Measures for sensitive skin! How to reduce stress

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I'm Sato, a staff member at "up me".

This time, the theme is "Taking care of sensitive skin! How to reduce stress."

Sensitive skin is one of the skin concerns that modern women face. When you reach your 30s and 40s, symptoms such as dry skin, redness, and dullness appear, and stress and lifestyle habits often affect your skin. However, did you know that sensitive skin can be improved with proper care and lifestyle changes? Here, we will introduce you to ways to care for sensitive skin while reducing stress. We hope that this guide will help you heal your skin and mind, and lead you to healthy beauty.

The relationship between sensitive skin and stress

Sensitive skin is a condition in which the barrier function of the skin is weakened and the skin reacts hypersensitively to external stimuli. There are various possible causes, but stress is one of them. It is important to understand the mechanism by which stress affects the skin and to deal with it well.

Skin barrier function and stress

• What is the skin's barrier function? In the stratum corneum, which covers the outermost surface of the skin, keratinocytes are arranged like bricks, and lipids such as ceramides exist between them like cement. This is the skin's barrier structure, which prevents the intrusion of external stimuli, allergens, bacteria, etc., and prevents moisture from evaporating from the skin.

• The effect of stress on the skin's barrier function : When we are stressed, the sympathetic nervous system becomes dominant and the adrenal glands secrete stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones temporarily enhance the skin's barrier function and provide resistance to stress. However, under chronic stress, these hormones continue to be secreted in excess, disrupting the skin's barrier function. As a result, the skin becomes more prone to dryness, causing sensitive skin and rough skin.

Stress factors that aggravate sensitive skin

There are many different stress factors that can worsen sensitive skin. The most common are:

• Mental stress : Mental stress from work, relationships, financial issues, etc. has a significant impact on sensitive skin. When anxiety and tension continue, the sympathetic nervous system becomes constantly dominant, disrupting the skin's barrier function.

• Physical stress : Lack of sleep, accumulated fatigue, and an irregular lifestyle can all lead to physical stress. Adequate sleep and rest are essential for maintaining skin turnover and barrier function.

• Environmental stressors : Environmental factors such as air pollution, pollen and dust can also trigger sensitive skin, especially during hay fever season and polluted urban air, which can directly irritate the skin.

Why Vitamin C is good for sensitive skin

Vitamin C is recommended for sensitive skin care due to its excellent antioxidant properties and ability to stimulate collagen production.

• Protects skin with antioxidant properties : Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that fights oxidative stress in the skin. Sensitive skin is more susceptible to oxidative stress due to a weakened barrier function of the skin. Vitamin C scavenges free radicals and prevents damage to skin cells.

• Promotes collagen production : Vitamin C is an essential ingredient for collagen synthesis. Collagen is an important protein for maintaining skin elasticity and firmness, and plays a role in supporting the structure of the skin. Sensitive skin tends to lack collagen and become thin, so supplementing with vitamin C can promote collagen production and strengthen the skin structure.

How to effectively consume Vitamin C

To effectively consume vitamin C, it is recommended to approach it through both oral intake and topical application (skin care products).

• Oral intake : Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, so excess is excreted from the body. Therefore, it is important to take it daily and continuously. Be sure to actively incorporate vitamin C supplements and foods rich in vitamin C. Foods rich in vitamin C include citrus fruits, paprika, broccoli, and kiwi fruit.

• Topical agents (skin care products) : There is also a way to deliver vitamin C directly to the skin as a skin care product. Vitamin C is an unstable ingredient, so you need to choose an effective product. We recommend products containing vitamin C derivatives. Vitamin C derivatives are ingredients designed to allow vitamin C to easily penetrate the skin, reaching deep into the skin and promoting collagen production.

Points to consider when choosing skin care products containing vitamin C derivatives

Many skin care products containing vitamin C derivatives are easy to use on sensitive skin. Use the following points as a reference when choosing a product that suits you.

• Are stable vitamin C derivatives used ? Vitamin C is an unstable ingredient, so it needs to be stabilized before it can be made into a product. Examples of stable vitamin C derivatives include ascorbyl glucoside, disodium magnesum ascorbyl phosphate, and ascorbyl tetrahexyldecanoate. These derivatives have excellent skin permeability and stability.

• Formulated for sensitive skin : It is also recommended to choose a product containing vitamin C derivatives from a skin care brand for sensitive skin. In general, products for sensitive skin tend to be gentle and less irritating to the skin.

• Check the feel when using : It is important to use skin care products every day, so check the feel when using them. Choose a product with a texture that is not sticky and blends well with the skin.

Care for sensitive skin with a cream containing vitamin C derivatives

Creams containing vitamin C derivatives are effective products for treating sensitive skin. They provide nutrients and moisture to the skin while forming a protective film on the skin's surface, supporting the skin's barrier function.

• How to choose a cream containing vitamin C derivatives : When choosing a cream containing vitamin C derivatives, check whether it uses a stable vitamin C derivative and whether it is formulated for sensitive skin, just like the points for choosing skin care products mentioned above. Also, since creams stay on the skin for a long time, it is important to choose one that is gentle on the skin. Choose one that contains natural moisturizing ingredients that gently moisturize the skin.

