It is important to pay attention to the impact of stress on your skin. This is a particularly stressful time, which can result in a substantial amount of disruption to your health. This also applies to the condition of your skin. When you become extremely stressed, it is highly likely that you will see the impact of your stress on your skin.

The Impact of Stress on your Skin

Stress doesn’t necessarily cause the problems with the health of your skin, but it can certainly exacerbate them. The body releases various hormones as a result of high levels of stress. These issues can both cause acne and other problems to arise, as well as exacerbate various other skin conditions. When you understand the impact of stress on your skin, you will be able to take the various steps to keep your skin in good condition, even through particularly stressful times in your life.

Inflammation

Ultimately, the issues that stress causes with your skin are a result of the reaction of the body to a perceived threat to your health. This is often the same thing that happens with allergies, because they are a result of the body’s reaction to a foreign substance. Stress causes the body to have a disproportionate reaction, which causes it to release various chemicals. This results in inflammation to the skin, which can lead to the development of pimples and other problems.

Cortisol

Cortisol is just one of the hormones that is commonly released as a reaction to stress. This hormone in particular causes the skin to overproduce oil. The overproduction of oil on the skin often results in clogged pores and the development of acne. When you experience an increase in cortisol production, it is highly likely that you will need to take steps to remove oil from your skin and prevent your pores from becoming clogged.

Predisposed Skin Conditions

There are many various skin conditions that can be triggered by stress. If you are predisposed to some common skin conditions, such as psoriasis, rosacea, or eczema, stress can have a particularly large impact on your skin. High levels of stress can trigger outbreaks of these conditions, which can cause you to become even more stressed. These outbreaks can be painful and embarrassing. Managing triggers is often the best method to avoid outbreaks, which is one of the reasons that it is critical to take the steps to control your levels of stress.

Stress-Related Behaviors

It is important to keep in mind that some of the reasons that stress leads to skin issues have nothing to do with the body’s physical reaction to stress. Individuals that are extremely stressed often engage in behaviors that cause their skin to be less than pristine. Stressed individuals often don’t spend as much time with taking care of their skin, such as skipping their skincare routine or not washing their face. They may also not drink enough water, get enough sleep, or eat particularly healthily. When an individual is stressed out, they are likely to touch their face more frequently. This allows for oils to transfer from the fingertips to the surface of the skin, which can cause the pores to become clogged. Clogged pores frequently result in acne.

Bags Under Eyes

High levels of stress and anxiety often result in an individual having difficulties sleeping. A common result of sleep deprivation is the development of bags under the eyes. When you ensure that you get enough sleep, you can help to prevent these bags from arising. Sleep deprivation can lead to a significant amount of issues with your overall health, in addition to the damage that it can do to your skin. Most experts recommend that you get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep a night in order to obtain optimal health. Getting enough sleep can prevent bags and dark shadows from forming underneath your eyes.

Slow Healing

Skin injuries tend to heal much more slowly when an individual is stressed. Stress causes a unique reaction in the body that puts a large burden on your immune system. When your immune system is diverted to handle your high levels of stress, it will be unable to handle the process of quickly healing an injury. Slow healing tends to be just one of the issues that are associated with stress. This can also cause other issues to the health of the skin to be resolved more slowly. Acne may linger for longer periods of time and it can take longer for cuts to heal.

Tips for Dealing with Stress

There are many possible methods for handling stress. Due to the impact that stress can have on your skin, it is particularly important to ensure that you follow these methods for minimizing your total levels of stress. Meditation is a popular method for handling strong emotions and minimizing your stress. Exercise can help to relieve stress levels and release positive hormones. Yoga is a great method for combining exercise a positive mindset to help you handle your stress. Deep breathing can also help you to get a better hold of your stress levels. It is also important to carefully consider your schedule and not take on more than you can handle. This goes a long way toward preventing your stress levels from becoming unmanageable in the first place.

It is crucial to understand the impact of stress on your skin so that you can take the steps to protect your skin through difficult times. Ensure that you maintain your regular skincare routine, even if you are feeling stressed and short on time. This can help to prevent skin-related issues from arising, as well as reduces many other problems. At Allen-Taintor Dermatology, we are dedicated to providing you with the services necessary to protect the health of your skin. Our services can be implemented to help minimize the likelihood of stress damaging your skin. To learn more about how our services can improve the health of your skin, contact our expert team at Allen-Taintor Dermatology today!

