How Stress Impacts Your Skin + 4 Herbal Remedies That Can Help
HOW STRESS IMPACTS YOUR SKIN
We at Sacred Skincare are sure you have heard that stress affects you on many different levels. It manifests in ways like increased anxiety, lack of quality sleep, increased or decreased appetite, higher risk of illness, headaches, lack of focus and total mental and physical exhaustion are just a handfull of ways that stress can affect you.
Did you also know that it can affect your skin?
Stress increases the amount of cortisol and adrenaline in your body, which in turn creates more oil production. This can clog your pores and in many cases can lead to acne. It also causes internal inflammation, which can disrupt your gut microbiome. If you have read our last blog post all about your microbiome, you know how important keeping it balanced is for skin and body health.
Internal inflammation can trigger eczema, psoriasis and rosacea flare ups and it can also cause rashes, fever sores and redness due to a weakened immune system.
Don't fret though, although it can be difficult leading a low stress life (especially in today's world) we are here to help! Below is a list of several herbal remedies to help you reduce your stress and fight the negative reactions to stress that happen to your skin.
NATURAL REMEDIES FOR STRESS
1. Lemon Balm: the fragrant leaves and flowers of lemon balm have oils, tannins and bitters which provide a relaxing, antispasmodic effect on the stomach and nervous system.
Lemon balm is tasty when prepared in teas or tinctures with a glycerin base. It can also help fight off the herpes simplex virus, but is best when used fresh. Dried, it loses its strength in six months. It is simple to grow indoors in a container so you can grow your own remedy even if you don't have an outdoor space!
2. Lavender: Lavender is well known for its beautiful purple flowers, pleasant and soothing scent, and is a great herb to use as a mild antidepressant, a stress reducer, and for insomnia and tension relief. Just a few drops of lavender oil in your bath or oil diffuser can do the trick. It can also be used to make delicious lavender flavored butter, cookies, or honey. Lavender also has properties to treat acne and sunburn if used in a cream.
3. Ashwagandha: Ashwagandha is a powerhouse anti-oxidant adaptogen and has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. It is known to lower stress, cortisol, and blood sugar, and also serves as an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial. Ashwagandha helps prevent acne and redness, while also boosts collagen for smoother, clearer, and younger-looking skin. It’s typically ingested as a supplement, but it can also be consumed crushed up as a powder to be used in food or tea. You can infuse moisturizer and oils with it as well.
4. Chamomile: Do you have sensitive skin? Chamomile is for you. Chamomile is an herb known for calming benefits. Drink it as a tea or use it alongside your toner. This herb contains antiseptic, anti-fungal, and antibacterial properties which help heal minor wounds, skin rashes, acne, and inflammation-related conditions. Because it has an antioxidant-rich profile, it also helps prevents sun damage, blocks free radical-related aging, and promotes smoother skin texture. Its white petals and bright yellow-orange pistol look pretty in your garden as well!
