Here, the experts at WY’s skin clinic in London explain why you should take Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to practice self-care and de-stress your skin.
Valentine’s Day is meant to be an occasion for you to express to your loved ones just how much they mean to you – but this Valentine’s Day, you should show yourself some compassion, too. After all, daily life can be hectic, and research shows that stress hormones increase skin cell damage, contributing to the appearance of skin ageing [1]. What better time than Valentine’s Day to slow down and combat this stress by practicing a bit of extra self-care?
WY’s treatments offer rejuvenation for the skin and body, and our bespoke approach ensures that you receive the care you need to look and feel your best. Here, we delve into stress and the skin – and we explore some of the best treatments to renew, restore and de-stress, just in time for Valentine’s Day.
Understanding the Effects of Stress
We know that there are all sorts of environmental and atmospheric stressors that affect our skin every day – UV exposure, air pollution and smoking are just a few of the factors that take their toll. These atmospheric stressors constantly surround us, and though we can take protective measures like the regular application of sunscreen, our skin is bound to feel their effects to some degree.
In addition, the psychological stress of daily life plays a role in the process of skin ageing. When you find yourself anxious, worried or under pressure, your body responds by releasing adrenaline, noreprinephrine and cortisol. These hormones help you deal with the immediate situation, in part by triggering the body’s ‘fight or flight’ response [2] – but they also affect the responses of the immune system (among other systems). Studies have demonstrated that stress prolongs the skin’s healing time [3], making it more difficult to recover from the environmental factors discussed above. Stress hormones also cause damage in the DNA of skin cells [1], ultimately contributing to collagen degradation and the exacerbated appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
De-Stressing Through Self-Care
As an aesthetic and skin clinic in London with a holistic perspective, the team at WY understand that taking time for yourself can greatly reduce your stress levels. Our treatments serve a dual purpose – they offer an opportunity for you to take time for yourself and de-stress, and they actively work to mitigate the effects of stress on the body and fortify your skin.
Though we always tailor treatment plans based on our patients’ individual needs, we see Valentine’s Day as a great time to indulge in treatments that are both soothing and reinvigorating – and our HydraFacial fits this description perfectly. As a non-invasive skin resurfacing treatment, the HydraFacial purifies, exfoliates, hydrates and nourishes. We formulate antioxidant serums for your skin’s specific requirements to leave you looking and feeling radiant. Plus, the treatment is quick and requires no downtime – you can head straight to your romantic Valentine’s Day date with a confident glow.
We also offer combination treatments which pair our HydraFacial with other highly effective treatments. For instance, HydraRadiance combines the HydraFacial with the Obagi Radiance Peel for deep rejuvenation and exfoliation, leaving you with super-soft skin. Depending on your needs, we can recommend the combination treatment that is best for you.
Dealing with stress is an ongoing process, but with the proper attention you can develop an approach which keeps your stress levels – and their effects on your skin – in check. Book an appointment with the experts at WY today to step up your self-care for Valentine’s Day and beyond, and show yourself some love.
