Want Healthy Skin - Avoid Stress

Have you ever wondered why your skin looks so dull despite all the skin care products you are using? Are you oftentimes troubled by the excessive oil (or sebum) produced by your skin? Is dry skin one of your primary problems?

Chances are, all of your skin problems are brought about by stress. While it may be true that different people react differently to stress, when we come down on the physiological level, our bodies respond to it in very much the same way.

Stress produces an upsurge in the production and release of adrenaline in the bloodstream. Adrenaline is the hormone responsible for giving you that extra rush of energy in times of crisis or any stressful condition. It works by speeding up your heartbeat, breathing and metabolic rate so that you may be able to respond quickly to whatever it is that may have put your body in alarm mode.

Stress needs to be balanced accordingly. It is necessary that you practice the appropriate relaxation techniques to counter and minimize its ill effects.

Unfortunately, stress brought about by modern living does not give us that much needed rest. Day in and day out, stress is always there with us every step of the way. Stress might follow us from the time we wake up in the morning until the time we are about to retire for the night. At times, stress even follows us in our sleep!

If this scenario fits you to a T, then you might be suffering from chronic stress. Over stressing your system leaves you feeling anxious, tensed and overwhelmed. This may also eventually bring you to various health complications and may interfere with your quest for that radiant complexion you are longing to have.

Let us look at some of the ways stress affects our skin.

. Stress prompts the production of adrenaline. One of the actions of this hormone is to direct blood away from the skin and send it to the muscles for increased strength to deal with emergency situations. However, when stress persists for prolonged periods of time, there is also an extended release of adrenaline. This eventually gives the skin that pale and sallow look.

. It's the eve of a very important occasion and you broke out in spots! Intense emotions like anger, frustration and excitement stimulate the release of certain hormones and enzymes, which activate the overproduction of sebum. This tends to block the pores of the skin and encourage pimples to appear.

. Muscles tend to stiffen and tense as a reaction to chronic stress. This obstructs the normal blood flow to the skin and hinders the process of removing wastes from underlying tissues.

. Under strenuous situations, even the natural process of skin renewal is hampered.

. Chronic stress increases production of the cortisone hormone. This weakens the body's natural defenses and leaves the skin vulnerable to environmental pollutants.

Now you know why your skin refuses to take on that healthy glow despite the tons of skin care products accumulating ever so faithfully in your homes. You might be wondering whether there is something you can do to counter the effects of chronic stress on your skin. Of course, there are! Here are some tips that may help you.

. Let's go natural! There are a number of natural plant (or herbal) relaxants which help relieve stress. These may come in the form of pills, tinctures, decoctions and infusions. Taken regularly, these herbs may help you deal with everyday stress. Some of the herbs which promote relaxation are lavender, chamomile, St. John's wort, skullcap, vervain and wild oats.

. Most importantly, we need to balance stress with the appropriate relaxation techniques. It does not matter which technique you choose, be it yoga, meditation, relaxation response techniques or tai chi; what is important is that you find relaxation to counter the effects of everyday stress.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com Michael_Russell