The Brain-Skin Connection: How Stress Can Show Up on Your Skin

Have you ever noticed that your skin seems to change when you’re under stress?

A breakout appears during a difficult week. Eczema suddenly flares. Your skin feels more sensitive, dry, itchy or reactive.

That connection isn’t simply in your imagination. Researchers are increasingly studying the relationship between the brain, nervous system, immune system and skin, sometimes referred to as the brain-skin axis.

It’s also an important part of an emerging field known as psychodermatology—the study of how psychological and emotional factors interact with skin health.

Your Skin & Nervous System Communicate

The skin isn’t simply a covering over the body.

It’s a complex organ containing nerve endings, immune cells, blood vessels and receptors that respond to signals from both inside and outside the body.

When we’re under stress, our nervous and endocrine systems respond. Hormones and signaling molecules involved in the stress response can also influence processes within the skin.

This is one reason researchers are interested in the brain-skin axis.

Stress Can Affect the Skin

Stress doesn’t mean that a skin condition is “all in your head.”

Conditions such as acne, eczema and psoriasis are real dermatological conditions with many contributing factors.

However, psychological stress may worsen symptoms or trigger flare-ups in some individuals.

Stress-related signaling can influence inflammation, immune activity and skin-barrier function—all of which can affect how the skin looks and feels.

And that’s why skin wellness sometimes requires looking beyond the products sitting on your bathroom counter.

Stress & Your Skin Barrier

Your skin barrier has an important job: helping retain moisture while protecting the body from the outside environment.

Chronic psychological stress has been studied for its potential effects on normal barrier function and skin physiology.

When the barrier isn’t functioning optimally, skin may feel:

Dry • Sensitive • Tight • Irritated • Reactive

This is also why constantly attacking stressed skin with stronger exfoliants and more active ingredients isn’t necessarily the answer.

Sometimes the skin needs less stimulation and more barrier support.

→ Explore House of Skin

The Mind-Body Approach to Skin Wellness

This is where holistic skin care becomes particularly interesting to me.

Taking a whole-person approach doesn’t mean claiming that meditation will cure acne or that aromatherapy will treat eczema.

It means recognizing that skin exists as part of an entire person.

Sleep, stress, nutrition, environment, hormones, skin-care products, medications and underlying health conditions can all be pieces of the picture.

Practices that support relaxation may include:

• Meditation
• Gentle yoga
• Breathwork
• Time outdoors
• Massage
• Rest
• Creating calming daily rituals

→ Read: Yoga & Meditation for Brain Wellness

→ Explore Mindful Living on Pinterest

What About Aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy can also become part of a calming sensory ritual.

For example, lavender is commonly used for its familiar relaxing aroma. Diffusing an aroma you enjoy while resting, meditating or preparing for sleep can help create an environment associated with slowing down.

That doesn’t make an essential oil a treatment for a skin disease. Instead, think of aromatherapy as one element of the experience of relaxation and self-care.

→ Read: Lavender — A Natural Ritual for Calm & Wellness

→ Explore My Favorite Essential Oils

Skin Care Can Be Restorative Too

Professional skin care doesn’t always have to mean aggressively correcting something.

Sometimes the goal is to support the skin barrier, provide hydration, create comfort and select treatments appropriate for the skin’s current condition.

That’s an important part of my philosophy at Naturel Vitality.

Instead of looking only at a wrinkle, breakout or dry patch, I believe in considering the person and the condition of their skin as a whole.

→ Explore House of Skin

→ Book Your Skin Experience

Your Skin Is Part of the Bigger Picture

The brain-skin connection is a fascinating reminder that the systems of our body don’t operate completely independently.

Stress can affect the body.

The nervous system communicates with the skin.

And our skin can respond to what’s happening both around us and within us.

That doesn’t mean every skin concern is caused by stress. It simply means that good skin care can include more than products alone.

Protect the barrier. Nourish the body. Manage stress. Rest. And give your skin the care appropriate for its individual needs.

Explore More

→ Explore House of Skin
→ Read More Skin Wellness Articles
→ Discover Mindful Living on Pinterest
→ Book Your Experience

Educational information only. This article does not diagnose or treat skin or mental-health conditions and does not replace care from an appropriate healthcare professional.

Sources

Chen Y, Lyga J. Brain-Skin Connection: Stress, Inflammation and Skin Aging. Inflammation & Allergy Drug Targets. 2014;13(3):177–190.

Arck PC, Slominski A, Theoharides TC, Peters EMJ, Paus R. Neuroimmunology of Stress: Skin Takes Center Stage. Journal of Investigative Dermatology. 2006;126(8):1697–1704.

Hunter HJA, Momen SE, Kleyn CE. The impact of psychosocial stress on healthy skin. Clinical and Experimental Dermatology. 2015;40(5):540–546.

American Academy of Dermatology Association. Resources on stress and inflammatory skin conditions.