Stress creates havoc in our bodies. It causes our adrenal glands to work overtime producing excessive amounts of corticoids that not only raises our “fight or flight” response but also creates problems for the endocrine system. Decreased immune resistance, circulatory problems such as high blood pressure and skin imbalances such as blemishes, rosacea, dermatitis, eczema and psoriasis, are all exasperated by stress.

Do any of the following traits apply to your skin?
• Skin breaks out during stressful periods such as exam time or during a work deadline
• Blemishes are small, usually localized around mouth and chin area
• Skin produces moderate oil, mostly in T zone area
• Episodes of red, rashy skin or flaky patches of dry skin especially on face, hands, feet or elbows
• Family history of psoriasis, eczema, hives or other skin imbalances

Skincare Regimen:
Cleansing: use a soothing sulfate-free cleansing cream once a day with anti-inflammatory herbs such as German chamomile or rose. Try Chamomile Cleansing Cream

Exfoliation: Do not exfoliate skin during reactive phases when rashes or itching is present. During dormant phases, exfoliate the skin with a gentle cleansing scrub fortified with calming oatmeal extracts. Try Cleansing Facial Scrub

Toning: calm irritated skin with a homeopathic floral water. Try Rose Hydrolat

Face Oil or Moisturizer: Use medium weight face oil with a base vegetal oil such as avocado, rich in nutrients and beneficial for cell regeneration, blended with soothing essential oils such as carrot seed, rose or German chamomile. Try Carrot Seed Protective Serum

Use a richer moisturizer containing skin calming ingredients such as oat beta glucan (derived from oatmeal), calendula, nettle and sea algae extract as well as antioxidants such as vitamins A, C and E. Try Calendula Essential Hydrating Cream

Skin Fitness:
Eat beauty foods fortified with Essential Fatty Acids (EFA’s) containing Linoleic Acid found in wild salmon, mackeral or flaxseed. EFA’s help skin cells maintain water as well as build dermal ceramides, which are the binding agents between skin cells that give them firmness and tonicity.

Eat richly colored fruits and vegetables filled with anti-oxidant beta carotenes such as cantaloupe, grapefruit, mangoes, carrots, peppers and dark leafy greens to delay the signs of aging.

Limit foods that cause an inflammatory response in the body such as sugar and high glycemic foods such as pasta, bread and potatoes that you may be more attracted to during stressful periods. Avoid spicy foods as well as dairy products that may help to create heat in the skin thus aggravating skin imbalances.

Herbal Remedies:
Add skin healing herbs such as Burdock Root, Red Clover Blossom and Dandelion Root to juice or tea. Try Clarifying Skin Tonic
For daily maintenance, take an energizing herb such as Ginseng to help strengthen the body and to support over taxed adrenal glands. Try Ginseng Vitality Tonic
In acute conditions, to help calm over-stimulated nerves frayed from itching, try a sedative herb such as valerian to help sleep. Try Relax Sleepytime Tonic
Drink a calming tea to ease stress and tension. Try Rest Tea

Skinceuticals:
• Take a multi-vitamin daily. Try Naturopathica Multi-Vitamin Preventative
• Take 500 milligrams of Black Currant Oil twice a day to calm dry, red aggravated skin. Black Currant Oil contains gamma linoleic aid (GLA), an omega-6 fatty acid that promotes healthy skin growth. You should begin to notice positive changes in six to eight weeks.

Beauty & Balance:
Try to incorporate stress balancing techniques. The feet have hundreds of nerve endings and can benefit from daily foot massages to relax over-stimulated nerve pathways. Try Peppermint & Tea Tree Foot Balm

Special Rx:
• Avoid hot showers and baths when skin is aggravated. Try to bathe once a day in cool water and as quickly as possible so not to strip the body of precious oil. Apply a thick moisturizing cream immediately after patting yourself dry.
• Look for skin soothing herbs in creams or balms such as aloe vera gel, calendula, oatmeal or burdock to calm irritated skin. Try Calendula Essential Hydrating Cream
• Sleep is the best antidote for stress reactive skin types. Don’t let anyone or anything interfere with getting the minimum eight hours your body needs and stick to a regular schedule during stressful times.

If cycles of skin irritation begin to repeat themselves, buy a pH test kit at the drug store to test the acidity of your body. Acid forming foods such as red meat, coffee or alchohol, create skin disturbances such as rashes, hives or intense itching.


Skincare Express:
Mist face with a soothing Lavender Hydrolat throughout the day (try keeping hydrolat in refrigerator for added cooling and calming action).
Moisten and refrigerate a chamomile tea bag. Apply to face to soothe irritated skin.
Schedule a holistic deep cleansing facial at least four times a year to keep skin extra hydrated and healthy and book a professional massage once a month during stressful periods.