Stress has debilitating effect on skin: Expert

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 5

Skin is considered to be a mirror of our inner selves. If a person is happy, the skin glows constantly and a few days of stress would not have any effect, but if a person is constantly under tension than skin becomes dull and pale.

“Stress in any form is an inherent aspect of our life. Day-to-day tension such as increased workload at home or workplace will have more debilitating effect on health. Most of the times, we are able to cope with major setbacks pretty well, but minor issues take a toll on the body and soul,” Dr Jastinder Kaur Gill, senior dermatologist and cosmetologist, SPS Hospitals.

Dr Gill said, “Stress affects our emotional status, immunity and nervous system, leading to disturbed sleep. A single sleepless or disturbed night will make skin dull, dry and lifeless. It affects each one of us, but may show more on certain people’s face than others.”

Skin diseases ranging from acne, allergies, hair loss, psoriasis and eczema, among others may get aggravated due to undue stress.

“You get into a vicious cycle of disease and stress. The onset of any skin problem, leads to a psychological stress and in return this very stress leads to flare up of skin problem. Tension not only aggravates the disease, but it also makes treatment ineffective and slow. I have observed many a times that a happy go lucky person responds better to treatment in comparison to a person who worries a lot,” said Dr Gill.

“I always advise my patients to inculcate a habit of deep breathing and make yoga a part of their life. Happy person spreads positivity in the society,” she said.