Ever heard of the saying that “true beauty comes from within”?

Well, this is definitely true, but this time we mean it literarily, not metaphorically. When you are happy, your eyes have a different sparkle in them and your smile illuminates everything around you, but there is one more thing…

Your skin and face are the best indicators to see if you are healthy and feeling good. 

Because skin diseases are associated with a series of psychological reactions, there is even a medical field that digs deep into the phenomenon of mind-beauty connection. 

It is called psychodermatology and as some medics explain it – it is where the mind and the skin meet.

How chronic stress can damage your skin is by overproducing stress hormone called cortisol, which affects the skin barrier. This barrier keeps pollutants, allergens, and irritants out of your skin and moisture – inside. 

The overproduction of cortisol slows the production of beneficial oils, and that leads to transepidermal water loss. It also alters with skins pH, thereafter, compromising your skin’s microbiome and that may lead to an overgrowth of so-called bad bacteria. 

There are different medical conditions that can be worsened by emotional stress, therefore if you notice that your skin is looking a little bit off lately, you should think about your mental health and focus on things you could do to make yourself feel better. 

You have to put energy into making yourself feel better to look better! 

One of the things that could do miracles for your health is breathing exercises. Deep breathing is considered to be one of the best ways to reduce stress levels in your body. 

How breathing exercises lower stress?

Concentration on your breathing and doing deep breathing exercises activate your parasympathetic nervous system. It can therefore lower your heart rate and that will cause you to relax. 

Essentially, it works by making your body feel like it does when you are relaxed. 

In the time of distress try using one of the most popular breathing exercises frequently used in yoga practice – abdominal breathing. 

Place one of your hands on your chest and the other on your stomach. Slowly breathe in through your nose, letting that oxygen slowly inflate your diaphragm, not your chest creating a slight stretching sensation. Hold that breath in for a little bit and then slowly exhale.

Try to get your breathing down to approximately 7-10 breaths per minute and keep breathing like this for at least 10 minutes. This technique can help you slow down your heart rate as well as blood pressure. 

You can even try the 4-4-8 breathing technique, where you breathe in through your nose for 4 counts, then hold your breath for 4 counts, and then slowly exhale all of the oxygen for 8 counts to return to the bottom of your breath. 

Remember that it takes time, so don’t doubt yourself and keep doing the breathing exercises even if you do not feel any changes after a week.

Incorporating the breathing exercises part of your daily habit will slowly help your body to be calmer and normalize cortisol production. Normalizing the stress hormone levels will let your skin be healthier and more radiant. 

You will not only look better, but you will also feel better as your body will slowly learn to process and let go of stress.