It’s Written All Over Your Face: Leading Dermatologist Joshua Fox, MD Explains How Stress Can Wreak Havoc on Skin, Provides Tips to Improve Skin Health

Stressed out? You might find yourself pigging out on sugary snacks, snapping at your kids or lying awake half the night. And it will show on your skin because stress can lead to skin problems, as well. “We know that stress can have a dramatic effect on the immune system,” says Joshua Fox, MD, founder of Advanced Dermatology and a spokesman for the American Academy of Dermatology. “And quite often, that can create immune-related responses in the skin.”

Everyone faces stress, and we’re all familiar with the theory of “fight or flight,” which explains how our ancestors were able to survive the life-and-death stresses that they encountered. The stress response puts your whole body into high gear, boosting the systems that would help you face a physical threat and suppressing functions that aren’t essential at the moment (this includes the immune system). Once the crisis has passed, everything goes back to normal.

Unfortunately, the psychological “threats” that most of us face today are ongoing, meaning they trigger a never-ending stress response. The body gets stuck in fight-or-flight mode — and all those systems that were temporarily suppressed can stay that way. “In today’s world, the physiological changes that are part of the stress response get misrouted,” Dr. Fox explains. “Instead of helping you attack or run away, they’re triggering inflammatory, autoimmune or allergic reactions.”

Studies have shown that psychological stress can create problems such as acne, hair loss, eczema, psoriasis and rosacea. For example, a study of college students showed that acne got markedly worse at exam time. Other studies show that stress leaves skin open to infection. “Stress seems to disrupt the skin’s antimicrobial barrier and reduce the production of chemicals necessary for the synthesis of fats,” Dr. Fox explains. “That means stressed-out skin loses its ability to defend and rebuild itself.”

If you think stress might be causing problems in your skin, see your dermatologist. And consider stress-relieving tactics, which have been shown to help alleviate some skin problems. “We don’t fully understand the biological mechanisms that might be involved, but we know that relaxation does improve your outlook and helps you do things — like eating healthier food, sleeping better and getting more exercise — that improve the health of your skin,” Dr. Fox says.

Here are a few to try:
Meditation. Research shows that psoriasis patients who listened to meditation tapes while receiving ultraviolet light treatments healed much faster than patients who did not use the tapes.

Biofeedback. In one published study, a 56-year-old woman who had suffered from severe psoriasis for several years (and had no luck with standard medical treatments) was cured after 13 weeks of biofeedback therapy.

Hypnosis. One study found that psoriasis patients who were susceptible to hypnosis treatments improved more than patients who resisted hypnosis. Hypnosis has also helped get rid of warts and cure hair loss (in one study, 57 percent of patients had total or partial hair regrowth after undergoing hypnosis).

Talk therapy. It’s been estimated that as many as 60 percent of people who seek treatment for skin problems also have emotional issues, and we know that anger, depression and anxiety all affect the immune system. “Being aware of what’s stressing you can help your overall health — and your skin,” Dr. Fox says.

Bio: Joshua L. Fox, M.D., F.A.A.D
Joshua L. Fox, M.D., is a leading authority in the field of dermatology with an expertise in skin cancer, cosmetic surgery, and laser procedures. As an official spokesperson for the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Dr. Fox has been an expert resource on dermatologic topics for numerous televisions networks, including ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and Telemundo, talk shows, radio stations, newspapers and magazines. He has received multiple research and clinical awards, including recognition from Top Doctors, Who’s Who, Journal of Dermatologic Surgery and Oncology, Community Service Award from the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, the prestigious Husic Award, as well as certificates of recognition for service from multiple hospitals, civic, educational and community organizations. Dr. Fox has authored and presented papers of his research on lasers, cosmetic procedures, stretch marks, scars, skin cancer, bug bites, photosensitivity and various rashes.

As founder and director of Advanced Dermatology and The Center for Laser and Cosmetic Surgery, Dr. Fox and associates have expanded the practice to one of the largest in dermatology, laser and cosmetic surgery, with more lasers than any hospital on the eastern coast. Dr. Fox is a graduate of the New York University Medical Center of Skin and Cancer and has been on the advisory board of the Psoriasis Foundation and National Rosacea Foundation, among others. He has also been a fellow of many societies, including the International Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, International Academy of Cosmetic Dermatology and the Society for Investigative Dermatology. Dr. Fox is the founder of the AAD Melanoma/Skin Cancer Prevention Program in Queens, New York (since 1987). Dr. Fox has been Chief of Dermatology of several major teaching hospitals, including Mt. Sinai Hospital of Queens and Jamaica Medical Center, and is currently on the staff of eight NY area hospitals. Dr. Fox is also the founder of New Age Skin Research Foundation at www.newageresearch.org, committed to research and advocacy in dermatology. Dr. Fox and Advanced Dermatology and The Center for Laser & Cosmetic Surgery have been used as a resource center educating dermatologists, laser surgeons and cosmetic surgeons and others about lasers, cancer and cosmetic surgery. www.advancedd.com.

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