MarieClaire
  • News
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Lifestyle
  • Career
  • Bridal
  • Podcasts
  • Beyond Beauty
  • Video
MarieClaire
  • News
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Lifestyle
  • Career
  • Bridal
  • Podcasts
  • Beyond Beauty
  • Video
MAFS' Aleks and Ivan exchange wedding vows
Watch 4:43

MAFS' Aleks and Ivan exchange wedding vows

{headline}

{headline}

Elyse Knowles And Josh Barker Have Welcomed Their First Child

Elyse Knowles And Josh Barker Have Welcomed Their First Child

The Best Tweets And Memes From The 2021 Golden Globes

The Best Tweets And Memes From The 2021 Golden Globes

Kate Middleton Stylishly Mastered Another Zoom-Friendly Look, Stuns In Sleek Green Blazer

Kate Middleton Stylishly Mastered Another Zoom-Friendly Look, Stuns In Sleek Green Blazer

A Historic Win For Female Directors! Here, The Full List Of 2021 Golden Globes Winners

A Historic Win For Female Directors! Here, The Full List Of 2021 Golden Globes Winners

{headline}

{headline}

Rumour Has It, ‘MAFS’ Jake Edwards And ‘The Bachelor’s’ Jess Brody Are An Item, And No, We’re Not Surprised

Rumour Has It, ‘MAFS’ Jake Edwards And ‘The Bachelor’s’ Jess Brody Are An Item, And No, We’re Not Surprised

7 Soothing, Smoothing Eye Serums To Send Puffiness Packing

7 Soothing, Smoothing Eye Serums To Send Puffiness Packing

Meghan Markle Wore A $40 Dress During A FaceTime Call With Prince Harry

Meghan Markle Wore A $40 Dress During A FaceTime Call With Prince Harry

{headline}

{headline}

The Most Awe-Inspiring Beauty Looks From The 2021 Golden Globes

The Most Awe-Inspiring Beauty Looks From The 2021 Golden Globes

Here's Everything Coming To Netflix This March

Here's Everything Coming To Netflix This March

Gwen Stefani & Gavin Rossdale Celebrated Their Son's 7th Birthday With Cute Pics

Gwen Stefani & Gavin Rossdale Celebrated Their Son's 7th Birthday With Cute Pics

‘MAFS’ Russell Apparently Revealed To A Stranger That He And Beth Call It Quits Before The Finale

‘MAFS’ Russell Apparently Revealed To A Stranger That He And Beth Call It Quits Before The Finale

Experts Think They've Solved The Mystery Of A Secret Message Inside Iconic Painting 'The Scream'

Experts Think They've Solved The Mystery Of A Secret Message Inside Iconic Painting 'The Scream'

The Best Red Carpet Looks From The 2021 Golden Globes

The Best Red Carpet Looks From The 2021 Golden Globes

The 2021 Golden Globe Nominations Are A Big Win For Female Directors

The 2021 Golden Globe Nominations Are A Big Win For Female Directors

  1. Home
  2. Beauty

4 Telltale Signs You Have Stressed Skin, According To A Dermatologist

And what you can do about it - by Samantha McMeekin
  • 06 Jan 2021
4 Telltale Signs You Have Stressed Skin, According To A Dermatologist

If one of your goals for 2021 is to stress less, it’s a good one.

Between coping with a new list of anxieties brought on by COVID-19 and the comedown of the holiday season, seeking new methods to help you ease tension and take time for yourself can only be a good thing.

But if you really needed another reason to nix stress and make self-care a priority this year, do it for your skin.

Not only does cortisol AKA the ‘stress hormone’ impact critical functions in the human body (such as metabolism, inflammation and immune function), it can also wreak havoc with your complexion.

We spoke to Dr Annika Smith, Consulting Dermatologist for Elizabeth Arden, to uncover the signs of stressed skin and what you can do about it.

How stressed do you have to be before it starts to affect the skin?

If you’re thinking you must have to be ‘mega-stressed’ before it shows on your face, unfortunately, this isn’t the case. 

“There is no predetermined threshold for the amount of stress needed to affect the skin,” says Dr Smith. "Anything your body perceives as a physiologic stress can produce a cortisol response in the body, influenced by individual susceptibility, genetic and environmental factors.”

To add insult to injury, research demonstrates that skin is also an immediate stress perceiver and target of the “fight or flight” response.

Lifestyle factors that can contribute to stressed skin

It’s not just a rise in cortisol that will contribute to stressed skin either. There are multiple lifestyle factors that “generate free radical production that exceeds the capacity of the antioxidant defence system in the skin," similarly accelerating the signs of stressed skin.

These include sun exposure (UV radiation), smoking, alcohol, poor sleep, poor diet, lack of exercise and external factors such as air pollution; all of which “can contribute to chronic oxidative stress in the skin”.

premiermedspachatt View Profile
View Post on Instagram

Signs your skin is stressed

According to Dr Smith, acute stress can affect the skin barrier function, which can present a whole myriad of issues including:

  1. Contribute to acne formation: by increasing sebaceous gland activity.
  2. Promote immune dysregulation and inflammation in the skin: and in doing so, exacerbate or trigger the onset of inflammatory skin diseases such as eczema and psoriasis.
  3. Accelerate the ageing process: cortisol can result in epidermal thinning and accelerated breakdown of collagen and elastin, key components of the skin extracellular matrix. Further, cortisol can contribute to skin barrier dysfunction and transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
  4. Skin thinning, easy bruising, striae (stretch marks) and impaired wound healing: these are some features of overt cortisol excess in the body, which may be signs of a medical disorder known as Cushing’s syndrome. Cortisol can disrupt insulin and glucose metabolism, which may contribute to weight gain (especially around the face and abdomen).

