April is Stress Awareness Month, and we here at Old Bridge Dermatology know how much stress can affect your overall body health, including the health of your skin. With all of the things we do every day: getting the kids to school, remembering every task at work, juggling the bank account, and so on and so on, stress is an inevitable part of life (maybe even reading this sentence caused your heart to palpitate). Stress manifests in our bodies in interesting ways, and it can definitely take a toll on our skin.

How does stress affect skin?

Stress can lead to or cause the following skin issues:

• Canker sores or cold sore flare-ups
• Advanced hair shedding or hair loss
• Hives or rashes popping up
• Decrease in skin moisture leading to dry, itchy skin
• More wrinkles from damaged skin cells
• Flare-ups of acne, eczema, psoriasis, or other pre-existing conditions due to heightened cortisol levels
• Scarring if stress causes you to pick, pull, or scratch your skin

Can I prevent stress-related skin conditions?

A huge part of preventing these conditions is taking care of yourself. Get a great night’s sleep, keep your skin hydrated by drinking lots of water, eat nutritious balanced meals, exercise regularly, and take time to do things you enjoy. Taking up stress-relieving hobbies or participating in a new sport can go a long way in improving your mental health. Activities like meditation, yoga, or mindfulness can also help alleviate or mitigate some stress too. Taking steps to tone down the pressure in your life can go a long way in clearing up some of the stress-related skin conditions.

If you are dealing with any of the stress-related issues we mentioned above, or any other persistent skin issues, give us a call today! Our board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Juan Vaillant, here at Old Bridge Dermatology, has decades of experience specializing in clinical and anatomic pathology that will lead you to happy, healthy skin. Dr. Vaillant commonly treats conditions such as age spots, acne, dandruff, hair loss, psoriasis, and nail fungus. Contact our Old Bridge, NJ office at (732) 679-0222 for an appointment today!