visible signs of irritation. It also helps regulate the skin’s inflammatory response over time, making it especially beneficial for conditions like rosacea and post-acne redness.
Don’t Skip SPF
Under stress, your body’s ability to repair damage— including UV-induced damage — significantly reduces. That means sun exposure becomes even more harmful, accelerating inflammation, pigmentation, and aging.
Daily SPF is non-negotiable, no matter what, but especially when your skin is in recovery mode.
EltaMD UV Clear Tinted SPF 46 is our office’s favorite choice because it’s packed with calming niacinamide and a sheer, non-greasy tint. (Now 20% off through April 2025!) *While supplies last.
Support Your Skin from the Inside
Stress doesn’t just cause skin problems, it also keeps them going by dysregulating your immune system, disrupting your sleep, and elevating cortisol in a loop. The longer it persists, the more your skin struggles.
Don’t underestimate the power of stress-reduction techniques like deep breathing, mindfulness, and regular exercise.
Stress might be inevitable, but stressed-out skin doesn’t have to be. You can restore calm and resilience to your skin with the right ingredients, consistent habits, and a few smart treatments.
Give us a call and see how we can help elevate your life and reduce your stress: (208) 888-0660.