When your body is stressed, your stress hormone levels rise and can cause some major changes in your skin. This can trigger excessive sebum (oil) production, acne flare-ups, and the aggravation of psoriasis, rosacea and other skin conditions.
Here are some helpful tips to deal with stress:
Plan ahead or step back and create a plan for stressful situations – If you know you are heading into a stressful situation or stressful time, be sure to create a mental or written plan on how to deal with it. Make a list, a timeline – whatever helps. If you are presented with a situation that you did not see coming, take a step back from the situation to think about it, and strategize so you don’t get overwhelmed.
Take it easy – Don’t take on too much, and don’t try to be perfect in all situations. Doing this takes a toll on your mind and body. Don’t overwhelm yourself and become over-scheduled or over-involved. Only take part in activities that you can handle in regards to your mind, body, and your time.
Get enough sleep – There’s no “normal” number of hours to sleep, but for adults it can range anywhere from 6-9 hours. What’s important is that you are getting a good night of sleep. To prevent tossing and turning, it’s best to try to clear your mind (especially from the stressful situations that are most likely keeping you awake). Try listening to relaxing music and sounds, fall asleep to the television or reading a book – whatever works for you.
Meditation – Yoga and meditation have been found to relieve stress and calm your mind and body. It’s a healthy form of exercise and stress relief, and during the process, it allows your mind to relax.
Baths and Treatments – Take some time to soak in a bath, get a facial or massage, and treat yourself! Here are some great Dermalogica products to treat your body:
Stress Relief Treatment Oil: An aromatic body treatment oil ideal for massage, bath therapy and deluxe skin conditioning. Completely water-soluble, this soothing blend combines advanced Organic Silicones for skin smoothing with calming essential oils of Sandalwood, Lavender, Orange and Clary Sage. Naturally-purifying extracts of Tea Tree, Lemon and Ylang-Ylang help to counteract the negative mental effects of stress for the ultimate in relaxation.
Ultra-Rich Body Cream: An ultra-rich, long-lasting body cream to help heal and relieve extra dry skin. This unique liquefying formula is also ideal for all-over, deeply-moisturizing body massages. Fortified with Dermalogica’s Environmental Protection Complex of Glycolipids and Vitamin E to help restore and enhance the barrier function of skin, reducing moisture loss while combating free radical damage. Hyaluronic Acid and Evening Primrose Oil, a concentrated source of skin-smoothing Linoleic Acid, quenches and reconditions thirsty skin while Panthenol aids in cellular repair.
Hydro-Active Mineral Salts: A dual-purpose, Sea Salt body therapy that provides all-over skin polishing or a deeply relaxing bath soak. The advanced complex of mineral-rich Sea Salts, natural Kelp, aromatic essential oils, spices and skin-smoothing enzymes gently exfoliates the entire body, leaving it ultra-smooth. Soothing essential oils of Sandalwood, Lavender, Orange and Clary Sage, balanced with purifying oils of Lemon, and Tea Tree, help deliver soft, silky, revitalized skin. The warming and fragrant spices of Coriander, Cinnamon and Ginger relax the body and uplift the senses for a soothing, stress-reducing muscle soak. (This comes in travel-size too!)