Looking into the mirror and feeling like you are losing your skin glow? Or do you feel older than your actual age? You know well, time flies with your age – counting candles may increase with the number of your age – it’s natural. But do you feel older than your actual age, or does your skin get pale more than normal? The main culprit is stress. 

Yes! Surprisingly, stress can be the silent enemy of your glowing skin and age, with its vivid health disorders. Stress not only affects our mental health, but its consequences also affect our skin, hair, ageing and many more. You may wonder why and how stress affects your skin, age and overall health – let’s unveil the facts of this topic and explore a way of healthy living.

What is stress?

Stress can be defined differently from person to person – on average, stress is a mental reaction when you feel mental strains such as depression, anxiety, palpitations, and tension. Stress is your body’s natural reaction to situations that demand focus or action.

While everyone encounters stress at some level, how you handle it plays a crucial role in shaping your mental and physical well-being. Stress can appear from the other resources, whether it is from any situation, any activity, any changes in your daily routine, any places like school, college, office, or from any relation like family, affairs and many more. It depends on how you deal with such essential conditions with your mental stability or biological appearence.

Stress & Premature Ageing:

In present days, people are more frequent with developments in every stages of their life. Whether the development is related to their personality or surroundings circumstances – your way of thinking may get changed with the consequences. To maintain the rhythm of life, you somehow need to show off something more than normal – it can cause chronic stress if it persist for a longtime.

Your skin acts as a mirror of your inner soul – such as if you are happy, you glow like a shining star; when you are stressed, it seems you look pale and aged. Skin problems due to stress is now very common for all ages people.

When we’re stressed, our bodies release hormones like cortisol and adrenaline to boost alertness and energy, helping us tackle immediate challenges. However, when stress becomes chronic, it leads to an overproduction of these hormones, which can take a serious toll on our health. Long-term exposure to high cortisol levels has been associated with increased inflammation, weakened immune function, and faster ageing.

Disorders / Effects of Stress on your skin:

Even if you are under stress, your skin also tells you something different:

• Pimples pop up, stress increases oil production, clogging your pores and inviting acne like an intruder. 
• Although stress can impact our bodies, research suggests that managing our emotions and practising self-control are key factors in reducing its negative effects on ageing.
• Skin may decrease your skin’s moisture as well as reduce your skin’s complexion.
• Stress can be the cause of your sleeplessness, which create dark circles, wrinkles, and patches on your skin.
• You may notice psoriasis, rosacea, and eczema due to stress, which can cause skin rashes, patches and other problems related to your skin.

Effects of stress on your overall health:

It’s not only for your skin; stress introduces so many various health-related complications:

• Stress weakens your immune system so that you may be frequently suffer from fever, common cough & cold, and so many health disorders.
• Have you been suffering from IBS, Digestive disorders, IBD, acidity and stomach pain? Stress may be the main cause for these.
• Anxiety, depression, palpitation, and overthinking – various emotional disorders can disrupt your flow of life due to stress.
• Your flow of life may be slowed down due to stress-related demotivation, negativity, and lack of concentration.
• Anxiety keeps your brain on high alert, making it hard to fall or stay asleep.
• Stress and anxiety both lead to feelings of nervousness, lack of sleep, high blood pressure, muscle tension, and excessive worry.
• Long-term stress can lead to high blood pressure, increasing the risk of heart disease and strokes.

Hair loss combined with stress:

Worried about your excessive hair loss? Do you prefer to know the exact cause of it? When you are experiencing extreme stress, you may have some hair loss from anxiety, but not every hair loss issue is caused by stress. 

In chronic stress, your immune system is suppressed, and it leads to severe inflammation, which may weaken your hair follicles, and you may then face hair loss. Sometimes, hair loss can be a genetic disorder or due to your family history. Chronic stress increases oxidative stress, which depletes melanin, leading to premature grey strands.

How to Guard Yourself from Stress-Induced Ageing:

Don’t ignore your skin, hair, or others when you are stressed or tired – take care of them to keep yourself looking young, fresh, and energetic. 

• A mindful diet or a proper diet is essential for healthy living.
• Getting enough sleep is the way to reduce stress, anxiety, and palpitations.
• Intake vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats for improving your body’s energy and glowing skin
• You should drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of water daily to keep your body and skin hydrated.
• Meditation, yoga, and regular exercise can heal your stress, motivate your thoughts, and keep you active and fresh.
• Make yourself busy with activities to manage your stress as well as to keep yourself away from premature ageing.
•  Invest in skincare, massage your scalp, and practice relaxation techniques.
• Cleanse your skin every day to eliminate dirt, makeup, sweat, and other irritants. Avoid harsh skincare products with strong fragrances or high ph levels. Keep your skin hydrated with a daily moisturiser to prevent dryness and itching

Conclusion:

Ageing is obvious with time, but premature ageing just only for stress is immensely unnatural. You should look into ways to stop looking aged due to stress. Several lifestyle modifications, diet plan changes, and multiple motivations can heal you and keep you active and fresh by reducing your stress. Remember, your well-being depends on you- how you look and how you manage your wellness should always be your priority. A calmer mind leads to healthier skin, luscious hair, and a body that feels as young as your spirit.