Who doesn’t know the situation of wanting to get something done quickly and time is somehow running out. Things are left undone and put off, often adding to the pressure. And in the end, the stress manifests itself in various ways, including in the appearance of the skin, in feeling unwell or in a lack of concentration.
It usually starts unnoticed, something remains undone, no problem, just gets done later or on another day. But it’s not uncommon for more unfinished tasks to follow, and then what? But dissatisfaction at work or in a relationship can also lead to stress. According to statistics, 50% of employees are dissatisfied in their job and 47% of German employees (source: study) regularly suffer from symptoms such as exhaustion, sleep disorders, neck pain or headaches. A constant feeling of dissatisfaction can also be the basis of stress. If this is short-lived, it is still unproblematic for the body, but a constant feeling of being overwhelmed or rushed can be very harmful.
We always talk about stress, but what exactly does stress actually mean?
Stress is triggered by a wide variety of factors (source: gesundheitsmanagment24), e.g. psychological stimuli such as excessive demands or anger at work, deadline pressure, loss of a loved one or problems in a relationship. Stress means an excessive demand on the body or a discrepancy between available resources and the actual requirements or personal possibilities. The body mobilizes all its reserves in order to cope with the problem situations. The body is, so to speak, in a permanent active state, whereby a lot of energy is consumed, often resulting in deficiency symptoms or externally visible skin problems.
Possible (skin) symptoms
-
Infections
Our immune system protects us from external influences every day. Under stress, however, the skin’s protective mechanisms are disrupted. This often leads to overactivity, which requires a lot of energy. Vitamins and minerals are essential here, e.g. a vitamin A deficiency can lead to an increase in infections. A lack of vitamin B6 often manifests itself in cracked lips. In general, it can be said that if the immune defense is not intact, viruses and bacteria have an “easier time”, e.g. herpes infections can occur. In order to protect against this, it is best to use products that have an appropriate defensive protective effect, i.e. preventively and when the first signs appear.
-
Blemished skin
It is not uncommon for us to run our hands over our face when we are nervous, leaving bacteria on our fingers, which we often spread over sensitive areas of skin. The result is often blemished skin. People under stress also tend to eat unhealthy food, smoke or have other negative habits, which also promote blemished skin. The body itself reacts to stress with an increased release of stress hormones such as adrenaline and noradrenaline, which are known to promote inflammatory processes in the skin. Prolonged stress also causes more cortisol to be produced, a hormone that promotes acne. An important factor here is to always use the right skin care that is gentle and supports the skin’s protective barrier.
-
Skin diseases
Even though it is often genetically predisposed, the interaction between skin and psyche has been proven several times by studies. Stress can exacerbate skin diseases such as psoriasis or neurodermatitis. In most cases, those affected also have very dry skin, which in turn disrupts the skin’s protective function and leads to further complications. It is important to use itch-relieving, moisturizing and protective skin care.
-
Restlessness and sleep problems
Inner tension, irritability or even sleep problems are often the result of too much stress. Why? The body and mind lack the necessary rest, because periods of tension should always be followed by a period of relaxation. If this is missing, our defenses against pathogens are weakened and infectious agents can attack more quickly and easily, see above.
Steps to improve (skin) health
- Ideally, create a balance to stressful times, with appropriate rest periods and fixed sleeping times. Constant availability can also promote stress, and fixed structures, workflows and time slots can be very helpful here.
- A healthy diet is also very important and should not be underestimated, as an unbalanced diet can also promote skin problems. This is because a lack of vitamins and minerals, important sources of energy, are needed all the more in stressful phases. And of course, always drink enough – water is an important element of a healthy diet.
- Healthy and smooth skin is also a sign of a healthy organism. Exercise is also essential, as sporting activities in particular release hormones that can help to cope with stress. Relaxation exercises and sport are a good tip for doing something good for the body and soul.
- Particularly in the event of dissatisfaction or stress at work, expectations should be realistically reviewed and the work situation changed. There is no shame in asking for help once in a while.