How to fix stressed skin

Like many things in skincare, prevention is key. There are currently no proven medical treatments that can block or reverse the effect of cortisol on the skin.

“Protect your skin against environmental aggressors such as UV radiation and pollution, with daily use of appropriate sun protection (SPF 50, broad-spectrum),” suggests Dr Smith. “And consider incorporating a topical antioxidant i.e. vitamin C at the start of the day to combat oxidative stress incurred throughout the day.”

p40 sunscreen

P4O SPF50+ Sunscreen Vegan, $29.95 at people4ocean.com

skinceuticals c e ferulic

SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic, $218 at Adore Beauty

If your skin is prone to dryness, she also recommends incorporating hyaluronic acid and products containing ceramides into your routine, “to help with skin barrier support, minimise TEWL and hence assist with skin hydration.”

“To stimulate collagen synthesis and skin repair, a product with topical retinols, peptides or growth factors at night may be beneficial.”

elizabeth arden hyaluronic capsules

Elizabeth Arden Hyaluronic Acid Ceramide Capsules Hydra-Plumping Serum, $79-$150 at Myer

Of course, all of the above must be paired with a healthy lifestyle to truly benefit. “Ultimately getting the basics right are key; eating a good diet, regular exercise, good sleep, social connection and doing things that bring you joy,” confirms Dr Smith.

“It is remarkable seeing the difference in a patient’s skin when a key stressor in their life disappears.” 

  • Beauty
  • Skin Care
  • Stress

6 issues for $35 -

Subscribe to marie claire

Subscribe Now
6 issues for $35

6 issues for $35 -

Subscribe to marie claire

Subscribe Now
6 issues for $35

Recommended to you

MAFS' Aleks and Ivan exchange wedding vows
Watch 4:43

MAFS' Aleks and Ivan exchange wedding vows

{headline}

{headline}

Elyse Knowles And Josh Barker Have Welcomed Their First Child

Elyse Knowles And Josh Barker Have Welcomed Their First Child

The Best Tweets And Memes From The 2021 Golden Globes

The Best Tweets And Memes From The 2021 Golden Globes

Kate Middleton Stylishly Mastered Another Zoom-Friendly Look, Stuns In Sleek Green Blazer

Kate Middleton Stylishly Mastered Another Zoom-Friendly Look, Stuns In Sleek Green Blazer

A Historic Win For Female Directors! Here, The Full List Of 2021 Golden Globes Winners

A Historic Win For Female Directors! Here, The Full List Of 2021 Golden Globes Winners

{headline}

{headline}

Rumour Has It, ‘MAFS’ Jake Edwards And ‘The Bachelor’s’ Jess Brody Are An Item, And No, We’re Not Surprised

Rumour Has It, ‘MAFS’ Jake Edwards And ‘The Bachelor’s’ Jess Brody Are An Item, And No, We’re Not Surprised

7 Soothing, Smoothing Eye Serums To Send Puffiness Packing

7 Soothing, Smoothing Eye Serums To Send Puffiness Packing

Meghan Markle Wore A $40 Dress During A FaceTime Call With Prince Harry

Meghan Markle Wore A $40 Dress During A FaceTime Call With Prince Harry

{headline}

{headline}

The Most Awe-Inspiring Beauty Looks From The 2021 Golden Globes

The Most Awe-Inspiring Beauty Looks From The 2021 Golden Globes

Here's Everything Coming To Netflix This March

Here's Everything Coming To Netflix This March

Gwen Stefani & Gavin Rossdale Celebrated Their Son's 7th Birthday With Cute Pics

Gwen Stefani & Gavin Rossdale Celebrated Their Son's 7th Birthday With Cute Pics

‘MAFS’ Russell Apparently Revealed To A Stranger That He And Beth Call It Quits Before The Finale

‘MAFS’ Russell Apparently Revealed To A Stranger That He And Beth Call It Quits Before The Finale

Experts Think They've Solved The Mystery Of A Secret Message Inside Iconic Painting 'The Scream'

Experts Think They've Solved The Mystery Of A Secret Message Inside Iconic Painting 'The Scream'

The Best Red Carpet Looks From The 2021 Golden Globes

The Best Red Carpet Looks From The 2021 Golden Globes

The 2021 Golden Globe Nominations Are A Big Win For Female Directors

The 2021 Golden Globe Nominations Are A Big Win For Female Directors

MarieClaire
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • Beauty Crew
  • Home Beautiful
  • Who

Our Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • New Idea food
  • New Idea
  • Girlfriend
  • That’s Life
  • Practical Parenting
  • All Recipes
  • Perth Now
  • The West Australian
  • 7Plus
  • Airtasker
  • 7NEWS
  • SocietyOne
  • Health Engine
  • Starts at 60
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from Marie Claire

Magazine Subscription Offer

6 issues for $35 -

Shop This Offer
6 issues for $35