Your skin feels everything: the impact of stress that goes beyond the mind

Tiredness, irritation, anxiety... And your skin in the middle of it all? Understand this relationship.

Have you ever noticed how, in times of stress, your skin seems to react too? A pimple that appears out of nowhere, an insistent itch, that redness that bothers you - none of this is a coincidence. Research shows that psychological stress has a direct link to the appearance and worsening of various skin diseases.

The skin, our largest organ and first line of defense against the external environment, also reflects the body's internal states. When the body faces stress, a complex communication network is activated between the nervous, endocrine and immune systems - known as the neuroendocrine-immune network (NEI) - which directly influences the skin's immune responses. In this way, brain and skin maintain a continuous dialog, which highlights the deep physiological connection between the two.

How does stress affect the skin?

Stress can influence skin health in a number of ways:

• can worsen existing illnesses: Conditions such as acne, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis and hives often intensify during periods of stress;
• can disrupt the skin's defense system: stress disturbs the balance of immune cells and inflammatory substances in the skin, which can make it more vulnerable or susceptible to disease;
• affects essential functions: can weaken the skin's barrier function, impair healing and increase the release of inflammatory cytokines;
• creates a cycle that is difficult to break: stress causes changes in the skin, and seeing these signs in the mirror increases psychological tension - which feeds back on the problem.

A more complete approach to skin care

Understanding the neuroendocrine-immune interaction and talking to your doctor about it are attitudes that help create more effective strategies for diagnosing and treating skin diseases, going beyond the visible symptoms.

That's why taking care of your mental health is also to take care of your skin. Managing stress should be part of your self-care routine, alongside diet, hydration and sun protection.

After all, your skin is a reflection of what's going on inside you.

Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0889159123003768