There’s mounting evidence that feeling consistently under the gun can create wrinkles. Why? When you’re in a stressful situation, your brain triggers the “fight or flight response,” causing your body to produce more of the hormones adrenaline and cortisol, which enable you to act quickly in a crisis. While its okay for these hormones to be in your body in short bursts, many of us are perpetually stressed, so they’re present at chronically elevated levels. And that overload has been shown to suppress the immune system as well as constrict the blood vessels, which leads to a “cascade effect.” The skin’s immunity is compromised, so it’s less able to protect and repair itself. Plus, diminished circulation means less oxygen and fewer nutrients get to the skin.
One of the most effective ways to combat stress is to take 10 minutes or so every day to trigger the relaxation response (the direct opposite of “fight or flight”) which helps to offset stress-hormone levels. You’d be surprised at what slow breathing while sitting in a quiet, comfortable position would do for you! Give it a try!
What do you do to relax? Share your tips with us! And of course, if you already HAVE wrinkles created from living with too much stress in your life, we have many options to smooth them out for you! You’ll look younger and refreshed again. We have specials to help you save while improving the look of your skin, too! Call today! 763-494-9905
