COMPLEXION RESURRECTION

It's the season of coughs and colds - and being sick or stressed can take a toll on your skin, too. Queen of Harley Street Lesley Reynolds reveals how she helps nurse the stars' skin back to health

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eeling run-down, anxious or suffering with a streaming cold? The chances are it's written all over your face, as our complexions can tell us all sorts of things about what's going on beneath the surface.

This was the case for former S Club 7 member Hannah Spearritt, who visited my Harley Street clinic as she had noticed her skin looking a little worse for wear. She has suffered from a compromised immune system for a while now, but following bandmate Paul Cattermole's death in April, her stress levels were at an all-time high.

The singer and actress, who will compete in ITV's Dancing On Ice in January and recently released her memoir, Facing The Music, also revealed she was suffering from vertigo and fatigue, and her normally radiant complexion reflected this with dullness, dehydration, breakouts and sensitivity.

Immune conditions, psychological stress and skin quality are all closely linked.

Feelings of emotional distress lead to the release of the stress hormone cortisol, which affects the immune system, disrupting the skin's natural barrier and healing process.

Anxiety is also expressed in facial movements, which can result in forehead furrows and "11 lines". It can be a vicious circle, as the worse our skin looks, the more it can impact our mental well-being.