BEAT STRESS TO GET YOUR GLOW

Mental health and conditions such as acne and rosacea are deeply linked, so taking care of your mind could help give you radiant skin

- SOPHIE BARTON

The skin is our biggest organ, and probably the most pampered, too. Research suggests that the average Briton lavishes about £400 a year on skincare products in the hope of looking more radiant.

But did you know that your mental health can also have a profound impact on your complexion? A new buzzword – psychodermatology – is sharpening our focus on the two-way relationship between stress and skin conditions such as acne and rosacea.

Dr Dev Patel, founder of the Perfect Skin Solutions clinic and CellDerma skincare, explains that heightened levels of stress cause our levels of the hormone cortisol to spike, triggering a cascade of bodily reactions.

“Stress causes our nerve endings to release chemical messengers, called cytokines,” he says. “This leads to inflammation, which causes angrier skin, and flare-ups of conditions like acne or psoriasis. Any negative emotions can exacerbate skin problems.”

Just ask This Is Us actress Mandy Moore, who suffers with eczema, a condition affecting 3% of adults. The red, itchy patches made her want to “scratch her face off”.

“Stress is a trigger,” reveals Mandy, 40, who now prioritises sleep and self-care to tackle the problem. “I give myself grace,” she says. “I know that in changing seasons my eczema is going to flare and I’m not going to stress out about it.”