Don't let stress get under your skin

Delve into the complex relationship between mind and skin health and how it can have various implications on your overall well-being

- VAISHALI DAR

WE ALL GO through stress, whether it stems from our jobs, relationships or dayto-day activities. We also know how it can put us at an increasing risk for a range of health problems including high blood pressure, heart diseases, diabetes, obesity and depression or anxiety. Failing to manage stress can also wreak havoc on our skin. Yes, you heard that right.

Stress can give you acne, dermatitis, hair loss and what not. It can even exacerbate a pre-existing condition or make it worse. "Our mind makes a strong impact on the skin. With hypertension, it can make existing skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, rosacea and seborrheic dermatitis worse. Hair loss is common with high stress levels. So, it's not just about how our skin looks, but what we feel inside can affect it too," says dermatologist Dr Meghna Gupta, who is also the founder and medical director at Delhi Skin Centre.

Simply put, skin plays an important barrier in immune functions, maintaining homeostasis (a self-regulating process by which an organism can maintain internal stability) between external environment and internal tissues.

Known as the science of skin and mind, psycho-dermatology addresses the interaction between mind and skin. It studies how the physical, mental and emotional well being are linked to each other, so the skin condition highlights skin disorders that affect mental health, or how mental health can affect skin.

As per Dr Saurabh Mehrotra, associate director, neurology and neurosciences, Medanta, Gurugram, stress can be one reason for flare-ups of acne but skin conditions can in turn lead to psychological disorders such as anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, low self-esteem and confidence.

"Skin and mind are affected by the same group of cells, hormones and neurotransmitters," says Mehrotra.