The life of a caregiver is a constant battle. They spend most of their time taking care of their loved one and divide the remaining time between their family and profession. It leaves them with little time for a sound sleep or relaxation for themselves. Often, they can’t even find time to sit at the dining table and eat their supper in peace. So it’s no wonder that their health bears the brunt of their hectic lifestyle, and their face puts their struggle on display. If you’re a caregiver, we have some helpful tips below for caring for your skin.
The connection between stress and skin breakouts:
As we all know, stress and skin breakouts go hand-in-hand and caregiver burnout which, most of the time, is the by-product of caregiving, creates new skin problems and exacerbates existing ones. It renders skin more sensitive and reactive, while delaying the healing of existing skin issues. Stress, as a result of caregiving, makes eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis worse and may cause hives and several other kinds of skin rashes.
Here are the common skin issues often related to caregiver stress:
Acne
As already mentioned, stress flares up skin issues, including acne. Stress triggers the release of cortisol, which in turn causes the release of a hormone known as corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH). This hormone stimulates oil production from the sebaceous glands clogging your pores and causing acne.
Dry and flaky skin
If you are under the spell of caregiver stress, you may not pay attention to yourself and not consume enough water. It may lead to dehydration, which makes your skin dry and flaky. High caffeine and soda intake make the condition even worse.
Rashes and hives
Stress makes you prone to dysbiosis, a condition caused due to imbalance between good and bad bacteria in the gut. It stimulates the growth of the bad bacteria leading to skin rashes and hives.
Fine lines
If you are stressed, pursed lips and furrowed brows adorn your face, and this makes way for deep wrinkles over time.
Flushed face
Stress disrupts your respiratory cycle. When you are in a stressful condition, you tend to take short and shallow breaths. It can cause redness and flushing.
Under-eye bags
Stress keeps you away from a sound slumber. It causes fluid to accumulate under your lower eyelid causing unsightly under-eye bags.
Graying & thinning of hair
Caregiver stress does not just harm your skin but also your hair. It causes premature graying and excessive hair fall leading to thinning of hair.
Here’s how to take care of your skin:
If you work as a caregiver, you tend to spend less time on yourself. You may miss your regular skin-care routine, which makes things worse for you.
Here is what you can do to reverse the skin problems and regain the luster of your skin:
— No matter what, stick to your regular CTM (cleansing, toning, and moisturizing) routine. Start and end your day with CTM.
— Sleep at least for 8 hours.
— Exercise regularly, even if it is just for 20 minutes. Exercise triggers the release of happy hormones that work well for your skin.
— Reserve at least 10 minutes for yourself. Do something that you enjoy, such as listening to music, reading, or walking amidst lush greens.
— Practice yoga, meditation, and breathing exercises to relieve stress. Even 10 minutes makes a difference.
— Socialize with your friends. Take some time and go out to restaurants or shopping.
— Set realistic expectations for yourself. Overestimating your capabilities will make you prone to more stress.
The bottom line
Taking care of someone is rewarding, but it takes its toll on your skin. By spending some time taking care of your skin, you can prevent your skin from unsightly breakouts.
__________________
