Effects of stress and anxiety on skin health

• Dry skin leads to the uncontrollable urge to scratch , which in turn affects bacterial infections. ISTOCK

Stress and anxiety, whatever their cause, can manifest themselves both in our skin and in our hair and nails, may aggravate pre-existing dermatoses. From alopecia areata (localized hair loss), to massive hair loss, mostly due to an alteration of the immune system.

Nutritional deficiencies or deficits, lack of sleep, hormonal changes, pregnancy, lactation, menopause, sedentary lifestyle among other conditions, raise the level of cortisol, known as the “stress hormone”, translating in some cases in skin dryness, which leads to the uncontrollable urge to scratch, which in turn affects bacterial infections and/or reactivation of viral infections such as herpes simplex.

In the opinion of Dr. Sheila Féliz Abreu, from Hospiten Bávaro, the impact that mood disorders have on the skin is surprising “alopecic or hairless rounded patches, flaking or dandruff adherent to  beard level in men, it can be a sign of forced labor, lack of sleep but also the expression of underlying diseases.”

“Other diseases triggered by stress such as hives or sudden welts, eczema, lichen planus, psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis or that excessive dandruff that we see that sometimes transcends the scalp and can pass to the patients. The eyelids, to the furrows of the nose, indicate when the patient is surpassing its limits”, points out Féliz Abreu.

It also explains that more severe forms can affect the chest and external genitalia with marked erythema and scaling. Affections in elbows, knees that turn whitish, scaly and adherent and can bleed when removed, guide us to the diagnosis of psoriasis in its different variants, such as “reverse or inverted affecting submammary folds, axillary inguinal, which many confuse with mycosis and they self-medicate without favorable results, postponing timely diagnosis “and vitiligo, which is that autoimmune disease that depigments the skin”.          

“Increasingly, patients come to our practice seeking to treat the spots and scars caused by acne, this generates anxiety, fear, embarrassment, aggravated by makeup, sweating with excessive use of masks, this more in adolescents, even in open spaces for fear of being seen or judged for the quality of their skin, magnified by the false ideals that are shown on social networks due to the use of filters & rdquo ;, expresses the specialist. 

IMPORTANCE OF PREVENTION

Féliz Abreu clarifies: “I am not saying that it is only about stress, The importance of an adequate timely investigation to know what is the background that determines these conditions”.

Indicates that the dermatological check-up is so important because it can “rule out other pathologies yes There are, like mites, for example, that can cause itching.”

The clinical history and the thorough physical examination allow to establish the opportune diagnosis, together with the laboratory studies and skin biopsy if necessary, all of this together are the adequate tools for an effective treatment.

In this sense, the specialist assures that even if you have healthy skin, the most convenient and recommended thing is to go to the dermatologist at least twice a year, but if changes or abnormal growth occur For moles, it is very important that you attend in advance.

A good diet and balanced supplementation with fruits, vegetables, proteins, especially an adequate intake of water (a minimum two liters a day, in a tropical climate), physical exercise, sun exposure before nine in the morning or around five in the afternoon for 15 to 20 minutes, has a rapid impact on the well-being of the skin.