Have you ever experienced a period or moment when your skin reveals that your body is under stress? For instance, by developing a pimple, or after a long stressful period, you look in the mirror one day and think, “Why do I look older?.” Curious about how this happens and how you can prevent it? Let’s find out how we can stay young and youthful!

Stress is a biologically generated reaction to potential danger. The fight-or-flight response is a defence mechanism that occurs when the brain detects acute danger. This can cause intense feelings of anxiety or stress, prompting the body to prepare to either fight or flight. During this dilemma, numerous stress hormones surge through the body to provide you with more oxygen and strength to run away from the danger or confront it.

When we give an important presentation, get stuck in traffic, or worry about the latest news, a form of stress is internalized. And this all begins in the brain. The hypothalamus, the part that controls your hormones, releases the so-called “adrenocorticotropic hormone” during times of stress. This triggers the pituitary gland, a pea-sized gland located at the base of the brain, behind the nose and sinuses. This gland then releases adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and stimulates the adrenal glands to produce the stress hormone ‘’cortisol’’. Cortisol is the primary stress hormone, and fortunately so, because this hormone helps you significantly when you need to quickly run away from a threatening situation.

However, when you produce cortisol and this hormone is not used for its intended purpose (fighting, flight, etc.), this accumulation negatively affects the body’s well-being. A buildup of stress hormones causes an inflammatory response in the body. This suppresses the immune system, making you more susceptible to infections from acne-causing bacteria, and there is also a chance that the skin’s oil production increases.

These two factors are the perfect combination for causing skin inflammation, a so-called pimple or acne.

Additionally, cortisol is responsible for the production of sebum in the skin. When there is too much sebum, it can combine with dead skin cells to create a white bump, known as a comedone. This white bump traps P. acnes bacteria, allowing them to thrive. In this way, you create a perfect living environment for bacteria, resulting in a pimple or acne.

It’s difficult to avoid stressful situations. As mentioned earlier, we occasionally get stuck in traffic or have to engage in an important conversation at work that brings some form of stress. These situations are unavoidable, but we can try to change our reaction to them so that cortisol production doesn’t become excessively high. We know now that cortisol gives you the strength to move forward, to fight or flight. You can also make good use of this strength by practising a sport. Sometimes you just need to vent your anger or frustration, and a popular way to do this is boxing. Many people find relief in literally punching out all their strength and anger, which helps them to then put situations into perspective.

Furthermore, I want to briefly mention that your coping strategy (the way you react to a situation) in response to stress can indirectly have a negative effect on your skin. Think, for example, of scratching the skin, biting, or picking. Additionally, behaviors and lifestyle habits such as drinking alcohol, smoking, or eating unhealthily in large quantities also negatively impact the skin.

I could list many more solutions for dealing with stress, but the moral of this story is to make you aware that stressful situations do indeed impact our well-being. Find a method that works for you to cope with stressful situations. For instance, you could consider meditation or yoga. Both are proven methods for relieving stress.

Good Luck, and feel free to ask.

With love, Fabienne