happy you = happy skin! – eShe

By Hansa Makhijani Jain

A host of physical problems due to the overwhelming nature and daily hassles of modern life are cropping up. This stress manifests itself in several ways – from major lifestyle diseases linked to chronic stress to visible effects on your skin, hair and nails.

That is why, when you are happy, you appear to ‘glow’ and when you are sad and tired, you look ‘dull’. This is not surprising, considering the skin is the largest organ in the body.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, “Our brain and skin are intimately linked, and they communicate with each other. This means that when we experience chronic stress from work, relationships or current events, the skin is both a target and a source of stress hormones, which can make the skin more vulnerable to itch, inflammation, irritation and infection,” says dermatologist Keira Barr MD, FAAD.

Stress can trick your glands into producing more oil, wreaking havoc on acne-prone skin. It can also hold up wound healing, and worsen pre-existing skin issues like eczema and psoriasis.

It can also hamper your ‘forever young’ game plan in a major way. Stress hormones play a crucial role in breaking down collagen and elastin – the materials holding up the very fabric and integrity of our skin. This can make our nails brittle and cause hair fall and hair thinning as well.

Now more than ever, it is important to practise stress management techniques such as yoga and meditation. But some offer faster help than others. Let’s say you had a long day with soul-squeezing traffic to add to it. You’ll need something that works instantly. Here are seven things that immediately take you out of a frazzled state of mind and into one that is slow, calm and all things easy breezy. Remember, happy you = happy skin.

1. Try box breathing

This is the simplest and yet most underutilised calming technique – and it’s free! Simply breathe in for four seconds, hold for four seconds, breathe out for four seconds and hold again for four seconds. This is called box breathing. Repeat at least three times and watch your mental state change. It regulates the nervous system, helping you slow down and focus. Many countries even incorporate this technique in their military training programs so that soldiers can combat stress.

2. Use calming essential oils

Essential oils cause the release of neurochemical substances, which may be soothing, relaxing, excitatory or euphoria-inducing. According to a 2014 study published in American Journal of Nursing, aromatic particles enter the nervous system resulting in nerve relaxation and tranquillity, and relieve nerve centres in the brain. In aromatherapy, lavender is one of the stars of stress-relief, along with chamomile, rose and ylang-ylang. So if you’re feeling frazzled, light a lavender candle or soak in a rose bath.

3. Get in a good workout

It is widely known that exercise releases endorphins – the feel-good hormone that reduces stress and anxiety. According to Harvard Medical School, it also leads to a decrease in cortisol, the infamous stress hormone. Aerobic exercise (swimming, running, brisk walking, cycling, dancing), in particular, is very effective.

4. Spend time in nature

The amygdala, the part of the brain that regulates emotions, such as fear and aggression, benefits greatly from some time in nature. According to a 2022 study published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, walking in nature – green spaces such as a park – decreases amygdala activation. It may have a preventive effect against mental strain.

5. Say hello to calming products

Modern problems require modern solutions. We do live in highly stressful times, but thankfully, fellow humans are working on some ‘genie in a bottle’ products to make stress management hassle-free.

Sereko’s Calming Gel Pen claims to reduce stress hormones by as much as 70 per cent within two hours. BIGME Anti-Anxiety Patches offer transdermal stress relief using Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain and central nervous system.

6. Practise a daily self-care ritual

#SelfcareSunday is not just a trending hashtag, but something we need to adapt as a sacred habit to stay sane. According to a study published in 2021 in the British Medical Journal, those who practised self-care had lower levels of stress and improved quality of life.

So, slap on a face mask and groove to a sick beat, chat away with a buddy, read a good book, chant, sip your chai in your favourite corner of the house, indulge in painting or pottery or any other hobby that brings you joy. Yes, it’s that simple! 

7. Keep a thing of beauty handy

Poet John Keats was really on to something when he wrote, “A thing of beauty is a joy forever.” When we look at beautiful things, even for a little while, it can transport us to a place of happiness, peace and calm. Several psychological studies suggest that exposure to beauty reduces stress and improves mood. Keep something gorgeous around at all times so that you can just look at your thing of beauty for a bit and snap out of stress.  

eShe’s beauty editor Hansa Makhijani Jain may as well have been born with a lipstick in her hand. She’s been writing about the beauty biz for almost two decades. Follow her on Instagram.