Is your STRESS written all over your face?

We all know that stress is famous for making necks tight, heads ache and stomachs upset and now stress is becoming a recognised trigger to redness, itching, burning and flare-ups commonly classified as skin sensitisation.

Just as irritating chemicals and excess exfoliation can trigger inflammation and red, itching, stinging skin, researchers recognise neurogenic inflammation (stemming from the nervous system), is also triggered by emotional and physical stress.  It yields the same red, stinging, itching response and could even be responsible for severe skin disorders including psoriasis, rosacea and atopic dermatitis.

It has been estimated that 75-90% of all visits to primary care physicians are for stress.  Job stress is the leading source of stress for adults.  Stress levels have also escalated in children, teenagers, college students and the elderly.  Stress is difficult for scientists to define because it is a highly subjective phenomenon that differs for each of us.  Things that distress some people can be pleasurable for others.  We also respond to stress differently – some people blush, some eat more while others grow pale or eat less.

COOL DOWN

Stress causes a litany of health issues, and now you know even skin can be affected.  When your blood pressure rises along with your temper, try these simple techniques to fend off stress – and a potential skin flare-up!

Regain your focus: simply shutting your eyes takes your source of frustration out of sight.

Walk it off: physically burning though the adrenaline can prevent stress from manifesting into tension in your neck, mind or skin.

Drop it: are your shoulders up around your ears?  Is your jaw clenched?  Roll your shoulders back down your spine and drop your jaw; just focusing on correcting these things can smooth out your thoughts.

Don’t be shallow:  stress causes short, shallow breaths from the chest.  Take some deep breaths to bring adrenal levels down; sit down, put one hand on your belly and one hand on your forehead, breathe in through your nose and feel your belly rise before exhaling.

When you see and feel the effects of stress on your face look for powerful ingredients that soothe, cool, reduce redness, inflammation and flare-ups.  The Dermalogica UltraCalming™ range of products has been extended and improved and the three key ingredients in most of the products in their range include:

Ø  Avena Sativa (Oat Kernal) Extracts – rich in active avenathramides, which have been widely studied and proven to have natural anti-irritant and anti-redness properties.

Ø  Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Extract and Bisabolol (derived from Chamomile) – work together to reduce inflammation induced redness and irritation.

Ø  Boerhavia Diffusa (Red Hogweed) Root Extract – targets neurogenic inflammation while soothing properties restore skin to a normal sensitivity level, providing immediate and long-lasting effects.

If you would like more information about the Dermalogica UltraCalming™ range of products please feel free to contact me at Kokoro Beauty.