DON'T LET STRESS WRECK YOUR SKIN

The mirror isn't playing tricks on you: Your complexion can suffer during times of high anxiety. Dermatologists and GH experts explain the signs and how you can get quick and long-term relief.

- by CELIA SHATZMAN

THE STRESS-SKIN CONNECTION

Anyone who has had a rash pop up before a work presentation or woken up with dark circles after a sleepless night knows that mental health and mood affect the complexion. "The skin is a visible reflection of what's going on internally," says Alexis Stephens, M.D., a dermatologist and skin of color expert in Boca Raton, FL. "When we're stressed, our bodies release hormones like cortisol and adrenaline that can disrupt skin function, skin barrier integrity and even our microbiome." This dysregulation can show up in several ways (see column at right). "We're only beginning to scratch the surface of how connected skin and emotional well-being are," Dr. Stephens says.

VITAL SIGNS

CLUES THAT YOUR COMPLEXION IS SUFFERING

These are the most common ways in which stress manifests itself in skin, according to dermatologists.

Breakouts