Isn’t it absurd to think about how recent our understanding of the harms of stress really is? As a society, we’ve only been studying its effects for the last century, with widespread research tracking its impact for only half that time. But what's even more overlooked are the implications of stress on skin health.
While doctors have recognized a connection for centuries, the formal field of psychodermatology, the study of the mind-to-skin connection, has only truly emerged over the last 25 years. Trying to understand exactly how stress affects your skin and manifests physically on your body has come with some pretty bold claims.
Like how certain skincare formulations or ingredients can simply nullify the effects of your stress… Sounds appealing, doesn’t it? Imagine a moisturizer that doubles as a mood stabilizer? It’s almost too good to be true (if you catch our tone), but before we put on our cynic hat, let’s dig into the science and actually consider the evidence.
Psychodermatology 101: The Evolution of Our Stress Response
When our bodies experience stress, they wisely redirect our internal resources away from non-essential functions. What this means is that anything that isn’t going to actively help us address the stressful situation is switched “offline.” This is the result of centuries of evolution that have created an adaptive response and improved our chances of survival. Yay!
Think of it this way: If you’re faced with the threat of a bear in the woods, the last thing you need to be worried about is a fortified skin barrier. In order to flee (or fight, if you’re really brave), you need your respiratory, circulatory, and nervous systems on high alert. So our resources go towards those imperative systems and away from the others.
Now, what we’re learning in a modern world where we’re faced with fewer physical threats in our day-to-day is that our stress response gets triggered by more (seemingly) mundane experiences. Running late for a meeting, a difficult conversation with a loved one, completing a blog post before the deadline…
This chronic stress can be detrimental to our health. Historically, after successfully getting away from (or knocking out) said bear, we would experience relief, and our so-called "non-essential" functions would switch back on. Today, the effects of modern stress just tend to linger.
How Does Stress Actually Impact the Skin?
So, what does all of this have to do with your skin? Well, one of the non-essential functions that gets impacted during stress is the immune system (gasp). This happens through the release of stress hormones, or what we like to call body messengers.
Cortisol, specifically, is a stress hormone responsible for redirecting your body’s energy. Part of how it does this is by taking energy away from your immune system’s defence. For the skin, this means a heightened inflammatory response (i.e., redness and swelling), delayed healing, and weakened barrier function.
Have you ever gotten hives before a big presentation or found that your skin’s been looking duller since you got back with your ex? That’s your stress response, bestie.
The Bold Claims Made by Neurocosmetics
Neurocosmetics is our society’s cosmetological attempt to address the ‘stressed-out skin’ problem. The main idea of neurocosmetics is that certain ingredients in skincare can reduce our stress response and promote healthy, radiant skin.
The boldest of the neurocosmetic claims is that certain formulations can actually reduce the presence of stress hormones on the skin. For example, they imply that applying select plant extracts to the skin can make cortisol disappear.
If this claim were really true, then these skincare products would need to be tested more intensely and would likely even require a prescription. The very category of “cosmetics” means that the product only goes skin deep. It cannot alter your body’s chemistry or stop the release of hormones. That’s what “pharmaceuticals” are for.
This doesn’t mean that skincare can’t impact your nervous system. It just means that it doesn’t do so by stopping hormones in their tracks. Topical skincare ingredients can, however, interact with receptors related to touch, like pain and itchiness.
That means skincare that claims to soothe your pain response or reduce inflammation is legit. That’s why our Soothe is so fantastic. It is a high-quality, science-backed neurobalm formulated to target the pain receptor called TRPV1 and stop it in its tracks.
The Evidence-Backed Benefits of Skincare on the Psyche
It’s not always the ingredients that lead to an effect, though. Skincare also impacts mental health by virtue of the routine itself.
- The Five Senses: Think of the sensory nature of a morning and night routine. Products might include certain fragrances that energize or relax and textures that feel plush and soft to the touch. We often take time to massage our faces during this process, which can promote stress relief. Engaging your five senses is a key way to encourage your mental health for a more pleasant experience, and skincare routines can help with that.
- Creating Structure: The impact of structure on our mental health has also been studied for years, and the general conclusion is that it’s actually good for you. A skincare routine that you perform regularly can set you up for success throughout your day, after all. Stress occurs when we experience uncertainty, so being consistent with healthy habits can go a long way in helping you feel more in control.
The Verdict: Can Skincare Lower Cortisol?
Yes, in a way, skincare can lower our cortisol. But not because it contains magic formulations, or there's a one-and-done potion that makes stress disappear. It’s a holistic therapy where the very act of taking care of ourselves helps to reduce the pressure of performance in our daily lives.