Bad mood makes you ugly

Our moods and outlook have the greatest impact on how healthy we are, how we look, and how others perceive us.

The skin is the most noticeable part of our body that could be impacted by psychological factors.   That is why for me the adage that “Laughter is the best medicine” essentially has some rationality.  Research shows that our emotions can have positive and negative consequences on our bodies and definitely affects the appearance of our skin.  Unlike hypertension, diabetes or other health problems, skin problems are usually obvious to onlookers. Plus, patients may have psychological reactions that seem out of proportion to their actual skin conditions.  So this fact really makes stress a crucial factor to consider in treating dermatological patients.

Because depression and anxiety cannot be seen, they are often not treated the same way as physical illnesses and are often frowned upon by society.  However, mental disorders present a huge challenge for the health care system because mental illnesses seem to heighten physical diseases as well.  Come to think of it, our lives really depend on how our brain works. Meaning our moods and outlook have the greatest impact on how healthy we are, how we look, and how others perceive us.  So here in this article find out how your feelings leave their mark on one’s skin and how they affect your body as well.

Stress, anger depression, embarrassment and fear are some of the fundamental emotions that we go through every day and each of these moods adversely affects our skin.  Damage actually depends upon the longevity of one’s emotional, mental and even physical stress.  Long-lasting mood swings have a much longer lasting but mostly reversible effects on our skin thanks to technology.  Similarly, good and happy mood has some positive beauty benefits on one’s skin.

Anger and worry affects our facial muscles, decelerates skin’s healing, hastens wrinkling and produces dark spots.  The skin is affected by the release of hormones in the human body. The consequence of strain on the skin commences with adrenaline (stress hormone). The stressful situation re-directs the blood supply away from skin, and less blood supply results in less supply of oxygen to the skin. As the skin does not get the required supply of nourishment, it turns pale and dull. The dull skin tone, hence loses on its elasticity and moisture.

The persistent stress at home or in the workplace shows signs of skin breaking down as it stops producing regenerating cells. This causes longer time for fresh cells to reach the skin’s exterior. Stressed skin has a very low lipid (protective) barrier, so fluids evaporate more easily. In addition, cortisol also reduces the skin’s ability to retain water, leading to excessive dryness. The epidermal skin cells are packed tightly together, forming a strong barrier that blocks the entry of bacteria and other toxins. When you are under stress, this protective layer becomes less effective, allowing harmful bacteria to reach the deeper layers of skin, which makes it easier for infection to set in. Stress decreases skin’s self-repairing abilities, while also releasing histamines (which create allergic reactions) into the bloodstream.  Allergies result to inflammation, which is manifested by redness and itching and eventually pigmentation.  People who hold in their anger and worry often suffer from rashes, hives, atopy, dyshidrosis, prurigo, lichen simplex chronicus, acne, pigmentation problems and even skin cancers.

Anxiety and depression on the other hand produces higher levels of cortisol in the bloodstream, which leads to premature hair loss, skin pigmentation and hormone changes that can result in weight gain and severe acne. 

Sadness is another by-product of depression.  Repeated frowning and furrowing of eyebrows due to depression can deepen the wrinkle lines on one’s face.  Prolonged depression is disastrous for skin as it triggers hormones that can affect sleep patterns, thus leading to puffy eyes and dull complexion. During times of crisis, our body redirects the flow of blood to areas that are vital for reacting to stress – such as lungs and heart. This leaves skin without essential blood and oxygen. The result? Increased production of free radicals and tissue-damaging oxidants, which speed up wrinkles, lines and other signs of premature ageing.

We all have experienced severe embarrassment at one point of time or another, and it is something we do not easily forget.  But effects of embarrassment can also easily move from our brains to our skin.  Neuropeptide receptors in our skin receive mixed signals from our brain, causing chronic swollen blood vessels and sleep deprivation.  Blood flow to skeletal muscles is hampered, organic structure of skin cell can weaken and enzyme production rates are also altered, due to embarrassment.  Embarrassment increases acne problems.