No one enjoys the presence of acne on their skin. This makes it important to understand the most effective treatment to remove acne from the skin. However, there are many different types of acne. Identifying some of the most common types of acne can help you to determine the best possible treatment for your acne. If you suffer with acne, it will likely be beneficial to consult with a dermatologist in order to ensure the best treatment for your condition.

Different Types of Acne

Since there are different types of acne, there are different treatments that will be most effective for the various types of acne. Identifying the type of acne that you have can help you to ensure that you use the best possible treatment for your skin condition. It is important to keep in mind that acne tends to be separated into two types, known as non-inflammatory and inflammatory. There are generally 6 different acne kinds that are categorized as either inflammatory or non-inflammatory. Here are the most common types of acne.

Whiteheads

Whiteheads are one of the non-inflammatory variations of acne. They are characterized by a white bump on the surface of the skin. Whiteheads form because the pores in the skin are clogged. The main difference between whiteheads and blackheads is that the pores are clogged all the way through when it comes to whiteheads. This means that both the length and the head of the pore are clogged. Whiteheads can’t be removed by popping. Attempting to do so can lead to scarring on the skin. Many OTC treatments can help deal with whiteheads. The most common of these tend to be sulfur, salicylic acid, or benzoyl peroxide. Benzoyl peroxide is often the most effective, while sulfur remedies tend to be the easiest on the skin. All of these treatments help to remove dead skin cells and excess oil, which helps to remove clogs and prevent additional clogs from occurring.

Blackheads

Blackheads are another type of acne that is considered non-inflammatory. These blackheads can be identified by the presence of a black bump on the surface of the skin. These types of acne occur when the head of the pore is open, but the length of the pore is clogged. Though blackheads may be removed through popping, these processes can lead to scars. They likely follow the same treatment as whiteheads. If you are having difficulty removing blackheads from your skin, you should consult with our office to obtain a plan for restoring the health of your skin.

Papules

Papules are one of the inflammatory kinds of acne. This type can be identified by the presence of small, red bumps. They form when oil or excess skin cells build up and block a pore. This blockage then mixes with the bacteria that are already present on the skin. The contents of the pore then spill out, which creates an inflamed lesion. This type of acne doesn’t contain pus. Benzoyl peroxide may still be useful for handling papules, because it contains antibacterial properties. However, if this method doesn’t work, it may be necessary to obtain a prescription from your dermatologist. Many various treatments can be used, such as antibiotics to help handle the presence of bacteria or birth control to minimize the oil secretion on the skin.

Pustules

Pustules are another inflammatory type of acne. This kind of acne features small, bulging bumps with a white center. This white center is then surrounded by red, inflamed skin. Pustules often appear in clusters on the face, chest, or back. Pustules tend to result from a blocked pore becoming infected. It is important to note that this kind of acne does contain a yellowish fluid that is known as pus. Popping of the pustules can cause the acne to spread to the surrounding skin. In order to handle pustules, it is likely that you will require the same processes and treatment as papules.

Nodules

Nodules are yet another kind of inflammatory acne. These result in flesh-colored or red bumps that are located deep under the surface of the skin. These infections are present deep within the pore, which means that over the country treatments usually don’t work, because they tend to be more effective for use on the surface of the skin. To deal with nodules, it is likely that you will have to consult with the dermatologist for appropriate treatment, such as antibiotics to help handle the infection.

Cysts

Cysts are an inflammatory type of acne. Cystic acne is often considered the most severe form of acne, which may require the services of a dermatologist to effectively resolve. Cystic acne results from an infection that is located deep within the skin. This leads to large, inflamed, red, painful, and pus-filled bumps. Cysts often burst, which leads to infection of the surrounding skin. If you think that you may be experiencing cystic acne, it is likely that you will need to schedule an appointment with our office to have a professional check out the type of acne and identify the best possible treatment.

Common Causes of Acne

Understanding the common causes of acne will help you to prevent it from occurring in the first place as much as possible. Acne can be caused by an excess of the androgen hormone. This hormone production may need to be controlled in order to prevent acne. Hormone fluctuations, such as those associated with pregnancy, can lead to acne. A genetic history with acne, such as parents who have also experienced acne, often leads to acne. Excessive oil production can also result in pores becoming clogged, which causes acne. Increased stress levels can result in increased oil production, which is why many people associate stress with the development of acne. Bacteria can also result in acne.

Understanding the various types of acne can help you to devise the best treatment for your acne. Here at Allen-Taintor Dermatology, we offer an array of services to protect the health of your skin. Our experts can help identify the different types of acne and provide the treatment that you need to protect your skin. Contact our office to schedule an appointment today!

