9 Ways Stress Can Disrupt Your Beauty Routine

Ever notice more pimples cropping up when you get stressed out? There's legit science connecting stress and your body, and I've scouted out all the ways stress can get in the way of your beauty routine. If you want consistently on point hair, skin, and nails, you're gonna have to learn how to chill the heck out.

When I'm most stressed, I consistently notice a slew of deep cyst pimples that crop up along my jaw line. Ouch to say the least! So why does this happen? As shared on WebMd, "Stress causes a chemical response in your body that makes skin more sensitive and reactive. [And, it] causes your body to produce cortisol and other hormones, which tells your sebaceous glands to produce more oil. Oily skin is more prone to acne and other skin problems." Great.

But stress can show up all sorts of ways on your body beyond just pimples. If you're reglularly struggling with some of the problems below, chances are fairly high stress could be a contributing factor. Whether it's yoga, meditation, working out, drawing, sleeping more, etc., learning how to slow down and cultivate some peace in your life is key to not only a happy life, but better skin and a healthier body.

Here are nine ways stress can get in the way of your beauty routine.

1. Premature Wrinkles

New York City dermatologist Julie Russak, M.D., told The Coveteur, "when cortisol is high, you break down proteins like collagen at a much faster rate. Collagen helps our skin stay supple and elastic, and without it, you’re going to start aging prematurely and developing those fine lines." Oy vey.

2. Hair Loss

Yeah, you read that right. Russak explained, "Alopecia is a condition that results in loss of hair from the scalp and elsewhere on the body and is directly correlated to stress. When cortisol levels soar, the hair goes through its cycle much faster, which causes follicles to detach more easily from the scalp." Nooooo.

3. Brittle Nails

As seen on ScienceDaily, too much stress can lead to brittle, easily broken nails, as well as more noticeable nail ridges.

4. Puffy Under-Eye Circles

Stress can mean lack of sleep, which could create stubborn dark circles under eyes.

5. Psoriasis Or Eczema

Beyond acne, cortisone from stress can also trigger psoriasis and eczema outbreaks.

6. Hives

Stress can trigger an imbalance in your gut called dysbiosis, and it can even cause your body to break out in hives. Yikes!

7. Gray Hair

Doris Day, M.D., told Cosmopolitan, "If you're predisposed to gray hair, stress can cause the melanin in your hair to stop producing, leaving it gray."

8. Thin Hair

Day added, "[Stress] can also cause your hair to become thinner in diameter over time." Wah.

9. Cold Sores

If you have HPV, MayoClinic shared that emotional stress can trigger outbreaks.

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