Pressure, tension and anxiety are familiar feelings. Everyone is affected by short-term stress, the body’s response to the challenges of everyday life. Some of you may have also experienced long-term (chronic) stress, which can cause serious physical and emotional health issues. But did you know that accumulated stress can actually get under your skin?
“We believe that stress can affect the overall health of skin by triggering or worsening skin diseases,” says Dr. Elma Baron, associate professor of dermatology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and director of the Skin Study Center (a research facility located within University Hospitals). This is true for males and females. The skin may become more reactive and sensitive, explains Baron, who says that when a patient is undergoing emotional stress, such as the loss of a job, the loss of a spouse or even studying for final exams, exacerbation of the skin conditions psoriasis and eczema can become more common and may be harder to control. “Stress can cause more flare-ups and itching,” she says.
When you are tense, fluctuations in hormone levels can occur in the body increasing inflammation and weakening the immune system, making it harder to fight disease. Through research, Barons says it’s believed that stress may play a role in skin cancer. She references a study done a few years back at John Hopkins with animals that were exposed to cancer through doses of light. “An experimental group which was exposed to a natural predator, which stresses the animal out, showed skin cancer developed much faster than the group with no additional stressor.”
There is a fairly new subspecialty of dermatology today called psychodermatology that uses psychological and psychiatric techniques along with the medical practices of dermatologists. Baron says: “The goal is to find out whether psychotherapy could help alleviate skin disorders that we see induced by stress. It may be helpful in specific skin diseases like psoriasis, but it won’t be applicable in all areas.” While Baron does not practice this subspecialty, we all may be hearing more about this specialty in the future.
If skin does become aggravated by stress, Baron says, “Sometimes just recognition of the fact that you’re stressed may help relieve anxiety because patients then realize there is no mystery behind their flare-up.” This may help lessen the severity of a skin condition.
Some patients head to their local spa to soothe their flare-ups. Myra Johnson, aesthetician from the Spa at Springfield in Strongsville, sees many clients with stress-induced skin conditions. “Stress causes rashes,” she says. “It’s like being allergic to a piece of jewelry; your skin reacts to the jewelry. It’s the same with stress; the skin reacts to stress.”
Johnson says she helps clients diagnosed with rosacea (skin condition that causes redness in the face and produces red, pus-filled bumps), as well as those who are afflicted with acne. Infrared therapy may be suggested, which is a low-level lighting device that penetrates skin tissues for an anti-inflammatory effect. She says it can reduce rosacea, acne and scarring. “Clients can see great results without using medicine.”
The aesthetician also performs a variety of relaxing facials to invigorate circulation and oxygen supply, provide deep cleansing and improve the skins protective mechanism with the use of an all-natural European product line. “It stimulates the blood,” she says. “It’s a form of natural healing without drugs.”
For many of us living through the daily tribulations of life, Johnson leaves us with this message: “High doses of stress can cause skin to age much quicker.” None of us want that. Take the time to invest in yourself through deep breathing and relaxation techniques, exercise, proper nutrition and plenty of rest. It may just be the best skin care medicine out there.
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