Skin and stress: the double edged sword

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Skin and stress: the double edged sword

Whether it’s caused by work pressures, financial issues, house moves, family difficulties, bereavement or other life changing events, stress is something that most of us experience at various points throughout our lives.

A little stress can be good for us, but chronic stress can take its toll on your health and it is known to trigger and exacerbate skin problems, such as eczema and psoriasis.

In turn, skin problems can have a huge impact on our mental wellbeing and for people with certain skin conditions, issues such as low self esteem, depression and anxiety are common.

For many, it becomes a vicious cycle, so it’s important to know how best to reduce and manage the stress in our lives, whether it’s the cause of or by a skin condition.

As part of our A Hand to Hold campaign, we’re reaching out to those looking for help and advice on treatment options, as well as emotional support and this Mental Health Awareness Week, we’ve put together some top tips for handling stress whilst living with a skin condition.

It begins with a few simple steps:

  • Exercise: When you exercise it releases endorphins, which are known as the feel-good hormone, and it increases your overall health and sense of well-being. 
  • Meditate: Slow breathing can help to reduce blood pressure, so it helps to relax your body and mind.
  • Talk: Visiting a friend or family member can help to reduce your production of cortisol, according to studies, which is the body's main stress hormone.
  • Identify triggers: Look at the main causes of stress in your life, find ways of dealing with those issues and learn how to become more resilient.
  • Ask for help: Excess stress can become overwhelming, so if you find yourself unable to cope, there are a number of support organisations ready and waiting to help.

If you feel like you need help, or are worried about someone else, then mental health charity Mind can help you to find the support you need in your area. Visit www.mind.org.uk, call the Mind Infoline on 0300 123 3393 or send a text to 86463.

For more tips on how to manage your skin condition or to follow our A Hand to Hold campaign visit our Facebook page @QVSkincare_UK