How to Prevent Stress Wrinkles

Over the years I’ve come to terms with the fact that wrinkles are inevitable.

True, I can slather my face with a line up of anti-aging lotions and potions, holding onto the hope they’ll help.  However, truth be told, it is not a matter of if my skin will form wrinkles, it’s a matter of when.

What happens, though, when wrinkles sprout because of stress? 

Stress, too, is mostly unavoidable.  However, there are some things you can do to help. 

What Are Stress Wrinkles?

First of all, what are stress wrinkles?  So, when we’re stressed, we may not get adequate sleep, we likely don’t exercise as often as we should and our diet may suffer.

All of those factors may contribute to negative effects not just in our health, but on our skin.  Stress wrinkles are thought to occur as a result of chronic stress, typically psychological stress.

Not forgetting environmental stressors, such as toxins, pollutants, sun exposure.

The facial region is typically where they are more common, especially on the forehead area and in between the eyebrows.

Why Do We Get Stress Wrinkles?

Stress is everywhere.  But it may stem from work, relationships, finances and even our physical environment.

However, it is interesting to learn the science behind it all…

The answer can be summed up into one word: telomeres.  I know you are thinking what the heck are they?  Well, they are the caps at the end of each strand of DNA that protect our chromosomes.  A bit like the plastic covering at the end of a shoelace.

A telomere is a region of repetitive DNA sequences at the end of a chromosome.  Telomeres protect the ends of chromosomes from becoming frayed or tangled.

Each time a cell divides, the telomeres become slightly shorter.  Eventually, they become so short that the cell can no longer divide successfully and the cell dies.  Leading to aging.

Stress also has this effect too.  When we become stressed we tend to have shorter telomeres.

When the telomeres shorten in length to a certain point, they can no longer replicate, and this will lead to the signs of aging.  

Stress-Related Wrinkles vs. Age-Related Wrinkles

Wrinkles caused by aging occur due to the decrease in collagen and elastin.

In our twenties we begin to produce less collagen and although we can’t stop aging completely, we can help slow it down by making lifestyle adjustments.

For example. wearing SPF and adhering to a healthy skin regimen.  Stress, however, may lead to premature signs of aging such as wrinkles, pigmentation, and under eye circles.  If you are in your thirties or older and under chronic psychological stress, you may see the appearance of both age-related and stress related wrinkles more, versus wrinkles just from aging alone.

How to Prevent Stress Wrinkles

Avoiding stress is easier said than done. Here are some expert tips for easing up the process.

• Create a routine: Implement a stress-relief routine in your daily life, this could mean exercising, meditating, or journaling.
• Stay hydrated: When you are under chronic stress, it’s easy to forget to stay hydrated, and this can compound the problem. This is both moisturising the skin externally and internally by drinking enough water.
• Modify your lifestyle: Living a healthy lifestyle overall, eating a well-rounded diet, limiting alcohol intake, avoiding smoking, and implementing breathing techniques often.
• Sleep well: While this may seem like a given, aiming for eight hours of sleep can help the body repairs damage to the skin.
• Wear SPF: Use a sunscreen daily that has an SPF of at least 30 (or products containing sunscreen) especially in the facial areas and that includes the winter months!
• Stimulate collagen: “Treatments to stimulate collagen can help prevent as well as soften existing fine lines. These treatments include microdermabrasion, enzyme peels, microneedling and chemical peels.

 

Products for Stress Wrinkles

From vitamin C to retinol, there are a fair amount of ingredients used in skincare products that are meant to help combat or soften stress-induced wrinkles.

Exfoliation is essential in the overall health of your skin.  The enzymes in LA’s Chocolate Mask are work together to gently dissolve and slough off dead skin cells that might otherwise make wrinkles look more pronounced.

An essential antioxidant that brightens the complexion, vitamin C can also reduce damage caused by free radicals in the environment.  You will find Vitamin C in our Soft as Silk Serum.

I would highly recommend applying a sunscreen daily.  Our Whipped Cream smooth formula serves as a daytime moisturiser and SPF in one and blends flawlessly underneath makeup.

Having a strengthened skin barrier ensures skin can hold onto moisture.  LA’s Plump me up’s lightweight facial gel improves the skin structure, provide hydration and reduce the look of age spots.

Lots of love

This is all said with love, I know many people have different opinions and that is absolutely fine.  Any questions just ask…

Much love.