Thread: Does stress cause visible aging?

Like the question asks, does stress cause visible aging? It's been a year and a half of extreme stress and I've noticed some changes in my skin that have been surprising. My skin isn't as smooth and firm as it was, neck included. Has anyone experienced this and does it tend to reverse when life normalizes?

I'm 39 by the way.

I believe so. Does that mean that we all need anti-aging vacations? ..g.:

anto oxidants !!!! stress builds plack

Yup, for sure. At the risk of giving a yukky example, it's the artificial reduction of worry that often gives long-term junkies that old-young look, at least that's what many people I know who used to use reckon. Startlingly youthful in some ways.

I think it can be reversed to some degree. My best friend had a VERY stressful childbirth experience, she was very sick. It wasn't till a few years later that I looked at photos of her at her daughter's christening and thought "damn, she looked OLDER then than she does now!"

Eating well - like Cory says, antioxidants are supposed to be great - and giving yourself nice experiences can't hurt, right?

Yes, stress and it's associated behaviors - not sleeping enouhg, not eating right, not getting enough exercise, or staying hydrated - are all key causes of premature aging. Not just with skin, but with the entire body.

The good news is that there are lots of ways to reduce stress. Drink lots of water. Get up and away from your desk on a regular basis, even if it is just to walk around the office. Trust me, the work isn't going anywhere! It'll be there when you get back! Desk Yoga! Really! Who cares what your other stressed out co-workers think! Once every 90 mins, take 5 and go to Youtube and find the funniest videos you can and LAUGH OUT LOUD!!!! Drink plenty of water through out the day, listen to and respect your body. If it is telling you to go pee, go pee! And remember to count your blessing.

Double check that everything in your environment is working - lighting , the setting on your chair, the height on your keyboard and monitor.

Now I am assuming that this is mainly work related. A lot of this can be transferred to other areas of your life. Sometimes rearranging the furniture is enough to change the energy. But really, the bottom line in all of this is to make the adjustments necessary so that you are taking care of yourself first, that way you are available to take care of others and the responsibilities you have chosen to take on.

{{{HUGS}}}

I know somebody who had a very stressful job. He left that job, and went on to something less stressful, and 6 months later he looked MUCH younger than he had at the time he left that stressful job.

So yes, stress can make you look older, and yes, once you have emerged from the stressful situation you can look younger again.

Tahira gave some great tips for coping. Let me add my favorite to the list: hot baths! I fill the bathtub with hot water, and add my favorite scented bath salts. I turn out the lights, and lie in the hot water in the dark. And then I close my eyes and let my mind drift. It's heavenly!

It's hard to say whether what you are experiencing is reversible. Unfortunately for all of us, there is a point where these sorts of changes aren't completely reversible merely by modifying your lifestyle. Aging happens, and usually these sorts of "I didn't use to..." things start hitting around forty, give or take a few years--but this might be a temporary situation caused by stress, and you might not hit "real" middle age until years from now. When that particular stage of life will reach critical mass for you or anyone else is a complex blend of lifestyle and genetics.

There are a lot of good suggestions for minimizing stress-related effects of aging here. One thing that I don't think has been mentioned yet is the value of using good skincare products, particularly moisturizers and sunscreen. If you are really concerned about premature aging and skin texture, a dermatologist or reputable aesthetician/cosmetologist can suggest products for you. None of this means you have to buy into an expensive system of potions and all sorts of aggressive treatments, though. You might find that you can see improvement by switching to a different drugstore moisturizer, limiting the temperature/length of hot showers, and using a humidifier in your house.

Absolutely!

I strongly believe in trying to eat a "colorful"diet,going to bed early,not smoking and most importantly:use sunscreen everyday.
(Eating mackerel,salmon and sardines often can make a change in the skin&hair too)

A treatment that keeps my complexion in good shape(still get carded at 34) is AHA:s&retinoids+antioxidants;starting out low procentage is the way to go with both the acids and retionoids.
They can both give a tightening,lifting effect as well as smoother,glowing skin.


http://www.paulaschoice.com/product/...aha-exfoliants
http://www.paulaschoice.com/product/...ioxidant-serum

I´m in no way affiliated with PC products,but have been very happy with her own and the products the company recommends beside their own.

Right now I´m using this lines sunsceen&glycolic moisturizer(recommend starting out with the 10%,I´m up to 20% now).
http://skincarerx.com/topix-moisturizers.html

Of course how you *feel*is more important than how you look..but thought I´ll share some "beauty secrets";)

Hope this helps,
hugs Emma

All the above info is correct, a lot of it is psycological as well, u feel bad u tend to sag and wither not in just stature but the whole body is effected, you cant stop aging but u can slow it down or u can assist it, to much sun, smoking, fast foods, processed foods, dehydration, stress and no exercise. I have had a lot of stress in my life and now I laught at it a lot, I belly dnce, I pole dance, I burlesque dance, my body tells me what I need and the secret is to listen to it and watch it. I use blue berries like a natural vitamin tablet, lots of pure water, exercise, natural foods and laughter, moisturisers and organic products, it maybe doesnt stop all the stress but it squashes it to a manage level and u do see changes in skin structure and colour, ah thats my 2 cents worth

Bree
..l;,

Continual stress creates lines of tension and worry in your expression that may become engraved there, after months or years, making you appear older. It also creates a tension in your shoulders and elsewhere affecting your posture--another sad-looking malfunction you don't want to become permmanent.

When you're worried, you may not feel like making an effort to exercise. This snowballs: as your body stiffens and weakens, you feel even less like exercising. Then you've got an unfit body, which surely is aging.

I've becomes convinced that alcohol is poisonous; and though it may seem to help people relax, it creates more stress in your body, as it has to spend the next day detoxing. Eventually it does have unattractive results for your skin.

Breeze is right that laughter is healthy. Studies indicate it has beneficial results on the body and mind. But of course that's hard to do when you have worries. I read professional advice that said: Find something you consider funny and fun--for one person it was old Marx Brothers moves, but whatever--and use that regularly as therapy, if you're not lucky enough to live with a person who has a great sense of humor to help you lighten up.

While a lot of aging is natural and permanent, it's reassuring that stress-related aging does seem to reduce when you get away from the source of stress. In my 20s, I was in a horrible marriage. I looked older at 25 than I did at 35, when I was out of that and much more relaxed.

Also, as a teacher, I've seen that any photo taken of me during the summer when I'm relaxed and well-rested looks 5-10 years younger than ones taken during the school year--so I think some of the wrinkles, dull skin, eye bags, saggy looking body, etc. can reverse if you can escape the stress.

So to add to the list: meditation, massages, time to read a good book or get together with friends--anything that makes you feel obligated to no one or nothing but your own well-being.

There's alot of empirical evidence that mirrors cause visible aging. There should be legislation that they only be sold with warning labels on them.

Add massage to your care regimen if you can... whether once a week or once a month, it helps relieve stress patterns held in your muscles that can simulate every form of ache or pain associated with aging, help you to reconnect with your body and its needs, limits and potential, and it stimulates circulation while decreasing blood pressure.

I also practice yoga, and believe me- if I miss it, I feel a thousand times more stressed.

My favorite anti-agers? Massage, yoga, and sleep. If you can't manage at least one of these... and I've been there... I'm so sorry!