Integrating Mindfulness into Daily Skincare Routines
Your skin is a reflection of your inner health. When you are stressed or eat a poor diet, you’re far more likely to experience an acne flare-up. Similarly, when you’re dehydrated or fatigued, you may find that your skin looks a little gray and your eyes become puffy.
Rather than ignoring puffy eyes and dark circles, get to the root of the problem by embracing a more mindful, holistic approach to skincare. A mindful approach will help you maintain your looks for longer and will ensure that your skin has all the resources it needs to repair and rejuvenate properly.
Mindful skincare also helps you identify underlying issues. This is key, as sometimes a quick medical intervention with a dermatologist can solve your flair-ups and receive treatment for more serious conditions. This can help you overcome skin-related stress and boost your overall well-being.
Stress Management
Stress is a serious issue in the USA. 83% of working Americans[1] say that they experience high stress on a daily basis, and 76% say they’re so stressed it affects their relationships. Thirty-nine percent of people say their workload is the root cause of their heightened stress levels.
If you are overstressed due to work, you may want to consider seeking a career move to a more supportive environment. If, however, you’re content in your role but still experience periods of heightened stress, mindfulness may be the answer. You can start your journey towards more mindful living and create a more mindful space at home by:
- Dedicating a nook or room to mindfulness and meditation;
- Declutter and clean regularly;
- Incorporate calming colors like grays, pastels, and lavenders;
- Set an ambience with mood lighting and candles.
These steps will help you destress after work and create a more calming space for you and your family. This can have a huge impact on your skincare, as stress can cause skin issues[2] like hives, spots, and rashes.
You can also learn to better manage your stress by utilizing mindfulness strategies that raise your resilience[3]. Grounding techniques (like the 5-4-3-2-1 method) and body scans can help you handle the physical manifestation of stress and reduce your risk of sudden flare-ups or tired-looking skin.
Holistic Health
Mindfulness is about far more than deep breathing and meditation. True mindfulness is designed to help you take a more holistic approach to health and wellbeing. Embracing this holistic element of mindfulness is crucial if you regularly skip sleep, eat a poor diet, and are dehydrated. When engaging in a mindful practice like journaling, consider noting down 5 healthy habits you’d like to form.
For example, if you regularly fail to drink enough water, you may want to set a goal like “I will drink at least 8 cups of water per day.” If you notice that your skin still doesn’t improve, you may want to invest in a water filter. This is key, as poor water quality can undermine your health[4] and cause conditions like skin irritation, rashes, and cercarial dermatitis. Left unchecked, poor water quality can even cause issues like headaches and cognitive impairment.
You can also retain more youthful skin by embracing healthy living and lifestyles. If you aren’t already, try to eat a healthier diet that contains foods that have a lower glycemic index, like beans, fish, and green vegetables. Pair these meals with foods rich in antioxidants, and you’re likely to see improvements to your skin, mental well-being, and physical health.
Medical Advice
Mindfulness is a great way to bolster resilience, build better habits, and maintain your mental health. However, mindfulness alone isn’t always going to improve your skin. Instead, you may need to seek medical intervention to deal with issues related to your skin. It may be time to see a dermatologist if[5]:
- Your acne is persistent and is resistant to over-the-counter measures;
- You have any symptoms or signs of skin cancer[6];
- You have developed symptoms related to psoriasis, rosacea, eczema, warts, and nail infections;
- You’re considering cosmetic surgeries like Botox or liposuction.
Speaking to a medical professional is crucial for your skin and your overall well-being. A quick visit to the dermatologist can take a weight off your shoulders if you’re worried about a strange spot or are concerned about eczema. This is fundamental to embracing a mindful approach, as fears about skin conditions will only worsen if you put off seeking medical treatment.
Conclusion
Mindfulness is a core component of many well-being routines. Taking a mindful approach to skincare can help you build better habits and reduce your overall stress, too. This can be transformative if you’re experiencing flair-ups whenever work or relationships throw you off-kilter. Just be sure to follow up with a dermatologist if necessary, as they can help identify issues in your lifestyle and will set you up for skincare success.
[1] https://www.stress.org/workplace-stress
[2] https://www.bupa.co.uk/newsroom/ourviews/does-stress-cause-skin-problems
[3] https://psychcentral.com/lib/mindfulness-the-art-of-cultivating-resilience
[4] https://www.thetortdefenders.com/5-unexpected-ways-that-water-quality-can-affect-your-health/
[5] https://www.westlakedermatology.com/blog/why-see-a-dermatologist
[6] https://www.mdanderson.org/cancer-types/skin-cancer/skin-cancer-symptoms.html
