How to Take Care of Your Skin Under Stress: Tips to Keep Your Skin Healthy and Glowing
Modern life often turns into an endless stream of worries, deadlines and challenges. And while our skin is an amazingly resilient organ, it is the first to react to internal and external stresses. Have you noticed how during busy periods your skin tone dulls, inflammation, dryness and even irritation appear? This is because stress activates processes that literally deplete the skin's defenses.
So proper skin care at such times is not just a cosmetic routine, but a necessity, like finding a rare coin among many specimens. Just as a coin identifier helps you recognize the true value of a find; proper skin care helps you uncover your skin's natural beauty and health. Here we would like to have a closer look at how stress affects the skin and what steps you can take to keep your skin looking good and glowing, even during difficult times.
The Effects of Stress on the Skin
According to a study by the American Academy of Dermatology, 74% of women experience significant skin changes, including rashes and irritations, during stressful periods. How does this happen? When we are faced with stressful situations, our bodies begin to produce cortisol, the stress hormone. Its high levels set off a chain of reactions:
Increased sebum production. It leads to greasy shine and clogged pores.
Slowing cell renewal. Old cells linger longer on the surface of the skin, making it look dull.
Increased inflammation. This makes the skin sensitive, prone to acne and redness.
Decreased collagen production. Skin loses elasticity and becomes more prone to wrinkles
These changes make skin care especially important during times of stress. But how do you take a sensible care process and what do you need to pay special attention to? We'll talk more about basic skin care below, but if you have serious problems - acne, irritation, dryness - don't forget to see your doctor.
How to Care for Your Skin During Stress: Everything You Need to Consider
Step 1: Deep but Gentle Cleansing
During times of stress, the skin produces more sebum than normal. It is due to an increase in cortisol levels, which stimulates the sebaceous glands. As a result, pores become clogged faster with a mixture of grease, cosmetics and impurities, creating an ideal environment for bacteria to breed. If attention is not paid to proper cleansing, this can lead to acne, inflammation and dull skin.
What can you do to help your skin? Choose the right cleansers. Use mild foams and gels that do not contain harsh ingredients such as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS, which dry out the skin) and alcohol (which destroys the lipid barrier).
Also remember that you should not neglect quality skin cleansing - it is worth washing twice a day: in the morning - to remove toxins and sebum secreted overnight, and in the evening - to remove makeup, dust and environmental pollution. It is not unreasonable to use mild enzyme peels once or twice a week to remove dead skin cells to improve skin texture and color.
Example product: CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser is a moisturizing gel wash that contains ceramides and hyaluronic acid, which help to restore the skin's protective barrier.
Step 2: Proper Moisturizing and Nourishment
During times of stress, the skin loses moisture at a faster rate due to impaired barrier function. Combined with dehydration caused by caffeine or lack of sleep, this leads to dryness, flaking and tightness.
This is why you should pay special attention to ingredients that will retain moisture in your care products (hyaluronic acid, glycerin and panthenol) and use cosmetic oils (such as jojoba or argan oil). They form a protective film that prevents moisture evaporation and are ideal for dry or combination skin. Also, add night masks with antioxidants and ceramides to your skincare routine. They help your skin recover overnight, especially if you sleep less than 7 hours.
Product example: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Ultra Night is an intensive night moisturizer designed for sensitive skin.
Step 3: Use Antioxidants
Did you know that according to studies, daily use of vitamin C serums reduces sun damage to the skin by 60%. You could say that antioxidants are the real “superheroes” in skincare during times of stress. They neutralize free radicals that damage skin cells, protecting it from aging and dullness.
Recommendations:
Vitamin C. This antioxidant will not only protect the skin, but also lighten pigmentation and add radiance. Apply vitamin C serum in the morning before applying moisturizer.
Vitamin E helps heal microcracks and strengthen skin, especially in winter.
Niacinamide is suitable for all skin types, due to it you can reduce inflammation and strengthen barrier function.
Product example: The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres is a serum that fights dullness and signs of aging.
Step 4: Do Not Neglect Relaxation Treatments
When stress is at its peak, skin treatments can be more than just a way to improve your skin, they can also be a complete relaxation routine.
A great idea to spend a couple minutes in silence and relax is to make a homemade mask. For example, clay masks cleanse pores, reduce oily shine and inflammation (where white clay is suitable for sensitive skin and green clay for oily skin).
If you don't have a suitable mask at hand - no problem. Mud compresses will help. Brew chamomile, lavender or calendula, soak a soft towel and put it on your face for 10 minutes. Moreover, it's a great idea to also try aromatherapy with essential oils (lavender or peppermint) to relax your skin and nerves at the same time.
But it's important to remember here that it's not just one treatment that takes away stress. You can also resort to other tricks to ground yourself and distract yourself from the mundane. And the first helper in this case is a relaxing hobby on your own. For example, collecting is a great fit here.
Coin Collecting: A Hobby That Calms You Down
One of the best ways to relieve stress is collecting. According to a survey by the American Psychological Association, 65% of people who have a hobby are better able to cope with everyday stress.
Why coin collecting?
It allows you to focus on something interesting and distracting.
Collecting teaches patience and mindfulness, which is good for mental health.
It's a great way to learn more about culture and history.
Where can you start? Define your theme: rare coins, commemorative series or coins from different eras. And so that you don't have to spend hours studying the nuances of numismatics, going through catalogs, use the Coin ID Scanner application to identify your finds and study their value. A couple of clicks - and you are already learning something new: the history, origin and peculiarities of a coin and gaining new knowledge.
Interesting fact: Collecting can not only be soothing, but can also become a lucrative hobby: coins, especially rare ones, grow significantly in value over time. And the monotony and opportunity for solitude while studying information or coins is a great option to distract yourself from everyday problems and calm down.
Don't Worry Be Happy
Our skin is a mirror of our inner state, so it's important to take care of it even during difficult periods. Due to following simple but effective recommendations, you can both maintain healthy skin and improve your overall well-being.
Do not forget that stress can also help you to overcome through engaging activities, like coin collecting.Due to this hobby you may distract yourself and focus on the beauty and uniqueness of the things the world gives us. And perhaps a new coin in your collection will be the beginning of the road to harmony.