We know what you’re thinking—what is cortisol exactly? Cortisol is a hormone that helps the body when you’re severely stressed. But cortisol, when produced in excess by the body, can be detrimental to your skin thereby causing acne and other inflammatory problems. Want to know more on how cortisol affects the skin? Scroll down…
 

Acne

Acne

Stress has a direct impact on your skin. When your cortisol levels go up, it prompts your skin to produce excess sebum. This is when the oil clogs the pores and causes inflammation—something that leads to acne.

Redness

Your blood flow increases when you are overly worried. This can lead to expanded capillaries—something that can cause your face to turn red and puffy. For those with a skin concern like rosacea should try to keep their cortisol levels in check.

 

Ageing

Ageing

Cortisol can accelerate the ageing process as it breaks down elastin and collagen. Moreover, when you’re stressed, you also make certain facial expressions that can cause wrinkles, especially on the forehead. When you keep doing this, the skin cannot bounce back and this leads to permanent wrinkles.

 

Dryness

Dryness

When your body starts producing excess cortisol, it loses its ability to retain water. This is what leads to dehydrated skin where your skin lacks moisture in the absence of which your skin starts to turn flaky. Worse, dry skin often accelerates the appearance of dark spots and wrinkles.