Did you know stress can significantly impact skin health, exacerbating conditions like psoriasis, rosacea, and acne? Not only this, it can also trigger hives, rashes, and fever blisters. To keep your stress levels in check and promote your skin health, yoga can be an ideal option. On this International Yoga Day, we reached out to Himalayan Siddhaa Akshar, Founder of Akshar Yoga Kendraa, Author and Columnist, who explained the link between stress and skin problems and how yoga helps to combat them.
Stress and Skin Issues
Stress and skin problems often go hand in hand, as stress can have a significant impact on the health and appearance of our skin. “When we experience stress, our bodies release hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, which can disrupt the delicate balance of our skin's natural processes. This can lead to a variety of skin issues, including acne, eczema, psoriasis, and premature ageing,” said Akshar.
How Does Stress Impact Skin Health?
Stress Causes Inflammation
One of the primary ways stress affects our skin is through inflammation. Akshar added, “Chronic stress can cause an overproduction of inflammatory compounds, leading to redness, swelling, and irritation. This inflammation can exacerbate existing skin conditions or trigger new ones, such as acne breakouts or flare-ups of eczema or psoriasis.”
Also Read: Mental Health Matters: Experts Explain How to Identify Behavioural Red Flags of Stress
Stress Dehydrates Your Skin
Stress can also disrupt the skin's barrier function, which is essential for maintaining proper hydration and protecting against environmental stressors. When this barrier is compromised, it can lead to dryness, flakiness, and increased sensitivity to irritants.
Stress Affects Complexion
Akshar added, “Furthermore, stress can impact the skin's ability to repair itself and regenerate new cells. This can result in a dull, uneven complexion and accelerate the visible signs of ageing, such as fine lines and wrinkles.”
How Does Yoga Help In Promoting Skin Health?
“Fortunately, yoga can be an effective tool in managing stress and promoting overall skin health. The practice of yoga combines physical postures (asanas), breathing exercises (pranayama), and meditation, all of which can help reduce stress levels and promote relaxation,” highlighted Akshar.
According to the International Journal of Yoga, the practice of yoga induces a physiological state that counteracts the fight-or-flight stress response. This interruption in the stress response fosters a sense of balance and unity between the mind and body.
Physical Poses
The physical postures in yoga can help improve circulation and lymphatic drainage, which can aid in the removal of toxins and promote a radiant complexion, said Akshar. Also, certain yoga poses are known to stimulate the endocrine system, helping to regulate hormone levels and reduce the production of stress hormones like cortisol.
Also Read: Yoga To Combat Burnout: Here Are 6 Yoga Poses That Can Help
Breathing and Meditation
“The breathing exercises and meditation practices in yoga can also play a crucial role in reducing stress and promoting skin health. Deep breathing exercises can help lower blood pressure, heart rate, and cortisol levels, while meditation can calm the mind and promote a sense of inner peace and tranquillity,” added Akshar.
He added, “By incorporating yoga into your daily routine, you can not only manage stress more effectively but also promote overall skin health. The combination of physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation can help reduce inflammation, improve circulation, and regulate hormone levels, all of which can contribute to a clearer, more radiant complexion.”
Bottomline
Akshar concluded, “The link between stress and skin problems is undeniable, but the practice of yoga can be a powerful tool in mitigating the negative effects of stress on our skin. By reducing stress levels and promoting relaxation, yoga can help restore balance and promote overall skin health, leaving you with a glowing, radiant complexion.”
[Disclaimer: This article contains information provided by an expert and is for informational purposes only. Hence, we advise you to consult your own expert before starting any exercise regime, especially if you are dealing with any injury or health issues to avoid complications.]