Stress is a natural bodily response to situations that are perceived as threatening or difficult. This response may be physical, emotional, or psychological. When you are in a stressful situation, your body releases stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol to prepare for it.

Why does stress affect the face?

Stress can have a negative impact on the face, making it appear older, for a variety of reasons, including:

Increased oil production

Cortisol is a stress hormone produced by the adrenal glands in response to both physical and emotional stress. Cortisol increases the activity of oil glands in the dermal layer of the skin. This causes an increase in the production of sebum (oil), which clogs pores, especially when combined with dead skin cells and dirt.

Slows skin cell turnover

Cortisol has various impacts on the body, including skin function. High cortisol levels can disrupt the normal skin cell turnover cycle. Skin cell turnover slows, and dead skin cells accumulate on the skin's surface. This makes the skin appear dull, rough, and unhealthy.

Affects the immune system and skin

Stress causes the body to release hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, which suppress the immune response. This weakened immune response makes the body more vulnerable to bacterial, viral, and fungal infections that harm skin health.Weakened immunity can lead to an imbalance of bacteria in the gut and skin.When this imbalance occurs, the skin becomes more susceptible to reddish rashes.Chronic stress also causes chronic inflammation in the body, which can exacerbate skin conditions like acne, eczema, and psoriasis.

Reduced skin elasticity

Stress has a significant effect on skin elasticity. Changes in skin proteins such as collagen and elastin cause loss of suppleness and elasticity, increasing the likelihood of facial wrinkle formation. Furthermore, common stress-related facial expressions like furrowing the brow or pursing the lips cause repetitive wrinkles in specific areas. Repetitive wrinkles promote the formation of long-term wrinkles.

Influence on skin barrier function

Stress affects skin barrier function, which is controlled by the stratum corneum, the skin's outermost layer. The stratum corneum is important in maintaining skin moisture because it contains proteins and lipids that form the skin barrier. If the stratum corneum's function is compromised, such as due to stress, the skin becomes dry and itchy.

Loss of stem cells that produce melanin

According to research, stress can affect sympathetic nerve activity, resulting in the loss of melanocyte-producing stem cells. As a result, any new hair that grows (such as on the brows) will lose its color and turn gray.

Stress is a normal part of life that cannot be avoided. However, stress can have a negative impact on your skin's health and appearance, so you must manage it effectively.

If you are having trouble managing stress, you can consult your doctor and seek further advice. If you need medical advice or consultation, you can either visit a doctor or make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.

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