There are many factors that can affect the condition and overall appearance of your skin; the weather, pollution, smoking, drinking alcohol, and not applying sufficient sunscreen, to name but a few, but many people are not aware of the damaging effects that stress can have on your complexion.

Unfortunately, stress is part and parcel of most people's lives nowadays, with many having to juggle a family as well as a career. However, once you know the negative impact that stress can have on your skin, you may decide to take action to reduce your stress levels drastically.

1.    Stress can cause inflammation

Too much stress can, unfortunately, cause all sorts of problems in your gut, and most people are now aware of the importance of good gut health for your overall health and wellbeing, and your skin is no exception.

When you experience too much stress, your digestive system slows down, which leads to an increase in the number of unhealthy bacteria in your gut.

How does this affect your skin? Well, gut disruption can lead to dysbiosis, which basically means that your intestines can be prone to leaking. Sounds gross, right? Even worse, this leakage can cause inflammation of your whole body, including your skin.

Breakout city!

2.    Stress can make your skin oilier

Not great news if you already have an oily skin type, or even a combination one, but stress causes your body to produce more cortisol (one of the main stress hormones) as your body puts itself into the 'fight or flight' response, and it is this hormone that causes your sebaceous glands to go into overdrive.

What does this mean for your skin?  In a nutshell, more oil production than your skin needs, leading to blocked pores and breakouts.

3.    Stress can cause insomnia

You know the expression 'the importance of getting your beauty sleep''? Well, it is more than just a statement that your beautician drills into you!

Sleep, or lack of it, can have huge implications on the state of your skin. While you sleep, your skin is replenished, rejuvenated and restored, and without adequate sleep (7-8 hours a night, preferably starting before midnight), your complexion will suffer.

How is this linked to stress? 

How often have you had a sleepless night after a particularly stressful day at work?

Probably more times than you care to remember, and the next day your skin will no doubt be showing signs of your bad night, aging your skin, increasing the risk of breakouts, and of course, the tell-tale dark circles and puffy eyes.

If you are taking on too much, such as working full-time while still going to college or night school, consider taking an online course such as this DNP program, which allows you to study around your other commitments.

4.    Stress can cause your skin to become dry and flaky

In the same way that stress hormones can lead to more oil being produced for your skin, it can also cause the opposite effect; intense drying out.

When you are stressed, adrenaline is produced by the body, which makes you more likely to sweat, and when you sweat too much, your body becomes dehydrated from the loss of fluid.

If you already suffer from dry or flaky skin, or skin that is affected by eczema, stress can cause your symptoms to become a lot worse. In normal occurance, you will need your facial cleanser to battle it out.