Stress is a part of life—but the good news is, both you and your skin are incredibly resilient. While moments of stress can lead to dryness, irritation, or breakouts, your skin also has the power to recover and thrive with the right care.
One of the biggest influences on your skin’s well-being is the exposome—a combination of internal and external factors that shape its health over time. Stress plays a major role in this equation, but just as it can leave its mark, the right habits can help restore balance. With a little care and consistency, you can support your skin’s natural ability to glow—no matter what life throws your way.
Let’s take a look at how stress affects your skin and the small, mindful steps you can take to keep it healthy and happy.
What is the skin exposome?
Think about the hundreds of little choices you make each day: what you eat, how much you sleep, or how often you feel stressed. All of these things—both the good and not-so-good—add up to affect your skin.
This concept, known as the exposome, includes everything from your daily habits to external factors such as pollution and sun exposure. Together, these variables play a powerful role in how your skin ages and responds to the world.
One of the most impactful lifestyle factors? Stress. Both temporary and chronic stress can leave its mark on your skin in the form of dryness, impaired barrier function, and more. This makes a holistic skincare approach (one that considers both your lifestyle and environment) the best path to healthy skin in the long run.
How does stress affect your skin?
Your skin often gives your inner thoughts and feelings away. Have you ever experienced a breakout before a big presentation? Or red, itchy bumps while waiting for feedback from a job interview?
When you feel stressed or anxious, your body produces elevated levels of the hormone cortisol. This increase in cortisol can cause skin inflammation, affect your immune system, and dampen the skin’s natural healing processes.
In the short term, this is why you may experience more blemishes, rashes, or itchiness when you’re feeling overwhelmed. As for long-term effects, science suggests that chronic stress can contribute to your skin’s natural aging process.
Fortunately, the opposite is also true. When you’re feeling good, your skin shows it. Levels of the hormone oxytocin increase, while cortisol levels go down—giving you a healthy glow.
Can stress change your skin type?
Not exactly. However, stress can exaggerate your usual skin type, conditions, or concerns. For example, oily skin may go into overdrive and call for extra attention.
Here’s how stress could affect your skin’s unique needs:
- Dry skin may notice more dryness, tightness, or flaking because of a decreased moisture barrier function.
- Sensitive skin might experience more redness or reactivity overall due to increased inflammation.
- If you have oily skin, with a tendency to experience breakouts, science shows that stress may play a role in increasing the appearance of blemishes.
- Symptoms of existing skin conditions, such as psoriasis or eczema, may worsen under stress.
While experts have contributed to and fact-checked this article, your dermatologist knows your skin best. Check-in with them if you feel any notable discomfort.
How to manage the signs of stress on your skin
Skincare is a powerful tool, but managing stress goes beyond just a serum or moisturizer. Your skin thrives when you balance mindful habits with effective products. Taking time to disconnect, getting the vitamins and minerals you need, and moving your body can benefit both your mind and your skin.
Here are a few simple yet effective ways to combine self-care with targeted skincare:
1. Turn cleansing into a ritual
The first step in any skincare routine, washing your face regularly helps support the natural skin processes that keep it clean and healthy. One example? Cleansing helps support the skin’s natural barrier function. This essential barrier protects against outside aggressors that can damage the skin. Find solace in rinsing away the effects of external stressors, no matter how you’re feeling.
Cleansing your face morning and night can do more than just eliminate dirt and toxins. It can also serve as a mindful ritual: both your chance at a fresh start and an opportunity to wash the day’s stress away.
2. Brighten your (out)look
Remember, the exposome factors are all intertwined — interacting and even enhancing each other. And many times, stress and a lack of sleep go hand in hand. Both can make puffiness and dark circles under the eyes all the more apparent.
Reach for an under-eye cream featuring restorative ingredients. First on the list? Vitamin K oxide. This super-ingredient targets dark circles, helping to brighten the skin. Melatonin also works to combat the effects of daily skin stressors and, depending on the formula, revitalize the eye area.
Every moment is a chance to hit reset. Opt for an eye cream formula with a cooling applicator or keep under eye patches in the fridge to refresh your skin—and your outlook.
3. Renew and recover overnight
Now’s the time to let your skincare products do the heavy lifting. Turn to nighttime formulas featuring brightening and renewing ingredients such as antioxidants or bakuchiol to help repair skin.
As stress can also affect your skin’s protective moisture barrier, hydration is especially important for all skin types—even oily skin, where overall moisture loss can increase oil production. One solution? Opt for an all-in-one recovery serum to moisturize, repair, and brighten overnight.
Carve out a quick self-care moment by turning your evening skincare routine into a calming regimen.
You’ve got this
Your skin is perfect just as it is. If you’re feeling more stressed than usual, avoid putting extra pressure on yourself by honing in on every blemish or crease.
Remember, the best skincare routine is one that meets you where you’re at. And sometimes loving your skin means scaling back on steps (as long as you stick with sunscreen). Focus on yourself, try to get enough rest, and everything else will fall into place.
Sources and references
Chen, Y. Lyga, J. Brain-Skin Connection: Stress, Inflammation and Skin Aging, Inflammation & Allergy Drug Targets. 2014 Jun; 13(3): 177-190.
Oyetakin-White, P. et al. Does poor quality sleep affect skin ageing? Clinical and Experimental Dermatology. 2015 Jan;40(1):17-22.
Cho, S.Y. et al. Oxytocin alleviates cellular senescence through oxytocin receptor-mediated extracellular signal-regulated kinase/Nrf2 signalling. British Journal of Dermatology. 2019 Dec; Vol. 181, Issue 6:1216-1225.
Magon, N, Kalra, S. The orgasmic history of oxytocin: Love, lust, and labor. Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism. 2011 Sep; 15(Suppl3): S156-S161.