Stress and the skin: stupor and tremors?

Stress is the body's natural response to the challenges of everyday life. However, when it becomes chronic, it can have repercussions on the health of our skin.

How does stress affect the quality of our skin?

And no, stress is not a figment of the imagination... That would have been too easy! It's your adrenal glands that activate when you're stressed. The result? Your body is flooded with cortisol, literally nicknamed the "stress hormone".

We're all familiar with that unpleasant feeling associated with stress. But did you know that if we're not careful, it can also affect the quality of our skin? In the most critical cases, we can see :

• The onset of inflammatory symptoms such as psoriasis, eczema and rosacea.
• Increased vulnerability to infection
• A less efficient healing process
• But above all, stress can contribute to the degradation of collagen and elastin, two proteins essential for maintaining skin elasticity and firmness.

Preventing and/or correcting the effects of stress on the skin? It's easy!

But don't panic: a few basic principles should make up for a little stress:

An adapted skincare routine:

• It's true that stress degrades collagen. But did you know that beta-carotene, when combined with vitamins E and C, stimulates the production of natural collagen? 10 times more concentrated in beta-carotene than a carrot, sea buckthorn oil will be your best bet. To compensate for the effects of stress on the skin, find Secret Sublimant!
• The watchword is gentle products containing soothing ingredients such as malic acid. Just the thing: the sea buckthorn water found in large quantities in Secret d'Eclat is bursting with malic acid!
• Hydration is also a tremendous comfort for skin exposed to cortisol and its effects. Depending on your needs, Hydra Protect moisturizing cream, Lissant Actif first wrinkle cream or Nutri Actif mature skin cream will be your best allies!

Adopt stress reduction techniques:

• Incorporate relaxation practices into your daily routine, such as meditation, yoga, or deep breathing exercises to help manage stress levels. Apps such as Petit Bambou can prove effective.
• As far as possible, try to take care of your sleep: avoid the blue light of screens before bedtime and prefer a book (some are very good sleeping pills...).

Look after your diet:

• A diet rich in fruit and vegetables, sources of antioxidants, can pamper your skin from the inside out.
• Drink enough water to keep skin hydrated and help eliminate toxins.

Professional consulting:

• For persistent or severe skin problems, we recommend consulting a dermatologist. A professional can advise you on personalized strategies for caring for your skin in times of intense stress.

By understanding the mechanisms by which stress affects the skin, and adopting effective management strategies, it is possible to maintain skin health and appearance even in the most stressful times. An approach combining appropriate skin care, stress reduction and professional support is essential to maintaining healthy, resilient skin.

Sources :

Chen, Y., & Lyga, J. (2014). Brain-skin connection: stress, inflammation and skin aging. Inflammation & Allergy-Drug Targets (Formerly Current Drug Targets-Inflammation & Allergy)(Discontinued), 13(3), 177-190.