According to a trends report by the American Psychological Association, since the breakout of the COVID 19 pandemic, burnout and stress are at all-time highs across professions, especially among already strained health care workers.
In light of this information, now is a good time for professional women to take better care of themselves in the face of increasing stress levels and stressors. So, as we celebrate International Women’s Day this month, we have put together this blog as a special care package for women making things happen in the world.
In this blog, you will learn a couple of insights into how stress affects the skin, including helpful anti-ageing tips Dr Smithies and other high performing women use to keep their skin looking youthful despite stressful work schedules.
Stress and Your Skin
Did you know that stress can negatively affect your skin?
According to a 2021 article by WebMD, when you experience stress, it causes a chemical response that makes your skin more reactive and sensitive.
Triggered by the increased production of hormones like cortisol, your skin becomes oily and prone to acne, different skin rashes, hives and fever blister flare-ups. In addition, stress also worsens skin conditions like eczema and rosacea.
Aside from making your skin oily and prone to skin problems, stress also increases the rate at which you age. According to a study published in the Translational Psychiatry journal, researchers concluded that chronic stress might contribute to faster ageing and insulin resistance.
Ageing causes your skin to change in various ways. As you experience ageing, your skin will:
- Become thinner and drier
- No longer appear smooth and plump like it used to
- Show veins and bones more easily
- Develop wrinkles, age spots and be more prone to cancer
For a woman with a very stressful daily schedule, the risk of experiencing stress’ adverse effects on the skin is very high. Fortunately, we have put together a few tips you can implement to keep your skin looking beautiful while you pursue your dreams.
Dr Smithies’ Top 5 Anti-Ageing Tips For Productive Women
1. Cleanse your skin regularly.
Facial Cleansing is one of the fundamental steps of at-home skincare. Invest in a cleanser with glycolic acid like Dermaceutic Foamer 15. When you peel your skin daily, you remove dirt, dead skin cells and other impurities that contribute to the development of visual signs of skin ageing like dullness, fine lines and wrinkles.
2. Supplement your NAD+ levels daily.
Another helpful tip Dr Smithies also encourages is taking NAD+ supplements every day. NAD+(nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a chemical your body produces that enables it to generate energy and vitality. This coenzyme also helps with DNA repair and helps your body decrease skin ageing as it maintains elasticity, structure and moisture.
3. Invest in a really good hydrating moisturiser.
If you spend most of the day in an air-conditioned environment, this tip is a great one for you. This is because air conditioning removes moisture from your skin which can cause premature skin ageing.
Hydrating moisturisers restore moisture into your skin which prevents dryness, slows signs of ageing on the skin and helps fight acne and skin damage caused by exposure to the sun.
4. Invest in Hydrating Serums that you can apply during the day.
Serums go deeper than moisturisers. They enable your skin to get the moisture and nutrients it needs from the bottom up.
Invest particularly in serums that contain hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid enables your skin to repair itself efficiently, which keeps it healthy, plump and glowing
5. Drink lots of water.
When you drink enough water regularly, it ensures all the cells in your body get hydrated.
Aside from improving your skin tone, regular water drinking helps your skin heal faster from sunburns, resists premature ageing and reduces swelling and puffiness in your face. In addition, well-hydrated skin tends to itch less than dry skin to be tighter than the latter and glow as the body’s pH levels will be well-balanced.
Are you looking for the best place for Facial Aesthetic Treatments in Cape Town?
Then Enamel Clinic is the clinic for you. Dr Sheryl Smithies is Enamel Clinic’s foremost facial aesthetics expert who helps patients look and feel like their best selves using neurotoxin treatments, JuvérdermⓇ facial fillers and APTOS facial threads.
Let’s help you look your best today. Book your appointment with Dr Smithies here.
