Take a holiday from stress!

We love the holidays and, by definition, they are supposed to give us an excuse to unwind, relax and indulge in life’s pleasures. But for many, ironically, the holidays are a time of high stress due to reasons that run the gamut from holiday planning, to gift shopping and interactions with family. Since December is National Stress Free Month, there’s no better time to discuss stress, the impact it has on your skin and how to make this December really stress free.

What’s stress anyway?

Simply put, stress is the side effect of overly worrying, over working and having too many things on your mind. Stress accumulates and the longer you expose yourself to stressful situations, the worse its impact on you.

Stress surely affects your general health, but it also messes with the state of your skin. Your skin absorbs so many blows both from the inside and outside. External environmental stress factors could be primarily weather related, smoking, alcohol, and diet – all of which add up work against your skin in the holiday months. Add to that the internal stress generated by holiday anxiety and we have a lethal combination that can cause skin problems.
Stress is known to cause acne breakouts, dryness, increased sensitivity, mysterious rash that appears from nowhere and hair fall. It is how the immune system tries to expunge stress from your body. What’s worse is that not only can it cause new skin problems, but it can also make your existing ones worse.

How to stop the effects of stress?

The obvious answer is – Don’t stress yourself out!
We can try, but since we know that’s easier said than done, here are our tips, skin and non-skin related, that will come in handy for December and for the cold months ahead.

1. Give your skin some extra love: When you’re stressed out, nurture your skin more than usual. Moisturizers, oils and creams will do wonders for your skin, but well-deserved pampering will also help you relax and de-stress.
2. Get more sleep: Even if you’re under stress for a short period, it can wear you out entirely. A super important step to get both you and your skin back to normal is sufficient and quality sleep. Zzzz!
3. Eat fruits and veggies: These are vital foods that will help your entire body recover from stress – Load your plate with colorful fruits and veggies and stay clear of excessive carbs and protein. Bon appetit!
4. Don’t forget your body: Stress can cause you to get cramped, tensed up and lead to aches and pains. So schedule a massage, soak in a bubble bath, work out or just dance it off – whatever you prefer. Just get that bad energy out!
5. Enjoy the holidays: Don’t worry so much about the travel, gift giving, cooking feasts, washing up and cleaning – make your holidays count by maintaining a great and positive attitude. Take a deep breath and smile!