 

Oil cleansing methods have become more popular recently for a reason. Many people are skeptical regarding the use of oil cleansers. It certainly seems counterproductive to use products with oil in order to remove excess oil from the surface of your skin. However, there are many different ways in which the products that you use impact the health of your skin, so it is crucial to understand these differences. Here are a few considerations that can help you to determine whether you should use oil cleanser or soap on the skin of your face.

What Impacts the Health of your Skin

The health of your skin is often linked to the overall pH balance of your skin. Your skin maintains a careful balance between its level of acidity and alkalinity. Whenever the pH level shifts away from its original natural balance, it is often capable of leading to substantial issues to both your skin and its health. You can often detect the existing pH level of your skin simply by examining the condition of the skin. There are also various pH tests that you can purchase from the store and perform in the comfort of your home.

How Products Impact pH Level of your Skin

Every product that is used on the skin will generally impact its pH level. Each product will have a different pH, as well as a different total effect. The pH level of any substance or surface is determined based on a scale that ranges from 0 to 14. 0 indicates the most acidic level possible, while 14 indicates the most alkaline level possible. 7 is neutral on this scale, which is the pH level of pure water. The skin is covered by a combination of substances. This combination is made up of natural oils, perspiration, and sebum. It serves to lock in moisture and protect the skin. Normal skin generally leans slightly toward the acidic side. This number most often falls between 5.4 and 5.9. When there are substantial variances in this pH balance, it often leads to severe issues with the health of the skin.

Skin that is Excessively Alkaline

When skin has a pH that is far too high, it indicates that it is excessively alkaline. This causes the skin to become extremely dry and sensitive. In addition, it often leads to signs of aging, such as the development of fine lines and wrinkles. This also tends to produce flaking skin, due to the excessive dryness. If you notice that your skin has these signs, it is likely that it is too alkaline. You should take whatever steps necessary to lower the pH level in order to restore a healthy balance.

Skin that is Too Acidic

Skin that has too low of a pH is likely leaning too far on the acidic side. This causes skin to become exceedingly oily and prone to the development of acne. When you take the steps to reduce the acidity level of your skin, you can minimize the likelihood of acne developing and help to restore a healthy balance to the pH level of your skin.

Soap

The vast majority of soap maintains a pH level between about 9 and 10. This high alkaline level allows for the skin to be thoroughly cleaned. However, it is particularly harsh on the skin. In addition, regular soap also tends to strip all of the natural oils from the surface of the skin. These oils are intended to provide a protective barrier to the skin, so stripping them away leaves the skin vulnerable to further damage. Stripping away the natural oils can also cause the skin to overproduce natural oils to replace the oils that were removed. This causes skin to become excessively oily and acne prone. It is crucial to avoid using products that will be too harsh on the skin or will throw its pH level too far out of balance.

Oil Cleansers

Oil cleansers tend to have a far lower pH than harsher soaps. This allows them to be far gentler on the skin, as well as prevents the stripping of essential natural oils. Many people are uncertain regarding the use of oil-based cleansers on the skin, because it seems like you shouldn’t use oil products to reduce oil levels on your skin. However, these cleansers are based on the idea that “oil absorbs oil” which can help to provide a thorough cleaning impact on the skin, without being incredibly harsh. Oil cleansers can be developed specifically for different skin types and various types of oil can be implemented to provide superior benefits for the overall health of the skin.

Other Ways to Protect your Skin

There are many other considerations, aside from the cleansing product that you use, that will help you to obtain healthier skin. You should ensure that you eat a healthy and nutritious diet. Avoiding processed foods, as well as adding fruits and vegetables to your diet, can go a long way toward improving the appearance and health of your skin. It is important to stay hydrated and drink enough water to keep your skin hydrated and flush out potential toxins. Visit a dermatologist whenever you notice any substantial issues with the health of your skin. It can also be incredibly beneficial to implement a regular skincare routine to improve the health and the appearance of your skin.

Here at Allen-Taintor Dermatology, we are dedicated to providing you with superior services to ensure that your skin maintains a beautiful, healthy appearance. We carry a broad selection of skincare products to ensure that you are using the right product for your skin type. We also offer an array of services to help improve the overall condition of your skin. It is important to obtain the appropriate products to appropriately care for your skin and maintain a healthy pH balance. To learn more about the services that we offer, contact our expert team at Allen-Taintor Dermatology today!