If you struggle with worrying about everything and anything, you know how consuming an anxiety disorder can be. The uneasy feelings settle into your very skin, demanding all of your attention, like a festering wound that no one but you can see. No matter how many times you deal with it, this stress dominates every facet of the brain when it comes, impacting your whole body. But did you know that anxiety can affect your appearance too?
That's right, the angst you're feeling inside might not be as invisible as you once thought. As it turns out, anxiety can definitely impact outward appearance, and there's science to back that up. Basically, that nervous energy triggers our fight or flight response, which is our body's way of preparing for imminent danger and leads to changes in physical chemistry, as Angela Retano, R.N., M.S., P.M.H.N.P. explained to Anxiety.org. The main culprit behind the negative side effects is cortisol, as Christopher Bergland explained to Psychology Today; cortisol is the hormone that gets released when we feel fear. Cortisol can impact the digestive, integumentary (aka skin, hair, and nails), and nervous systems, all of which end up influencing how we look.
Our emotions are connected to the health of almost every part of the body,as Medical News Today reported, with negative feelings potentially causing symptoms as varied as digestive issues, chest pains, and trouble sleeping. So why would the outside part of your body be immune to this kind of damage? Read on for seven ways anxiety can influence your appearance — as well as tips on how to prevent the changes when the stress hits.
5
You Might Have Inflammation
Inflammation is a little different from the other items on the list because it can actually cause anxiety rather than the other way around, but I still included it because of the physical impact it can have on the way you look. Chronic inflammation impacts millions today, and, bad news bears, it's correlated with higher levels of anxiety and depression. As Kelly Brogan, M.D., explains on her website, if you're experiencing inflammation in the brain, your brain could stop producing hormones that make you happy like serotonin and melatonin and replace them with ones that cause anxiety instead. The inflammation can make you sleep less and become less motivated, making you look tired or gain weight. Getting rid of inflammation throughout your body can lessen the symptoms of anxiety, so talk to your doctor about the best way to move forward without it.
6
Your Skin Could Breakout
This one is pretty instinctual, so you might be less-than-surprised to find that higher rates of anxiety and acne are correlated. A study conducted by Dr. Sandhya Ramrakha of the University of Otago in New Zealand found that people with anxiety were about 10 percent more likely to suffer from acne, as Dermatology Times reported. But anxiety doesn't actually cause acne, according to WebMD, it just makes breakouts worse for people who already have skin problems. So if you're an acne sufferer, talk to your dermatologist about how you can prevent worsening breakouts during times of high stress.
7
Your Skin Could Wrinkle Faster
Apparently, there's some truth to the old wives' tale that your face could get stuck like that if you furrow your brow too often. A 2011 study published by the PLOS (Public Library of Science) found that there's a correlation between anxiety and shorter telomeres, which are caps at the end of DNA strands that protect cells from aging. When telomeres are shorter, cells die more quickly, making your skin look wrinkled at a younger age. The correlation between anxiety and telomere length was found in women who had anxiety over a long period of time, so prevention is the key. If you don't want your skin to lose its perky glow, start an anti-aging skincare routine early and talk to your doctor about getting your anxiety under control.