Everybody goes through some kind of stress – whether it’s related to our jobs, families, studies, and whatnot. It not only affects our mind but skin as well, which results in terrible looks. Skin is the largest organ in the body and shows different effects of stress, such as eczema, psoriasis, and acne.

Unfortunately, we can’t get rid of stress permanently, but what we can do is learn to manage it while taking care of our skin. In this article, Tooba Mokhtari, a renowned skin care consultant, is going to discuss how taking stress affects your skin. She will also share some efficient skincare treatments and tips to help you have healthier and glowing skin.

01 – Under-Eye Bags

There are so many things that keep us awake at night, like insomnia, tomorrow’s to-do list, or just scrolling through the newsfeed on social media. Not getting enough beauty sleep will cause puffiness under your eyes in the morning. And bad news for stomach sleepers; you might end up with an even worse puffy mess under-eye bags because of gravity.

What to Do?

Make sure to take at least eight hours of sleep every night. Also, shut down your mobile phone/laptop an hour before going to bed because its screen stimulates sunlight, which is not suitable for your skin.

Get a cup of caffeine-free chamomile tea to make yourself feel relaxed and calm before sleep. Once you start getting stress-free sleep, there won’t be any puffiness under your eye-bags.

02 – Acne

When stressed, your body releases cortisol, a hormone that causes acne. It also teams up with other hormones to increase oil production in our skin, promoting breakouts. Not only that, they can even interfere with wound healing and preventing the skin from repairing itself. That is why most of us end up having pimples on our face just ahead of significant life moments like a presentation at work or on the morning of high school prom.

What to Do?

To avoid getting blemishes, practice deep breathing (take a deep breath that fills your belly, holds, and tha exhale it gently). It will help you get rid of stress and anxiety. Tooba also suggests to download the meditating app and invest 10 minutes in meditation every day.

Apart from that, drink a lot of water, and add fruits, vegetables, grass-fed meats to your diet. Do it on a regular basis, and you will see incredible results within a week.

03 – Flushed Face

Absentmindedly, you start taking shallow, short breaths when you are stressed. You even find yourself holding your breath for long periods of time. This leads to redness and flushed face, which is definitely not good for your skin.

What to Do?

This one may sound simple, but it plays a vital role in lowering the stress level and improving the overall functioning of the body. Make sure to breathe in a calming manner, to keep yourself away from stress. Also, think of all the good times to distract you and brighten up your mood.

04 – Flaky, Dry Skin

Being stressed probably means that you are not drinking enough water. Or you might be having too much of soda or coffee, which could be dehydrating. When your body doesn’t get the proper hydration it requires, your skin will look like a crepe paper.

What to Do?

Be hydrated by drinking sufficient amount of water– eight glass or more daily! You can also have some green tea to boost healthy antioxidants in your body. Eat healthy foods that have high water content, like beets, cucumbers, celery, tomatoes, blueberry, pineapple, apricot, etc.

If you want a quick fix, go for a serum that includes hyaluronic acid, a component that is present in your body naturally. It makes your skin instantly hydrated and leaves you with a gorgeous glow.

05 – Hives and Rashes

Both of these skin problems are caused by a dysbiosis, a condition in which there is an imbalance between the harmful and good bacteria in your gut. They are more effective when stress takes over you, and too much bad bacteria outweighs the good.

What to Do?

Practicing breathing exercises can help you minimize the chances of having rashes or hives. It is also suggested to consult a gynecologist to balance out the good and bad bacteria in your gut when you’re stressed.

06 – Fine Lines

If you have more quantity on your plate, you might make certain facial expressions like pursing your lips or furrowing your brows. If you do it consistently, it can lead to deeper wrinkles in these areas with time.

What to Do?

When there is too much to stress about, be mindful of not making certain facial expressions. To blur these lines on your face, pat on a silicon-based formula that will temporarily fill in your fine lines. To permanently get rid of these fine lines, work on your habit of making unconscious facial expressions.