HOW FINDING JOY IN YOUR LIFE TRANSLATES TO HEALTHY SKIN
Originally published : AUGUST 19, 2021
If you’ve ever blamed a bad skin day on stress, on your hormones or on a lack of beauty sleep, then you know just how intricately connected your skin is with your feelings, emotions and the overall wellness of your entire body. Stress in particular, and the hormones it releases as a result, are uniquely to blame for throwing a wrench into so many of the body’s internal processes- including those affecting the skin. Stress and it’s accompanying array of emotions from sadness to anger to fear and back again can cause inflammation which leads to breakouts. But perhaps more importantly for the purposes of this article: breakouts can bring up feelings of self-consciousness which causes further stress. Stress and the consequent release of cortisol can interrupt our sleep patterns and cause us to wake up looking swollen, puffy and tired, but looking tired can further mess with our self-esteem. It is truly a vicious cycle. But this article isn’t about stress or negative feelings, no- it is quite the opposite. Once we realize the effect that these negative emotions can have on our skin, we can also harness the power of positive ones to keep it radiant and healthy.
Happiness and Skin Health
Positive emotions, feelings of relaxation and an upbeat attitude actually release their own groups of hormones which affect your skin in an entirely different manner. Happiness prompts the release of the “feel good” hormones: endorphins, serotonin, and oxytocin. These famous chemicals not only cement those positive feelings but assist your body in functioning optimally by making sure your blood circulation is on point and that adequate oxygen is flowing through your body. Your skin in particular responds to this blood flow boost with that tell-tale healthy glow. They are the chemicals responsible for love, pleasure, motivation, relaxation and even pain relief. The idea is that finding joy in your life releases these hormones and fortifies the skin’s ability to repair and renew itself, resulting in rejuvenated, healthy, radiant skin.
Support Your Happiness With….
Exercise
It's no secret that exercise releases endorphins- those which are responsible for a “runner’s high.” But exercise also helps efficiently deliver oxygen and nutrients to your skin at the same time. Not only will you come away from a workout feeling happy and motivated, your skin will too.
Relieve Stress
Stress relief is key when it comes to a positive outlook. Though not all stress is bad, it's important to keep long-term stress in check with relaxation techniques or incorporating calming activities into your day. Your whole body will benefit from the inside out.
Find Your Joy
What better way to elicit positive feelings than by finding your joy? What are some things that bring you happiness? Seek them out whenever you can.
At the end of the day the less cortisol and other stress hormones coursing through your body, causing inflammation and exacerbating common skin issues, the better off your skin will be. Find balance by taking care of your emotional well-being, leaning into your positive emotions and whenever possible- finding your joy.
Remember that skin health is an all-encompassing entity. Take care of your skin from the inside out by eating health-giving foods, sticking to a simple but well-rounded skincare routine, getting plenty of restorative sleep, alleviating stress whenever possible and enjoying a happy, healthy lifestyle.