How skincare can improve mental health

Whether you’re male or female, observing a regular skincare routine is good for the health of your skin. But did you know it can be good for your mental health as well?

This guide looks at the relationship between our minds and our bodies and how taking care of one can have a positive effect on the other.

How our mind affects our skin

The idea of communication between mind and body is not new. Other cultures have been aware of the link between our skin and our mental wellbeing for centuries.

The ancient Chinese technique of face mapping for example, links the position of acne on the face with underlying health concerns, including mental health issues such as stress.

And when you think about it, evidence of the mind’s influence on the skin is apparent even in the simple act of blushing. Embarrassment triggers our fight or flight response and the body releases adrenaline in readiness for action.

This in turn causes the blood vessels to dilate, improving blood and oxygen flow and the result is blushing of the face and cheeks.

Similarly, in stressful situations, the body releases the hormone cortisol in readiness for fight or flight, which increases our alertness and triggers the release of blood sugar for fast energy if required.

It also slows functions considered non-essential in fight or flight situations; a clear demonstration of how the mind and body are able to communicate directly with one another.

Unfortunately, there is a downside for our skin in all this mind/body synchronicity. As well as blood sugar, cortisol increases sweat and oil production, which can clog the skin’s pores and cause acne.

Cortisol also suppresses the immune system, making it harder for the body to fight off bacteria, which can result in rashes, infections and skin conditions such as hair loss, psoriasis, hives and rosacea.

Cortisol also reduces the production of collagen and elastin which help in the repair and renewal of skin cells, leading to the appearance of more fine lines and wrinkles in the skin.

How our skin affects our mind

Just as the mind can have both good and bad effects on our bodies, our skin can also have an influence on our overall mental health.

In a society that values appearance, skin issues can cause people to feel embarrassed, anxious and socially isolated, leading to psychological issues which in turn, can have a further impact on our skin health.

This was clearly illustrated in a 2014 National Rosacea Society survey of patients with rosacea (facial redness), which found that 90% had lower confidence and self-esteem, 54% suffered from anxiety and 43% reported experiencing depression.

Growing recognition of the mind’s connection with the skin has led to the emergence of a new field of study known as psychodermatology, which investigates and treats three main types of disorders:

Skin problems affected by emotional states such as stressPsychological problems caused by disfiguring skin disordersPsychiatric disorders that manifest themselves through the skin.

How a skincare routine can help

On the flipside, when our skin looks and feels good, we tend to feel better about ourselves, which is surely a good argument for taking care of our complexion with a regular skincare routine.

Whether it’s skincare, exercising, meditating or any other beneficial activity, observing a consistent routine is known to have the following positive effects;

It establishes a rhythm and sense of order in our livesIt provides an anchor to our day and a point of stabilityIt relaxes us and temporarily focuses our attention on ourselves and away from outside stressorsIt provides us with an opportunity to practise mindfulness (the act of living in the moment), which has been shown to help reduce depression and anxietyIt boosts our mood by releasing a variety of pleasure-inducing chemicals in the brainIt creates a pleasant sense of anticipation, which also releases feel-good chemicals and contributes to a sense of well-being.

In fact, not having routines in our day can actually have a detrimental effect on our mental health, as a study in 2018 discovered. Published in the Lancet Psychiatry, it found that those people with less consistent routines were more likely to be lonely, moody and unhappy and to suffer from depressive and bipolar disorders.

Daily skincare not only positively impacts our emotions, but also our physical health and wellbeing. For example, regular moisturising helps to improve blood flow and contribute to a smoother more healthy complexion, which in turn boosts our self-esteem and elevates our mood.

So with such a close relationship between brain and body, having a regular skincare regimen would seem to be the best thing we can do to look after our mind as well as our complexion. And in this era of COVID-19, a little TLC both inside and out is surely something we could all benefit from.