How Your Thoughts Affect Your Skin Health & Youth

It’s a fact that the reflection we see in the mirror ties in strongly with our sense of self.

Physical appearance is our identity; it’s how the world perceives us, and because of this, there’s an intricate connection between skin health and mental health. There’s also an interesting Catch-22 situation in how the health of our skin affects mental health and how mental health, in turn, has an impact on the skin. 

The health of the skin can have a profound impact on a person’s self-esteem and their sense of worth.

There’s barely a person who has walked this earth that hasn’t dealt with a skin issue at some point in their lives, but still, we feel that society sees even the most minor blemishes as a flaw, as a signal that we’re somehow less than our peers with perfectly clear skin.

Skin issues like acne, eczema, and psoriasis are visible. They draw attention to the fact that not everything is perfect. They interfere with how we want to project ourselves to those around us, and even with the best makeup, it’s impossible to hide from their presence.

Skin conditions, especially when chronic, can lead to a distorted self-image and negative self-perceptions. Clinical depression, anxiety, and even suicidal idealization are highly reported in people with chronic skin issues, such as psoriasis when compared to the general population.

The focus seems to be entirely on healing the skin, which is important, but we also need to be looking at how to heal the whole self, including the mind and spirit, so that our self-images are no longer so deeply tied to physical appearance.

There’s nothing that goes on within our bodies that doesn’t eventually show in our skin.

The skin is one of the most effective mirrors for identifying what might be going on inside the body. This applies to mental health as well.

When stress, anxiety, depression, or other types of mental health conditions are present, the body responds by increasing the amount of stress hormones. This is purely a defense mechanism. Your body doesn’t know that you’re stressed about a final exam or that there are relationship problems on the horizon. It thinks you’re out in the wild, fighting for your life, so it’s going to respond to any type of stressful stimuli the same way.

These responses can increase inflammation, which is a trigger for skin conditions such as acne, rosacea, eczema, and psoriasis. This can also slow down the process of skin regeneration on a cellular level, which leads to slow wound healing and slower turnover of unhealthy skin cells.

If you’ve ever noticed that you’re more prone to breakouts when you’re already stressed, this is why. While we might not always be able to control the stressful events in our lives that can lead to temporary skin issues, we do have control over how we react to them, and in that sense, we do have a level of control over how our skin responds as well.

There’s even an entire field of dermatology called psychodermatology that involves the treatments of various skin disorders by addressing the connection between the mind and skin.

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution to finding mental health and peace when you’re dealing with skin concerns.

Being human means, we’re not immune to the psychological effects of not looking our best and feeling like something so deeply personal as our appearance is out of our control.

First, if you’re experiencing serious anxiety, depression, or thoughts of self-harm, speak up immediately and get the help you deserve. If you don’t feel capable of doing this, turn to a trusted family member or friend who can help. The SAMHSA’s hotline is a free, 24/7 hotline for those facing mental health or substance abuse issues. It can be reached at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

The next step is to try to see your body and mind as a more holistic unit and to care for and nourish both.

• Take time daily to appreciate your body, including your skin, for all that it does
• Nourish your body with nutritious, whole foods that are packed with skin-friendly vitamins and nutrients
• Supplement when necessary, but choose effective, quality supplements like SIBU Omega 7 Support
• Invest in a daily skincare routine for your skin type
• Nourish your skin from the outside with moisturizing and healing sea buckthorn oil
• Reach out to a dermatologist or mental health professional who can help you realize that your true worth is more than skin-deep

Sea buckthorn is the richest natural source of Omega 7, which is critically important for healthy skin, hair, and nails.

Sea buckthorn has been used for ages for skin health, with incredible results. Sea buckthorn is also rich in antioxidants and nutrients that can have a positive effect on mental health. It helps to reduce inflammation, may help boost mood, and protect against neurodegenerative decline.

Adding sea buckthorn to your life isn’t a magic elixir, but it can be one part of the solution to healthier, more vibrant skin and improved self-esteem.