FACING THE TRUTH

Trying to pinpoint the source of your skin stressors? You’re in luck. Dr. Mark Lupin of Cosmedica in Victoria has broken down the three sources of stress to watch out for — and also how they manifest on the skin.

1 Emotional stress

What it is: Stress caused by mental or emotional triggers.

What it looks like: Frown lines, rosacea flares, acne flares, seborrheic dermatitis flares, puffiness under the eyes and a tired look.

2 Environmental stress

What it is: Stress and skin aging caused by external factors such as UV light exposure and damage, as well as smoking or environmental pollutants.

What it looks like: Accelerated aging of the skin such as brown sun spots, dilated red spider veins, sallow complexion with loss of the youthful glow and irregular skin texture. A condition called Favre-Racouchot syndrome can present with blackheads on the cheeks. Precancerous lesions called “actinic keratosis” can manifest and there is also an increased risk for skin cancer. Infrared rays penetrate more deeply than ultraviolet rays and can cause increased skin laxity — heavy jowls is one presentation of this.

3 Intrinsic stress

What it is: Stress caused by “wear and tear” such as repetitive blinking, squinting — and even talking. What it looks like: Primarily shows as wrinkles, creases and folds.