How Stress Affects Skin and Hair Blog graphic

How Stress Affects Skin and Hair

There’s no doubt that stress has been a part of our existence over the past few years. A global pandemic, among other things, have challenged everyone to cope in different ways. In this blog post, we’ll be addressing how stress affects skin and hair, and what you can do to deal with these challenges.

How Stress Affects Skin

How does stress affect your skin? When we are stressed, our bodies undergo many changes that impact our skin. Psychodermatology studies the effects of our emotional states on our skin. Hormones like cortisol and adrenaline activate our “flight or fight” response. This can cause an increase in oil production, leading to increased acne. Excessive sweating, and decreased blood flow to the skin can provide the ideal environment for fungal infections and other skin conditions. Stress has been shown to trigger outbreaks of eczema and psoriasis.

Rosacea is another common skin condition that causes facial flushing and occasional blemishes. Its etiology is not really known, but there are many triggers that can bring on a rosacea flare-up, like alcohol, excessive heat or cold, or stressful situations. It also tends to run in families.

How Stress Affects Hair

How does stress affect our hair? While the hair shaft itself is not alive, it is attached to hair follicles, which are impacted by environmental and psychological stressors. Ever notice how our U.S. Presidents appear to turn gray almost overnight? Many have attributed this to the responsibilities inherent in their office. One Columbia University study demonstrated that, when stress was reduced, gray hair reverted back to its original color. Lifestyle factors like extreme dieting, malnutrition and sleep deprivation can also impact hair production and quality. Dehydration can affect both skin and hair, leaving it brittle and dull.

Improving Skin and Hair by Reducing Stress

While some sources of stress are beyond our control, we can find ways to mitigate the negative effects of stress on our bodies. This can help to improve skin and hair, as well as our overall health and wellbeing. Here are a few ideas;

  • Practice mindfulness – whether it’s journaling, yoga, or TM, it’s important to connect with your inner superpower to get through the challenging periods of your life.
  • Connect with your “Tribe” – no one can get through life alone, so find time to connect with the people (and/or animals) that mean something to you. Purge negative people from your life if you need to; they will only sap your energy.
  • Eat clean and healthy – Our diets can serve to mitigate the negative effects of stress. Proper hydration helps our bodies remove toxic by-products. Too much sugar can decrease immunity and stresses the skin. Ample antioxidants like Vitamin C, Vitamin E, resveratrol and anthocyanins can neutralize harmful free radicals. Extreme dieting can exacerbate hair loss and leads to nutritional deficiencies. Incorporate lots of whole foods into your diet.
  • Get a good night’s sleep – The quality of our sleep is truly important in terms of our body’s ability to recover from stress. Things like avoiding blue screens late at night, comfort, a cool environment, progressive relaxation, and avoiding caffeine and alcohol will help you achieve deep, restorative sleep.
  • Keep moving – Our sedentary lifestyles don’t serve us well when it comes to stress. When our bodies move, we release endorphins (the “feel good” hormone”). Exercise can reduce blood pressure, improve circulation, and improve sleep. Whether it’s walking, yoga, or skateboarding, find a routine that you love and can maintain over time. That can include hobbies like gardening, cooking, painting or sewing. Working with our hands can be very therapeutic.
  • Find the self-care rituals that work for you – It’s important to find out what your skin responds to; when we’re living our best life, it often shows. For some it might be a massage or mani/pedi; for others, it’s lymphatic drainage or micro-needling. Or how about a bubble bath? Whatever you choose to do, make sure that it doesn’t stress out your skin and hair. Too much sun, bleaching and dermabrasion can leave skin and hair feeling dry and irritated.
  • Know what’s in your skincare and haircare products – More consumers are reading labels and that’s a good thing. It’s important to know what you’re using, in the event that you develop an allergic reaction, or if you have dry, sensitive or problem skin. Keep things simple and use one product at a time, if necessary, until you know how your skin and hair respond. Use products that include soothing ingredients like aloe, Vitamin E, castor oil, glycerin, allantoin and gentle oils and cleansers. If retinols are too harsh, try pro-retinol. Use a barrier sunscreen if you’re spending considerable time in the sun. Along with the previous steps, you’ll see (and feel) the difference during stressful times. To see our line of restorative skincare products, visit Our WEBA Naturals line.

Reference: https://www.insider.com/how-stress-hurts-your-skin-2019-5

Staying healthy at work and at play

Staying Healthy At Work And At Play

We are experiencing some unprecedented threats today to our health and safety. Staying healthy at work and at play has become quite the challenge. Many of us may be experiencing anxiety over the best course of action to take while waiting for the world to come back to normal. CoVid19 is not our only concern, of course. Everything from stress to chronic illness, climate change to food uncertainty complicates the picture for many.

Good Health Is More Important Than Ever

If you are currently in good health, you’re ahead of the game. Healthy bodies are better able to fight infection and recover more quickly when illness strikes. Studies have shown that chronic inflammation can contribute to many chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease and arthritis. A healthy lifestyle can help to mitigate the effects of environmental pollutants, chronic diseases and even cancer.

Despite the challenges involved, there are a number of things that you can begin doing right now to maintain health and to stay well no matter where you are. A few of these are listed below:

Healing is a matter of time, but it is also sometimes a matter of opportunity.

