Does your face look duller, fatigued and generally lacking that supple, radiant glow? You may be wondering what went wrong with your skincare, even if you have been diligent with both your morning and night routines.
Skincare is more than just repairing your skin barrier. It also involves maintaining the internal physiological balance. Any disruption within the body can show up on your face, leading to a lacklustre, sallow appearance.
HT Lifestyle reached out to Dr Deepashree R, attending consultant dermatologist at KIMS (Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences) Hospitals, Bengaluru, who suggested that an aged face is ‘cortisol face.’ Stress is identified as the primary reason, making the skin age much faster than normal.
Why does stress age your face faster?
Cortisol face is the result of long-term stress, not a single bad day at work. Dr Deepashree attributed it to a ‘biological process,’ where low-grade chronic stress acts as a collagen killer.
In fact, excess cortisol in the system changes the structure of the face. “Excess cortisol leads to redistribution of fat to characteristic areas such as the sides of the face and upper back, giving the face a rounded, puffy appearance,” the dermatologist explained.
Collagen and elastin are two fundamentals responsible for skin firmness. But Dr Deepashree mentioned that these two primarily take the hit, which ends up making the skin look more wrinkly with very thin skin texture. The damage is extensive as it makes the skin more sensitive, making one prone to issues like persistent acne and the development of striae (stretch marks).
Vulnerable groups
Cortisol face is more likely to show up incertain vulnerable groups. The dermatologist cautioned that women are more commonly affected. Then she delineated the other risk factors, from age group to existing comorbidities, “Individuals aged 20–50 years who are on long-term steroid therapy for conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, organ transplantation, or other autoimmune disorders are particularly susceptible.”
Management
Cortisol face can be improved. As per the dermat, you can manage it as it is a symptom and not a disease.
Here’s her management hack, addressing the diet first, “Eat a low salt diet, incorporating potassium-rich foods, such as tender coconut water, bananas and spinach, which can help reduce facial puffiness.”
Along with this, she also urged monitoring some key health parameters like checking blood sugar, blood pressure, as well as diabetes and hypertension, which may be some of the causes of cortisol face.
Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