So mental, emotional and even physical stress absolutely causes acne breakouts.  Some scientist believe that tension induces acne which is cause by an increase in sebum, an oily matter that is supposed to help protect the skin but easily mixes with dead cells and bacteria to clog hair follicles and create pimples. It is a nasty cycle:  Stress brings on a pimple that won’t go away because you’re stressed and that stresses you out.  Stress also interrupts one’s body’s production of new collagen, a group of supportive structural proteins located throughout one’s body.  Without new collagen, your skin can become thinner and weaker.  What’s more, being in a bad mood could cause your skin to become dehydrated.  In addition to looking unsightly and feeling uncomfortable, this can affect cells’ ability to recover after injury.

Researchers found out too that:

• Depression was frequently followed by arthritis and diseases of the digestive system. Stress hurts the digestive system. This means essential nutrients are not digested properly, allowing buildup of impurities. As a result, stressed skin looks dull, lifeless and sallow.

• Anxiety disorders are more common if the person had a history of heart disease.

• A close association was discovered between epileptic disorders and eating disorders.

They also concluded that like depression, anxiety disorders and skin diseases frequently go together. 

But the reverse is also true. Less stress and depression might logically mean less acne, hair loss, skin dryness and fat accumulation.  A bulk of research links good moods to behavioral decisions that translates into beauty benefits.

Improving your mood improves your eating habits. Healthier foods have less sugar and saturated fat, which can make you feel bloated or cause breakouts and oily skin.

Keeping yourself hydrated, well rested, and cheerful can vastly improve the tone of your skin, and even help it stop sagging and wrinkling too early in your life.

The occurrence of depression in association with dermatologic disease is common. Psychiatric disturbance is reported in approximately 30 percent of dermatology patients. Depression can have varied presentations and is more relevant clinically in dermatology patients during critical psychosocial periods of development. Early recognition and treatment of depression associated with skin disorders can lead to improved therapeutic outcomes and may avert disastrous outcomes, including suicide.

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For questions or inquiries please call (0939) 9171352, (0999) 8834802 or 2634094, or email at gc_beltran@yahoo.com.  

So mental, emotional and even physical stress absolutely causes acne breakouts.  Some scientist believe that tension induces acne which is cause by an increase in sebum, an oily matter that is supposed to help protect the skin but easily mixes with dead cells and bacteria to clog hair follicles and create pimples. It is a nasty cycle:  Stress brings on a pimple that won’t go away because you’re stressed and that stresses you out.  Stress also interrupts one’s body’s production of new collagen, a group of supportive structural proteins located throughout one’s body.  Without new collagen, your skin can become thinner and weaker.  What’s more, being in a bad mood could cause your skin to become dehydrated.  In addition to looking unsightly and feeling uncomfortable, this can affect cells’ ability to recover after injury.

Researchers found out too that:

• Depression was frequently followed by arthritis and diseases of the digestive system. Stress hurts the digestive system. This means essential nutrients are not digested properly, allowing buildup of impurities. As a result, stressed skin looks dull, lifeless and sallow.

• Anxiety disorders were more common if the person had a history of heart disease.

• A close association was discovered between epileptic disorders and eating disorders.

They also concluded that like depression, anxiety disorders and skin diseases frequently go together. 

But the reverse is also true. Less stress and depression might logically mean less acne, hair loss, skin dryness and fat accumulation.  A bulk of research links good moods to behavioral decisions that translates into beauty benefits.

Improving your mood improves you’re eating habits. Healthier foods have less sugar and saturated fat, which can make you feel bloated or cause breakouts and oily skin.

Keeping yourself hydrated, well rested, and cheerful can vastly improve the tone of your skin, and even help it stop sagging and wrinkling too early in your life.

The occurrence of depression in association with dermatologic disease is common. Psychiatric disturbance is reported in approximately 30 percent of dermatology patients. Depression can have varied presentations and is more relevant clinically in dermatology patients during critical psychosocial periods of development. Early recognition and treatment of depression associated with skin disorders can lead to improved therapeutic outcomes and may avert disastrous outcomes, including suicide.

* * *

(For questions or inquiries please call (0939) 9171352, (0999) 8834802 or 2634094, or email at gc_beltran@yahoo.com)