And Top Products to Help Soothe It
If you can honestly say you’ve navigated the past few years without a hint of stress, we’d love to hear your secret, just send a message to @bglen_usa on Instagram!
For the rest of us, stress has become a part of our daily lives. While we often think about how stress affects our mood and energy, we shouldn’t overlook its effects on our skin health.
How Stress Affects Your Body and Your Skin
When stress levels increase, several changes occur:
- Your immune system takes a hit, making both your body and skin more susceptible to inflammation and damage.
- Your mental clarity diminishes, leading you to neglect self-care and personal development.
- Your eating habits may falter, with comfort foods taking
the place of healthier options.
Your skin also starts to show signs of change, such as dullness, breakouts, sensitivity, and premature aging. Stress isn’t just about the occasional pimple; it can significantly impact how your skin operates.
Doctor’s Orders: Managing Stress for Healthier Skin
Managing stress can vary greatly from person to person. Changes in lifestyle, diet, and skincare routines all contribute to how we handle stress, but it’s crucial not to overwhelm ourselves by trying to tackle everything at once.
That’s why Dr. Brian Keller, the Chief Scientific Officer at b.glen and a Doctor of Pharmacology, spoke with b.glenish! to delve into the connection between stress and skin health, and to share tips on how to maintain healthy skin during stressful times.
Stress has played a major role in many of our lives in recent years. Beyond the occasional breakout, what other signs and effects of stress can appear on the skin?
Dr. Keller: “There is a significant link between psychological stress and skin health. Both short-term and long-term stress can activate the nervous system and disrupt hormonal balance. Over time, stress may speed up skin aging, weaken the immune system, and lead to the release of free radicals and inflammatory substances that harm skin cells and could even cause DNA damage.”
Clearly, stress impacts much more than just the occasional breakout. It’s crucial to manage stress through practices like yoga, meditation, deep breathing, getting enough rest, and ensuring quality sleep, not just for overall well-being, but also for keeping your skin looking youthful and radiant. Dr. Keller shared his personal tips for caring for skin that’s under stress. One key point he emphasized is that stressed skin tends to be more sensitive, reactive, and prone to damage, making gentle and supportive skincare especially vital.
What are the best skincare practices for stressed skin, and which ingredients or routines should be avoided to prevent further irritation?
Dr. Keller: Creating a straightforward and reliable skincare routine that you can stick to is one of the best ways to maintain healthy skin. A good regimen should include gentle cleansing, nourishing treatments, effective moisturization, and protection from free radicals using powerful antioxidants like vitamin A (retinol), vitamin C, vitamin E, and ingredients that support collagen.”
It’s important to limit your exposure to UV radiation, including the blue light from smartphones and computer screens. To protect your skin, wear a wide-brimmed hat that offers sun protection, choose clothing that shields you from the sun, and apply broad-spectrum SPF to any exposed skin. Additionally, recognizing and reducing your personal stress triggers whether they are emotional, dietary, or physical, like certain intense workouts is crucial. While some medical advice may recommend avoiding sun exposure entirely, spending a moderate amount of time in the sun can be good for your mental health, particularly during stressful times. The key is to find a balance: enjoy the outdoors while keeping your skin safe.
Dr. Keller suggests that you keep a diary to monitor changes in your skin and identify potential stress triggers. You might be surprised to find out which habits, environments, or situations lead to skin reactions, especially since stress triggers can differ significantly from one person to another.
Healing Stress Acne
When it comes to reducing stress, jade rollers and ice rollers have gained popularity as beauty tools that are said to calm both the mind and the skin. But do these tools really help with healing acne or preventing breakouts?
Dr. Keller: “While there haven’t been any definitive clinical trials to confirm their long-term benefits, using these tools can be harmless if you find them beneficial for your skin. Ice rollers, for example, are great for cooling the skin after professional treatments or skincare routines. Usually made of stainless steel and kept in the freezer, these drum-shaped rollers provide a cooling sensation to the skin when applied. This quick cooling effect leads to immediate vasoconstriction, which can help temporarily lessen redness, inflammation, and discomfort linked to acne flare-ups or irritated skin. ”
Reducing the Chance of Breakouts from Stress-Eating
When we're under a lot of stress, sticking to a healthy diet can be particularly tough. Are there certain foods we should watch out for that might cause skin inflammation, like acne or rosacea flare-ups?
Dr. Keller: “While individual triggers can vary, certain foods are more commonly associated with inflammation and stress-related skin reactions, including:
Artificial sweeteners / Omega-6 fatty acids and trans / fats / Alcohol / Highly processed foods and dairy products
Skin reactions can differ greatly from one individual to another, so it’s essential to pay attention to how your skin responds to various triggers.
You don’t have to completely change your diet all at once. If you’re finding it tough, try making one small change, like swapping out vegetable oil for avocado oil, and see if you notice any improvements in your skin.
How the Doc Keeps His Stress Low
Managing stress is crucial, whether it manifests visibly on your skin or stays hidden. If you’re looking for additional support, Dr. Keller offers several practical tips to help you navigate through it.
What are the most effective ways to manage stress, and what advice would you give to someone trying to reduce stress in their daily life?
Dr. Keller: “One of the best ways I manage stress is by exercising regularly. I find that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) works wonders for me. It consists of short, intense bursts of activity like 30 seconds followed by longer recovery periods of about 3~4 minutes, and I usually repeat this 4~5 times.
You can use this method for various activities, such as running, cycling, rowing, or even on a StairMaster. I always start with a 5-minute warm-up before diving into the workout.
Another great option is to go for a brisk walk for at least 30 minutes. At first, it might feel a bit stressful to carve out time for exercise, but once you get moving, the physical and mental benefits become clear, you’ll likely feel energized and refreshed afterward.
I’ve found that playing and listening to music really helps me de-stress. I usually silence my phone, grab an instrument, and take about 30 minutes each day to just relax and enjoy the music.”
