HOW STRESS AND EMOTIONS AFFECT SKIN.

Our mind, body and skin are intimately connected. Have you ever noticed you break out or itch more when you’re stressed? That’s your skin reflecting what you’re feeling inside. The bond between the skin and mind has deep roots and can never be ignored when attempting to heal skin or any conditions affecting the body.  

Your emotional state is deeply intertwined with your skin and can most definitely contribute to skin conditions like acne, dermatitis and eczema due to hormonal changes in the body. These conditions can cause a great deal of emotional stress in return, which makes it a vicious cycle and the only way to break the cycle is to start managing your stress in a way that doesn’t harm your mind and body.

I often tell clients, you can have the “best diet” and workout 5 days a week, but if your stress levels are through the roof or you deal with a lot of negative self-talk, your skin won’t heal unless we address your mental and emotional health. We have to look at the body as a whole.

While we can’t always eliminate the sources of stress in our lives, we can certainly help the body respond and adapt to stress in a much better way. Certain herbal medicines, nutrition and lifestyle/meditation practices can be incredibly beneficial in supporting the body’s ability to become more resilient to stress, which in turn will benefit the skin.

Always remember, be gentle on yourself!

Solien xx

Mi:skn Naturopath