• How to use Vitamin C Derivative Cream : Use Vitamin C Derivative Cream after washing your face and conditioning your skin with lotion and serum. Take an appropriate amount and gently apply it to your entire face. You can also apply more to areas where you are particularly concerned about dryness or sensitive skin. It is important to incorporate it into your morning and evening skin care routine and use it continuously.

Vitamin C is also effective in preventing dullness

Those with sensitive skin may be concerned about dullness. Dullness is caused by skin pigmentation, poor circulation, thickening of the keratin, etc. Vitamin C can also address these causes of dullness.

• Improves pigmentation : Vitamin C suppresses the excessive production of melanin and improves pigmentation. It prevents age spots, freckles, and pigmentation caused by sunburn, leading to brighter skin.

• Promotes blood circulation for a clearer complexion : Vitamin C also strengthens blood vessels and improves blood flow. Improved blood circulation allows sufficient oxygen and nutrients to reach the skin, promoting skin metabolism. As a result, skin becomes clearer and dullness is improved.

• Exfoliation is also important : When dead skin cells build up, skin can appear dull. Vitamin C also softens the dead skin cells, making them easier to peel off. Exfoliation helps normalize skin turnover, resulting in brighter skin.

Stretching to improve sensitive skin

Stretching increases your flexibility and improves blood flow. Stretching can also help improve sensitive skin.

• Why stretching is good for sensitive skin : Stretching has the effect of loosening muscles and improving blood flow. When blood flow improves, sufficient oxygen and nutrients reach the skin, promoting skin metabolism. As a result, the skin's barrier function is strengthened and sensitive skin is improved. Stretching also has the effect of regulating the autonomic nervous system. When the autonomic nervous system is regulated, the balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems is restored, reducing stress on the skin.

• Recommended stretches for sensitive skin : The recommended stretches for sensitive skin are not strenuous, but are gentle muscle stretches. It is a good idea to incorporate movements such as yoga and pilates. In particular, stretches that stretch the muscles of the shoulders, neck, and chest are recommended. These muscles tend to become stiff due to use of computers and smartphones, which also affects the blood flow to the skin. Stretch your muscles while being conscious of breathing slowly.

"Careful living" improves sensitive skin

"Careful living" means living a relaxed life while paying careful attention to things. This "careful living" also leads to the improvement of sensitive skin.

• Why "careful living" is effective for sensitive skin : Our lives tend to be stimulating and hectic due to our busy schedules and information overload. This type of lifestyle disrupts the autonomic nervous system and causes stress to the skin. On the other hand, "careful living" regulates the autonomic nervous system and reduces stress on the skin by paying attention to things and living a relaxed life. "Careful living" also places importance on adjusting lifestyle habits such as diet, sleep, and exercise. Adjusting these lifestyle habits improves the condition of the skin and improves sensitive skin.

• Tips for living a "careful life" : To practice a "careful life", first make time to relax. Consciously create time to relax in the midst of your hectic daily life. During that time, make sure to chew your food thoroughly and savor it, and get enough sleep. It is also important to spend time in nature. Spend more time in nature, such as going for walks or gardening.

Diet to improve sensitive skin

Diet is also an important factor in improving sensitive skin. Food is what makes up the skin and also plays a role in supporting the skin from the inside.

• Incorporate foods that are good for the skin : Foods that are good for the skin are those that are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. For example, good fats such as avocados, nuts, and olive oil, green and yellow vegetables such as broccoli and peppers, and fruits such as berries and citrus fruits are recommended. These foods not only provide the building blocks for the skin, but also have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, protecting the skin from the inside.

• Avoid foods that are bad for your skin : However, there are foods that are bad for your skin, such as refined carbohydrates, sugar, trans fats, and alcohol. These foods can worsen skin inflammation and disrupt the skin's barrier function.

Lifestyle habits to improve sensitive skin

Lifestyle habits are also an important factor in improving sensitive skin. Your daily lifestyle habits have a big impact on your skin condition.

• Get enough sleep : Sleep is an important time for skin repair and renewal, so getting enough sleep strengthens the skin's barrier function and improves sensitive skin.

• Don't forget to hydrate : Dry skin is a major factor in sensitive skin. Staying hydrated will help prevent dry skin and improve sensitive skin.

• Get some moderate exercise : Exercise improves blood flow and promotes skin metabolism. Make light exercise such as yoga or walking a habit.

• Take good care of your skin : Skin care is important for maintaining the condition of your skin. In particular, cleansing and washing your face can easily irritate the skin, so be careful and gentle when doing so.

Summary: Sensitive skin can be improved by reducing stress

Sensitive skin is a condition in which the skin's barrier function is weakened and the skin becomes hypersensitive to various factors. Stress is one of these factors, and can disrupt the skin's barrier function and worsen sensitive skin. However, as introduced in this article, there are various ways to reduce stress and improve sensitive skin, such as taking vitamin C, skin care, stretching, and practicing "careful living." Skin is deeply connected to our minds. Taking good care of your skin will also soothe your mind and cultivate healthy beauty. We hope this article will be useful in caring for your skin and mind.

I sincerely hope that you will be able to spend your time in peace.