Nurse in rainbow
How Can Nurses Support LGBTQ People?
August 5, 2021
Shane Gambling w/ Lena Waithe
The L Word: Generation Q Round Up: Season 2, Episode 1
August 9, 2021

How Your Skin Affects Your Mental Health

Woman skincare

The mind and body are linked. A prime example is blushing when you feel embarrassed. Unsurprisingly, a person’s mental health is often responsible for the development of various skin disorders and vice versa.

If you want to develop healthy, glowing, blemish-free skin, you must understand how your mindset can determine your complexion. Continue reading to find out how your skin affects your mental health.

Aging and Self-Esteem

Many women often avoid looking in the mirror, as they might not recognize the older person staring back at them. While your appearance shouldn’t define your confidence, it can shape your self-perception. If you notice fine lines and wrinkles, you might no longer feel happy in your skin, may avoid photographs, or spend little time in front of the mirror. Those wrinkles may have you paying for Botox, or your hyperpigmentation keeps you searching for brightening skin care products. While proper grooming and the right products will do wonders for your complexion, don’t let your complexion detract from your self-image.

Rather than allowing your skin to determine your self-esteem, you could pick up one of the best organic moisturizers to banish signs of aging. The right product could hydrate your skin, repair damage, and reduce wrinkles and fine lines, which could restore your confidence.

Stress and Eczema

Different factors can trigger an eczema flare-up, such as overly dry skin, cold weather conditions, hormonal changes and allergic reactions. However, it is widely believed that stress can cause or exacerbate the skin disorder. For example, school worries, exam stress, professional pressure or relationship problems can lead to an eczema flare-up.

Anyone living with the issue will also know it can lead to much discomfort, shame and embarrassment, which can take its toll on a person’s mental health. According to a 2016 study by the National Eczema Association, 50% of respondents stated they experienced mental health issues due to eczema, such as depression and anxiety.

For this reason, people living with eczema must look for ways to counteract potential triggers, such as moisturizing during cold weather conditions and avoiding allergens. Also, it is crucial to eliminate or reduce sources of stress to prevent an unwanted flare-up that can affect a person’s physical and mental health.

Rosacea and Emotional Distress

According to a 2014 study by the National Rosacea Society, rosacea can cause various forms of emotional distress among people living with the facial redness condition. 90% of the 1,675 people with rosacea surveyed stated the disorder lowered their confidence and self-esteem. What’s more, 54% reported it causes them anxiety and feelings of helplessness, and more than 50% admitted it forces them to avoid face-to-face interactions.

Unfortunately, people living with a skin condition, such as rosacea or eczema, will struggle with a vicious circle of stress and skin complaints. For example, a person living with rosacea may experience facial redness out of fear of a flare-up in front of others, which can force them to hide away.

It is vital to address the various psychological problems behind a skin disorder, which could improve a skin problem, restore a person’s self-esteem and support their mental health. Also, you must use the right moisturizer, cream, detergent and bathing products to avoid triggering an outbreak.