I know that stress over time affects the appearance of the skin, face, and body since the skin-mind link is a topic I want to discuss in detail here. Extensive studies have demonstrated the connection between long-term stress and elevated inflammatory responses, degraded collagen, damage to the epidermis, and an increase in aging symptoms including wrinkles and dark spots (1).
A recent study, however, discovered that this effect isn’t only gradual—during stressful situations, even younger people also appear and feel older than they are (2).
Studies reveal that regular stress, as opposed to only chronic stress, affects looks
This specific study is particularly noteworthy because it focuses on how everyday stress impacts someone’s appearance in the moment rather than how chronic, lifetime stress affects the skin, face, or body over time—as we all know it does. Furthermore, this also applied to young adults.
Young persons between the ages of 18 and 36 provided data for the study with the median age being 20. The respondents filled out a survey every day for eight days. Their perceptions of control, stress levels, and age were all gauged by this poll.
They discovered that people reported feeling and looking older than their actual age when they were under more stress.
These findings are significant because we know that chronic stress can have negative consequences over time, and people generally report increased levels of stress as they transition from young adulthood to midlife in their 40s and 50s.
It is going to be critical that we closely monitor the markers we use to evaluate the physical and mental health of this generation in relation to stress, particularly if these young people are already experiencing historically high levels of stress for their age and that stress is impacting how old they feel.
It’s important to note that each person’s stress threshold and control beliefs were unique. For instance, even if a person reported having a more difficult day than usual, they would still experience “increased stress” and feel the consequences of that stress. In other words, if the participants felt stressed, they might experience the consequences of stress without having to cross a predetermined “stress level threshold”.
The researchers also discovered that a lack of control led to the appearance of aging. But now is where the intriguing part really begins. The impact of stress may be counteracted by increased perceptions of control.
![How Daily Stress Really Ages You](https://i0.wp.com/jasminefeliciano.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/How-Daily-Stress-Really-Ages-You-pin.png?resize=683%2C1024&quality=80&ssl=1)
According to the findings, you can deal with this by feeling in charge
In addition, the researchers discovered that controlling sentiments reduced the aging effects of everyday stressors “to the point of being nonsignificant.”
In other words, individuals did not express feeling or looking older when they felt more stressed but also more in control. Instead, the survey replies regarding their experiences stayed largely impartial.
These results imply that stress may not have as noticeable an aging effect when people believe they can manage difficult conditions. Choose mindfulness exercises that give you a sense of control if you want to appear and feel younger, even under pressure.
Taking care of your skin when you’re stressed and as you age
There are several things you can do to assist your skin as you age, aside from developing routines that give you a sense of control over your stress and emotions.
In fact, studies indicate that maintaining a regular skin care regimen can enhance one’s sense of empowerment, self-worth, and general quality of life (3). Therefore, one approach to possibly feel more in control is to just take care of your skin.
Here are some essential skin care guidelines that are simple to adhere to, even on the busiest of days:
Make use of a mild cleanser that protects your skin’s barrier.
Going outdoors? Wear SPF every day to prevent UV rays.
After that, use an advanced serum to meet the requirements of your skin: Green tea can reduce inflammation, hyaluronic acid can increase hydration, retinol can minimize fine wrinkles, vitamin C can brighten and firm, and niacinamide can reduce dark spots.
Always use a barrier-supporting cream or lotion to help lessen generalized inflammation in the body and skin.
To Wrap Things Up
Previous studies have shown that stress can have a negative impact on our look, causing wrinkles and firmness loss. Nonetheless, chronic stress and its long-term effects have been the focus of most of the study on this subject.
This study demonstrates how everyday stress can also give the look of aging. Nevertheless, controlling feelings counteract this effect, which is why it’s critical to discover mindfulness techniques that give you a sense of control over stressful circumstances.
Sources |
- Brain-Skin Connection: Stress, Inflammation and Skin Aging – PMC (nih.gov)
- The effect of control beliefs on the relationship between daily stressors and subjective age in younger adults – Lee – Mental Health Science – Wiley Online Library
- Cosmetics | Free Full-Text | The Impact of Routine Skin Care on the Quality of Life (mdpi.com)
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