Stress & the skin

Our skin is often the first place to show the effects of a demanding busy life.  Stress can lead to dry, rough, uneven, dull-looking skin and chapped lips.

There are a number of reasons that stress can affect your skin:

• Stress triggers the ‘Fight or Flight' response in the body which causes blood to be directed away from the skin reducing the oxygen supply necessary for healthy skin
• Stress is one of the main causes of increased free radicals in the body and these have been shown to cause premature ageing.
• Raised hormone levels due to stress can induce blemishes in some people
• Stress can cause muscles to tense contributing to the formation of facial lines and wrinkles
• Reduced or restricted circulation impairs the transport of oxygen and nutrients to the skin
• If the immune system is lowered by stress it can leave the skin more susceptible to infection