Worsened Skin Conditions: What’s The Reason?

No matter what type of skin you have, your complexion is bound to change over time. This could be due to a variety of reasons—both internal and external. For those of you with skin conditions—whether it be eczema, rosacea, or hyperpigmentation—your skin is even more susceptible to these factors.

To make matters worse, without a proper understanding of what is specifically causing these changes to happen, you’re more likely to worsen the overall quality of your complexion. That’s why it’s important to take the time to learn about your unique skin and the different ways it can become negatively impacted. Not sure where to start? For different health guides and tips you can check out RollingPaper.

Here are four factors that may be negatively affecting your skin condition:

1.  Environmental changes

Have you ever noticed that your skin becomes drier during the colder months? This is due to environmental changes. As seasons move from one to the next, there are physical shifts you may notice around you that can directly affect your skin and overall wellbeing.

During wintertime, for example, you may see that in addition to colder temperatures, there is also a drop in humidity levels, causing a lack of moisture in the air. In turn, this may cause your skin to look/feel irritated, dry, and/or inflamed.

For this reason, it’s vital to adjust your skincare routine with the seasons. Even if you have an oily skin type, you’ll want to be sure to incorporate restoring skincare products into your winter skincare regimen. For optimal results, search for products with ingredients such as tretinoin as it will serve to support your skin’s natural barrier and protect it from any external changes going on around you.

2.  Stress

A less-obvious reason for a worsened skin condition is stress. When you start feeling overwhelmed, your body responds by releasing hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, which work to prompt your sebaceous glands to produce more oil. As a result, your pores are more likely to get clogged, and your skin is more likely to suffer from breakouts. Additionally, if you struggle with a skin condition such as eczema or rosacea, your symptoms could potentially worsen.

On account of this, it’s a good idea to practice stress-management activities. Try doing things like yoga, meditation, or deep breathing exercises to help you release the weight of your pressures and take back control of your life!

3.  Alcohol consumption

Your skin is your body’s largest organ, so it’s no surprise that when it comes to alcohol, your skin is at risk. Besides its ability to dehydrate or worsen normal, healthy skin, it can also exacerbate other skin conditions like psoriasis as it affects several different bodily systems.

A recent study found that women who consumed more than two to three drinks per week were more likely to experience an increase in the severity of psoriasis. On the other hand, men who consumed a large intake of alcohol (four to five drinks per day) were also at a higher risk in the development and severity of this skin condition. To prevent this from happening to you, make sure to drink a glass of water in between each alcoholic drink you consume. This will allow you to get the best of both worlds—healthy-looking skin and your drink of choice!

4.  Sun exposure

There’s nothing wrong with getting your daily dose of Vitamin D! Still, when you have a skin condition such as hyperpigmentation or melasma, it’s important to take extra precaution to protect yourself from dangerous ultraviolet (UV) rays that come from too much sun exposure. Since these types of conditions cause the skin to appear discolored or darkened in certain areas.

When you spend too much time in the sun, the powerful rays have the tendency to stimulate the pigment-making cells in your skin, also known as melanocytes. Consequently, too much sun exposure can cause a surplus of pigment, causing these skin concerns to intensify and become irritated. So, regardless of whether or not you have hyperpigmentation or melasma, it’s crucial to limit the time you spend in the sun and apply sunscreen as needed.