Yes, Stress Does Ruin Your Skin. Here's What To Do.

Have you ever been told that you were “glowing” after a happy event or that you “looked stressed" when dealing with a difficult time? These aren't just figures of speech. In fact, our skin often tells the story of both our lifestyle and our state of mind. Here are 3 ways skin and mindfulness are connected:

Stress breaks down the body. When we are stressed, the body creates more of the stress hormone known as cortisol which can trigger an increase in oil production (which can cause acne). A study by @Olay also found that cortisol can severely impact cell turnover, lowering the energy metabolism of your skin cells by up to 40%. Stress also increases inflammation in the body which can increase the chance of rosacea and eczema flare-ups.

A positive attitude is good for the skin. Like exercise, positive emotions trigger neurotransmitters in the brain which are responsible for the release of the feel-good hormone serotonin and endorphins. Both of these chemicals reduce inflammation in the skin and increase blood flow. This will increase radiance.

Want to make an instant change? Take a deep breath and get ready to glow. Whether you're doing a yoga class, meditating in the bath or simply taking a few minutes to focusing on your breath, deep breathing exercises have been shown to calm the mind, lower cortisol levels and increase circulation, all of which can work to improve skin.

Radha Mikkilineni, MD is New York's go-to #dermatologist for those seeking innovative, integrative, holistic and personalized approaches to #skin health and aging.