We all know that chronic stress can wreak havoc on our health, it can affect our immune system, our sleep, gut health and eventually the health of our skin.
This process begins with one of our primary stress hormones, cortisol and in the case of our skin, its effects on both the microbiome and barrier of the skin.
The skin barrier essentially traps moisture in and keeps allergens, irritants and pollutants out. To stay hydrated and vibrant, the skin relies on a symbiotic balance of oil, moisture and bacteria (the microbiome). Overproduction of cortisol can deplete all of these, whilst simultaneously increasing the production of sebum, when this is in excess we may end up with a few new friends on our face - hello stress pimples.
This is a huge topic and involves many other factors, all of which are caused by chronic stress. We are all about education, and for those interested want to help you understand it all a little deeper, but it all comes back to the same thing - finding small daily habits that bring you back to your centre can affect so much more in your body than you think.