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How quarantine has made your skin feel like it aged years

February 1, 2021

Despite quarantine giving us a lot of time to self-reflect, it’s also severely impacted the aging process.
Poor food choices and a sedentary lifestyle are causing our skin to deteriorate.
Not only does this affect our self-esteem, but also increases our stress levels; which only serves to worsen the process.

It’s become a tune that’s played repeatedly in almost every dermatologist appointment: a patient walks in, visibly disturbed, then moans that they seem to have aged almost a decade in the past couple of months! Now the question is, could this be one of the psychological effects of quarantine exhaustion…or has lockdown truly accelerated the aging process? Especially when it comes to our sensitive and fragile skins? To get to the bottom of this, we have to analyze the underlying theme that’s at play here. It could be that these sentiments are coming primarily from the impact of persistent stress; which may have far-reaching implications on the pores and skin than regular intervals of acute stress. Stress boosts neurological and endocrine responses to perceived threats, and prolonged activation of these responses can translate to shocking abnormalities in the immune system. This prolonged activation can also result in the increase of free radicals that cause visible DNA damage that translates to skin-quality deterioration. That’s because the brain responds to perceived threats either through a flight-or-fight response, increasing your adrenaline levels and subsequently leading to the production of stress hormones such as cortisol. As you know, high levels of cortisol can leave undesirable effects on your body, especially your skin. It also affects your mood, and elevated levels of it can make you feel as if your appearance is not as vibrant as it once was. “It can actually inhibit your body’s production of hyaluronic acid, collagen, and lipids. Hyaluronic acid binds a thousand times its weight in water, so it really helps to plump up the skin, and collagen is the triple-helix protein that keeps the skin tight and firm, helping to prevent wrinkles and fine lines,” says, Whitney Bowe, a New York City-based dermatologist and writer of the critically acclaimed book, The Beauty of Dirty Skin. Bowe also believes that lipids are an essential fat that improves the pores and skin’s potential to work effectively as a barrier. Once this barrier is compromised, it results in transepidermal water loss. And hence, our skin dries up because water is more likely to escape. Additionally, pollutants, irritants, and allergens are likely to pass through and cause severe inflammation. In fact, the past year alone has seen a rising number of patients visiting New York City aestheticians complaining of inflammation on their skin. According to Boston-based dermatologist, Ranella Hirsch, a lot of it has to do with stress, as well as individuals overdoing their daily skin routines during this pandemic. “Too much free time to experiment with skincare means lots of damaged barriers and inflamed faces. That irritation can quickly age the appearance.” That aside, living in a pandemic also means that people have to frequently carry and wear masks. Plus let’s not forget that poor practices in mask washing can lead to an increase in the number of congested pores, as well as dermatitis across the mouth. Staying indoors also means that there is an increase in the frequency of alcohol and caffeine consumption, resulting in dehydration. With all these factors coming into play simultaneously, there’s no denying that the skin is facing an uphill battle. But there’s a more sinister factor in the works; one that Hirsch has infamously dubbed as the watched pot. “Never in modern history have so many people had the collective time to stare at their faces up close. It’s impossible to underestimate how much looking at ourselves at less than flattering angles and lighting has impacted our sense of our appearance,” Hirsch says. While many of us instinctively rush for our sunscreen and antioxidant serums to solve our skin issues, Hirsch believes that the best remedies for our pores and skin is a nutritious diet rich in vegetables and fruits, sufficient sleep, hydrating regularly—and observing our mental health. In short, be mild with yourself and let your skin recover!

References: https://us.newschant.com/lifestyle/aging-in-quarantine-its-been-fast-and-furious/

How quarantine has made your skin feel like it aged years

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