We’ve all heard the term “mind over matter,” but what does it mean? How does our mental state affect our physical health and vice versa?
One of the most important things to understand is that these two aspects of ourselves are deeply intertwined. Our minds can have a significant impact on our skin and vice versa—and they do so in a variety of ways.
Let’s take a look at some specific examples of how your mental health affects your skin, which may give you some insight into how to keep your skin healthy:
- Stress can make you more prone to acne
When you’re stressed out or anxious, your body releases more cortisol, which can cause oil glands to become overactive and make you break out. Stress also makes people eat less healthy foods and drink more alcohol, which increases inflammation and leads to blemishes and pimples.
- Depression makes you look older
The state of mind that comes with depression — low energy levels, lack of motivation, and a tendency to isolate yourself — doesn’t affect how you feel; it also affects how you look. People who suffer from depression tend to have duller skin tones compared with people who don’t have this condition. They also tend to have greyish under-eye circles and sallow complexions due to lack of sleep (which can be caused by depression).
- You may experience dry skin
Dry skin is caused by a lack of oil production in the sebaceous glands (the glands that produce oil). Stress has been associated with reduced sebum production because it lowers levels of hormones, which helps regulate sebum production. This can cause dryness, flaking, and itching on your face and body as well as eczema and psoriasis flare-ups if you have these conditions already.
- Anxiety causes redness on the face
The immune system is one of the body’s first lines of defence, and stress can compromise its effectiveness. The gut and skin microbiome might become unbalanced if the immune system is compromised. In the case of your skin, this imbalance can emerge as redness or a rash.
- Stress can cause wrinkles on your face
When stressed out, you might notice wrinkles around your eyes and mouth. This is because stress causes the muscles in these areas to contract, which can cause crow’s feet and laugh lines. Stress also increases the production of cortisol (a hormone produced by the adrenal glands), which contributes to thinning skin and increased inflammation — two factors contributing to wrinkles.
- Mess with your regular skincare routine
Stress can also make it challenging to stick to an effective skincare routine. Suppose you aren’t sleeping well or getting enough exercise. In that case, this could affect how well your body absorbs nutrients from food and how effectively it metabolises those nutrients into energy — both of which are important for healthy skin cells!
- Stress causes inflammation
Chronic stress leads to increased cortisol levels in the body. High cortisol levels are linked to increased inflammation throughout the body, which can result in redness and puffiness in your skin — especially around your eyes.
- Stress can cause grey hairs or hair loss
Stress and anxiety can also trigger alopecia (hair loss). Stress activates the sympathetic nervous system, which controls the fight-or-flight response. This causes an increase in inflammation and oxidative stress, which leads to hair shedding.
Tips to Improve Mental Health
When your mind is healthy, your skin will be too.
There are several ways that your mental health can have a negative effect on your skin.
But there are also plenty of ways to have a positive mental outlook that can make you happier and healthier — including better-looking skin. Here are some tips to improve your mental health:
- Take care of your skin even if you feel stressed or exhausted.
- Try to maintain a regular workout routine. The benefits extend beyond the skin.
- If you only have 10 minutes, use them to accomplish something you love. Get some rest and relax by reading a book or taking a bath.
- Put on some shoes and go about the neighbourhood.
- Try relaxation techniques, including deep breathing, yoga, meditation, or just visualising a relaxing scene.
- Make sure you’re getting enough shut-eye. The optimal amount of sleep is between 7 and 8 hours.
- Drink collagen tea. Collagen is the protein that gives your skin its structure and elasticity. Green tea with collagen boosts collagen production in the body and helps reduce wrinkles, fine lines, and acne scars by increasing collagen production at the cellular level.
- Eat a healthy diet. Eat fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and avoid processed foods.
- Get some sunshine. Sunlight helps the body produce vitamin D, which may improve mood and skin health.
- Drink lots of water. Water helps flush out toxins from your body, which helps keep your skin clear from breakouts and blemishes. It also helps maintain proper hydration levels in your skin cells, which promotes elasticity for a smoother appearance. Aim for eight glasses per day — or even more if you’re exercising vigorously or sweating excessively.
Takeaway
The skin is the largest organ in the body, so it’s no surprise that it’s affected by everything inside your body. When you’re not feeling at your best, you can expect changes in your skin.
But don’t worry—you can do plenty of things to keep your skin looking healthy, even if you’re having a hard time with your mental health.
We hope this blog has given you some ideas on taking charge of your skin health and helped you understand how important it is to care for your mind.