Monday, September 26, 2011

How Stress Affects Your Skin


Sometimes, there's just no way around stress. You have bills to pay, deadlines to meet, people in your life that may count on you for everything or even relationship issues. Most women take stress for granted. They're so stressed out that it has become a normal part of their lives. But did you know that stress can really reek havoc on your skin? 

When you're stressed, your adrenal gland over produces cortisol. Chronic stress weakens the body's natural defenses and decreases the skin’s ability to regenerate. Stress can trigger acne, eczema, hives, rosacea, warts, cold sores, psoriasis, and affect the color of your skin. Stress is also one of the main factors in increased free radicals in the body. Free radicals are a major cause of premature aging. When cortisol is high, there is a drop in the production of the anti-aging hormone known as dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).  

There is no way to eliminate stress from your life, but there are things that you can do to de-stress.

1. Exercise
Exercise is considered a great stress-buster. Yoga, thirty minutes on the treadmill or a nice stroll through the neighborhood several times a week are great forms of exercise that work at relaxing the mind as well as toning the body.

2. Massage
As a nice treat, book a massage every month. It's a nice way to balance the body, mind and emotions.

3. Meditate
Meditation has been proven to significantly reduce the effects of stress.

4. Aromatherapy
Chamomile, hazel nut oil and lavender soothe the mind and the body.  Try adding a few drops to a cotton ball and inhaling.


Hope This Helps.

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