Do you ever feel like you're caught up in a complex juggling act, balancing school, homework, sport, part-time jobs, friends, family life, social stuff, siblings and more? Today's teens often feel overcommitted, overworked and seriously stressed. In fact, Reuters Health reports that onethird say they feel stressed-out on a daily basis. Some good stress is healthy and it can be a great motivator. When we're excited and passionate about something, we set high goals for ourselves and we stretch and challenge ourselves to meet those goals. That's great. But too much stress can cause burnout and exhaustion, and it can seriously aggravate all skin conditions.
Even if you follow the Gorgeous Skin Plan diet to a T, exercise regularly and get enough sleep, but you aren't chilling every day, you're much more likely to experience acne. More stress, more acne. Stress increases acneinducing androgens, a number of other inflammatory chemicals, and a chemical called substance P that activates your skin's oil glands. According to New York-based dermatologist and psychiatrist Dr Amy Wechsler, ‘To put it simply, the level of certain hormones - namely cortisol - increases in the brain when we're stressed. This hormone travels to the skin and creates inflammation around hair follicles and pores leading to acne.'
People with acne have higher levels of cortisol. Having too much of this hormone doesn't only affect your skin: it can cause blood-sugar imbalances, decrease your bone density and even reduce your ability to learn and communicate. On top of triggering new pimples, any sort of emotional stress may get in the way of effectively tackling existing pimples because when you're under stress, your immune system is not functioning up to scratch. According to New York-based dermatologist David Orentreich, if bacteria inside a clogged pore get into surrounding tissue and cause an infection, the body may be less able to fight it, possibly resulting in a larger inflammatory cyst.
All sorts of stressors can trigger acne. Research in college students has found that their acne flared right up when they felt stressed out from exams. So, when you're studying take at least one 15–30-minute break to go for a walk or do some yoga or a mini-workout. Remember, exercise is an excellent stress-buster and increases endorphins in your brain.
Before all this news sends your stress levels soaring, remember there are lots of things you can do to put the brakes on your skin situation. Finding ways to relax your body and mind can reduce your chances of facing an anxiety-induced flare-up. Whatever you do, resist the urge to pull an all-nighter. Instead, give your skin time to repair itself by hitting the sack at a decent hour. Getting a good night's sleep gives you more energy to study the next morning. Your stress hormones are chilled out when you're sleeping, and you'll look better from being well-rested.
Chatting with friends can help you vent. And when you're having a snack, reach for good-for-your skin foods like fruit, vegies and nuts rather than processed, packaged or greasy food. Don't forget to drink loads of water too. A specialised group of doctors called psychodermatologists, or skin shrinks, treat acne and other skin disorders from an emotional perspective. Part of their approach is to identify the key things in their patients' lives that may be stressing them out. Every system in the body affects every other system, and what happens in the brain definitely trickles down and affects the skin.
Dr Ted Grossbart, a clinical professor of psychology who specialises in skin problems at Harvard Medical School in the US, points out that our skin is very closely connected with our nervous system. This means that any thoughts or feelings you have, good or bad, can affect your skin. Anger, depression and anxiety affect the immune system, which can cause or aggravate skin troubles. Even the stuff that you may not be aware of - feelings bubbling under the surface - can trigger all sorts of skin conditions. That's why positive emotions can make your skin glow. Now that you know there's an intimate link between your skin and your thoughts and feelings, what can you do about it? It may sound kind of weird, but your thoughts create chemicals that flow into your bloodstream and affect the function of your entire body. Just thinking positively has a big impact on your stress levels and how your skin reacts.
You can start by being more accepting of yourself. Don't worry so much about what other people are thinking and doing. That's their problem, not yours. Believe in yourself and hang out with positive, supportive friends. Try to be the best you can, and don't compare yourself to anyone. There is only one you on the planet.
Our website is not responsible for the information contained by this article. Articleinput.com is a free articles resource thus practically any visitor can submit an article. However if you notice any copyrighted material, please contact us and we will remove the article(s) in discussion right away.
Note: This article was sent to us by: Barbara I. King at 07092010
1. What you should consider when choosig your cosmetic surgeon
All articles are property of their respective authors. Please read our Privacy Policy!
© 2009 ArticleInput.com.