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HOW TO REDUCE STRESS-RELATED ACNE

Stress likes to wreak havoc on our bodies. Stress can lead to a number of health problems, including high blood pressure, weight gain, heart disease and diabetes. However, trying to reduce the amount of stress in your life can feel like an olympic task. Even if you are keeping most of your anxiety in check to remain healthy, there are still ways stress can build up into a bodily problem, presenting itself as a physical mark on your face — stress-related acne. It’s the worst, and we all know it.

Fortunately, there is hope, even if life continues to make you apprehensive. Learn how to reduce stress-related acne such as improving your eating, sleeping and exercise habits so you and your skin can feel more relaxed.

Eat Properly

Very few people enjoy dieting, but improving your eating habits can combat stress-related acne in addition to weight gain. You can even start small by simply reestablishing consistent mealtimes, replacing incessant snacking in between with plenty of water intake to prevent hunger and dehydration.

Once you have your food routines down, you can begin to limit your sugar, caffeine, and alcohol consumption, which can strip your body of skin-boosting nutrients. If you can, try to eliminate sugars from your diet altogether, as sugars contribute to inflammation in the body. Cutting back on or removing sugars from your daily eating habits reduces your metabolic stress levels, thus reducing the frequency and severity of stress-related breakouts.

Sleep Well

Improving your sleeping habits can help you feel better in all areas of your body, including your face and tendency for stress-related acne. A lack of sleep surges the amount of cortisol in your system, a hormone that naturally works to counteract stress but too much can hurt more than help. Too much cortisol means you are plagued with too much anxiety, inevitably leaving you more prone to stress-related acne.

Take back control of your cortisol response by getting a full night of sleep. The recommended amount of sleep time is seven to eight hours a night and, the more you adapt to a consistent bedtime schedule, the easier it will be to fall asleep, stay asleep and wake up refreshed. Not only will you better protect yourself from stress-related acne, but your overall stress should lessen as your body is better prepared to take on the day.

Exercise

Implementing exercise to your everyday routine is about as exciting as going on that diet mentioned earlier. However, taking a little time to workout might be just what your stressed out skin needs to feel better. In fact, you don’t have to follow a strict schedule or purchase a gym membership — just spend 10 to 20 minutes exercising a day, from taking a brisk walk around the park to partaking in some meditative yoga, and you’ll quickly notice an improvement in your appearance.

A good workout also elevates hormone levels in the body. Unlike the stress hormone cortisol, though, exercise leads to endorphins, reducing stress levels and uplifting your moods. If you need something more low-impact, breathing exercises can also help you feel relaxed, providing the same skincare benefits — one measured breath at a time.

Preventative Care

Finally, the best way to reduce stress-related acne, like any type of acne, is to take preventative measures. While improving your eating, sleeping and exercise habits will contribute to preventative skin care, you can also treat breakouts with additional acne-fighting products, strengthening your skin’s defenses. For example, use a gentle moisturizer to calm your skin before applying cream specifically designed to overcome acne, gently exfoliating your face. Be careful of overwashing aggressively or picking at any pre-existing pimples as doing so will only increase inflammation.

If your preventative skin care treatment doesn’t seem like it is doing much to help your stress-related acne, it might be beneficial to try oral medications in addition to a topical approach. You can add supplements, like Omega-3 vitamins, to stabilize moods and reduce stress. You can also consult with a dermatologist, a medical professional who specializes in skin care and will know all about how stress can upset your body, tailoring your acne treatment according to your unique skin type and stress levels.

Reduce Stress at Love Your Body Medical Spa

Love Your Body Medical Spa understands how the day-to-day grind can wear you down, but stress-related acne does not have to add to your list of troubles. We are here to help you relax, serving the Las Vegas and surrounding Nevada areas with the best in cosmetic treatments. If you’d like to learn more about how to reduce stress-related acne, or stress in general, please feel free to contact us today.

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