Is Pandemic Stress Affecting Your Skin?

Spoiler alert, stress effects your skin even if you don’t realize it …

One constant in our everyday lives is stress. Add a global pandemic into the mix and what do you get?… yep, more stress. And while stress certainly impacts our physical and mental health, did you know that it also can wreak havoc on your skin, causing things like breakouts (maskne, anyone?), red flaky skin and slower healing time. It also can aggravate chronic issues like psoriasis, rosacea, and eczema, and cause hives and other skin irritations. 

Generally speaking, too much stress wears on our immune systems, making us more susceptible to skin conditions and causing the skin’s healing process to take longer than usual. And, because stress stimulates our nervous system and increases blood flow to the brain and muscles by 400%, skin issues including acne, rosacea, eczema and psoriasis are all directly linked to stress levels.

If you are really feeling the stress of the past year, trust us when we say that you are not alone. In fact, 53% of Americans reported that their mental health has been negatively impacted due to worry and stress over the pandemic and its impact on our daily lives. From the start, our team at Timeless has shared how we are coping with this new normal and – of course! – how to maintain healthy and beautiful skin at the same time. 

You may be dealing with a variety of stress-induced skin issues, including:

Dry Flaky Skin

Often caused by dehydration, dry flaky skin is exacerbated by stress because studies show that high levels of anxiety can deplete the skin’s natural moisture reserves. Drink plenty of water every day and, in the meantime, try adding a hydrator rather than a moisturizer to your skincare routine. You likely already know this, but we love SkinMedica’s HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator to immediately smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and to support the skin’s natural ability to replenish its own hyaluronic acid. Want to go a step further? You also can add on a DiamondGlow and Dermaplane to treat dry flaky skin.

Acne Breakout

Stress can throw off your hormone balance and cause acne to flare up. Add in frequent use of a facial mask, and, well … you end up with maskne. In addition to incorporating acne treatments containing salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide into your routine, we recommend SkinMedica’s AHA/ BHA cleanser and Obagi’s toner to remove environmental pollutants, excess oil and makeup, and balance the skin.

Eczema or Rosacea

Stress can easily worsen pre-existing skin conditions such as eczema or rosacea. Calm and soothe sensitive skin and neutralize the appearance of redness with a medical-grade skin care products, including SUZANOBAGIMDTM Soothing Complex, or Dr. Erin Olah suggests IPL/Genesis to treat stubborn rosacea effectively with no-downtime.

Although it may feel like we can’t control much right now, you can control the impact of pandemic-related stress on your skin. The providers at Timeless Skin Solutions can work with you to develop an individualized plan and personal SkinScript that outlines what procedures and products are recommended to help meet your needs. Contact us to develop a plan to keep your skin healthy, comfortable, and radiant…. After all, everyone needs a plan!