Hippocrates

Staying Health At Work

  • Practice Preventative Medicine – Regular checkups are the mainstay of a health and wellness regimen. Tests that measure blood levels of vitamins, minerals, blood sugar, triglycerides and more can tell you a lot about your current health status. Moreover, if you alert your physician about any symptoms that you are having early on, your physician can help prevent more serious problems. Most employee health insurance plans include regular checkups.
  • Get A Good Night’s Sleep – Not only will you perform at your peak, but a lack of sleep has been correlated with conditions like diabetes and chronic inflammation. It also affects your immune system, making you more susceptible to infection and making recovery more difficult. If you suffer from insomnia, avoid alcohol and caffeine, especially late in the day. Keeping computer monitors and TVs out of the bedroom prevents blue light from reducing levels of sleep-inducing melatonin. Melatonin also decreases as we age. Maintaining a regular sleep routine involving consistent sleep times and wake times helps to maintain your body’s biological clock.
  • Avoid Empty Calories – Some individuals like to eat out while others like to bring a bag lunch. Whichever you choose, it’s important to avoid temptation when it comes to those unhealthy snacks. A healthy diet can be completely derailed by that box of cheese danishes in the break room. If possible, stock the refrigerator with healthy snacks like nuts and seeds, carrot sticks, yogurt and whole grain crackers. Ask if the vending machines can be stocked with low-calorie seltzers instead of soda and fruit juice. Green tea with lemon is a healthy alternative to those high-calorie Coolatas.
  • Prevent Infection Before It Starts – If you’re feeling ill (cough, fever, body aches), stay home. Keep alcohol wipes on hand to wipe down high-touch surfaces regularly. Check the humidity level in the office; it should hover around 50%. Low humidity dries out mucus membranes, increasing the likelihood of developing upper respiratory infections. Use a room humidifier if necessary, and be sure to stay hydrated throughout the day. And avoid touching your face.
  • Get Up And Move At Least Once Every Hour – Prolonged sitting has been implicated in a number of issues from back problems to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and obesity. If possible, set a timer and get up and walk around on a regular basis. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Stand while you talk on the phone or use the computer. Every opportunity taken to move extends your life.

Staying Healthy At Play

  • Consistency Is Key – Whether trying a new exercise routine, diet or a new sport, it’s important to stay at it long enough to reap the benefits. Find a work out buddy. Pick the same time each day or week to practice. Pace yourself. Reward yourself for a job well done. Remember that achieving something new can be its own reward.
  • Be Aware Of Your Environment – Be aware of potential hazards for a particular area so that you can be prepared for them. Wear boots in areas that harbor ticks or snakes. Carry water and sunscreen if sunlight and heat are prevalent. In cold climates, avoid staying outdoors too long and wear adequate protection. Carry a first aid kit with you when visiting a new area or maneuvering across new terrain. And if you must travel alone, make sure that someone knows where you are going and when you’re expecting to return.
  • Carry Snacks That Travel Well – Use stainless steel or glass water bottles in warm weather; plastic bottles can leach chemicals. High-calorie snacks like nuts, dried fruit, jerky and granola don’t require refrigeration.

Whether at work or at play, staying healthy can be as simple as being prepared for the inevitable. By being mindful of your body’s needs, you can take important steps to remain at your best for as long as possible.

September Self Care Tips Blog Post

September Self-Care Tips

In honor of National Self-Care Awareness Month, we’ve come up with a few September self-care tips to make your month just a little less stressful. After all, what’s more important than maintaining our health and wellness? You can, while carrying out your usual responsibilities, and it needn’t cost you much of anything. See our tips below:

  • Check out one of the new wellness/fitness apps that can help you stay focused on your routine, like “Calm” “Wakeout“, “Runkeeper“, or others. What you choose depends on your wellness goals and situation. No matter what you need to relax, unwind, and stay fit, there’s an app for that.
  • Enjoy the great outdoors. In Japan, the art of Shinrin-yoku or “forest bathing” has been proven to improve health and well-being. Gardening has its benefits as well, as does hiking and other enjoyable outdoor activities. All are designed to refresh mind and body.
  • Choose to unplug. Most of us are constantly inundated by TV, social media and smart phone notifications. These can often create a state of sensory overload that can increase tension and disrupt sleep. The solution? Take a vacation from electronic devices, even if it’s for a day. Instead, why not have a foot soak, read a good book, write poetry, or listen to soothing music?
  • Create some real connection. Human beings are social animals. Our busy schedules and many responsibilities can leave us feeling isolated. Take a mental health day and find community by exploring a new interest. Find like-minded individuals at a Meetup group, attend a Sip & Paint event, visit an animal shelter, contact someone you haven’t spoken to in awhile; the list is endless.
  • Try aromatherapy. It has been used for thousands of years to relieve stress and treat minor ailments. Read more about its benefits here. Companies like DoTerra provide aromatherapy oil kits to help you get started. Or you can use a diffuser like this one on Amazon and experiment with different essential oil scents. You are bound to find one that promotes relaxation or lifts mood. (Read our blog post on essential oil benefits.)
  • Keep a journal. Remember when diaries were all the rage? Journaling is a more grown-up version. It’s been shown to hold many benefits. Whether or not you’re fond of writing, putting word to paper is a worthwhile exercise in self-awareness and discipline. It is a less expensive form of therapy that forces the mind to work things out, clear out the cobwebs, and relieve stress. There are also specialty journals available that help with organization and goal-setting if that suits your fancy.

There are almost as many ways to provide self-care as there are people. Do you have a favorite? We’d love to know. Feel free to contact us at: