Quarantine Skin

I've heard (read about) a few of my friends talking about how their skin has been changing negatively the last few months. I was shocked because I was actually experiencing the opposite, my skin has been thriving! We are smooth, dewy and glowy lately (as a dry skin gal, I live for the dewy look). Since we're wearing less make up, I figured everyone's skin would be in great shape. I did some research and found a few possible reasons why your skin may not be reacting well to quarantine life.

• Stress We are living in weird times and your skin has taken notice. Constant news of a global pandemic, death tolls, bending the curve, small businesses suffering can cause you stress whether you realize it or not! According to WebMD, cells that produce sebum have receptors for stress hormones. Sebum mixes with dead skin cells and bacteria to clog hair follicles, thus leading to that little mountain that decided to make its home on your face or body. Solution: Find an outlet to reduce stress - exercising, yoga, praying, reading, writing, drawing.

• Vitamin D Deficient We often hide from the sun, wear caps, and slather on that SPF out of fear from UVB (burning) and UVA (aging) rays. But a healthy amount of sunlight/Vitamin D helps our skin in cell growth, repair and prevents skin aging. But be careful, too much sunlight without the proper protection can accelerate aging! Solution: Get out for a walk before the sun sets if you can, eat foods that are high in vitamin D, if you suspect a vitamin D deficiency then check in with your primary doctor about supplements.

• Poor Diet This is an obvious one. I think we all know diet impacts how our skin looks and feels. With all the shelter in place orders, it's easy to opt for processed and unhealthy fast food, snacks and alcohol consumption in your down time. Admit it, some of you are drinking a little more than usual. Zoom drinking with your friends is the new thing, right? Some acne-causing foods and increased alcohol consumption may be the culprit for your new quarantine pals residing on your face or body. Solution: Cook healthy meals at home, cut down on the alcohol and snacks. Here's an article listing healthy food bloggers to follow. If cooking just isn't your thing, and you have the budget for it, try subscribing to a food service like Hello Fresh or Blue Apron.

• Sleep Schedule A lot of us are either working from home or aren't "essential" workers/not working at all, causing inconsistent sleep schedules. Our bodies and skin repair themselves during sleep; an inconsistent sleep schedule is depriving your body and skin of its regenerative cycle. Follow this link for tips to maximize your beauty sleep. Solution: Simple, get more rest. I LOVE sleep so, yes, this seems simple to me. Try setting an alarm to go to bed. Wake up early one day so you'll be sleepy by the time 10pm rolls around. Don't use your phone or any devices with a blue light for an hour before your bedtime (the blue light emitted by electronics can cause you to stay awake longer - here's a short article about blue light from screens).

• Pillowcases Our pillowcases harbor a disgusting amount of dirt, oils and bacteria. Your skincare routine won't do much help if you're not changing your pillowcases frequently. If you're like me, you're spending your extra quarantine downtime in your bed - laying down scrolling through the gram, reading a book, watching TV, cuddling with your SO. That's a lot of extra time your head is spending on your pillow. According to Chris Brantner, a certified sleep scientist, "Most people don't realize that our hair holds more dirt in it than anywhere else on our bodies" - EEK! All that buildup is now in contact with your pretty little face every night. Solution: Change your pillowcases every two days!

Adjusting to quarantine life has been difficult for many of us and your skin may be having a more difficult time than you'd imagine. Our skin is our largest organ, so indulge in some self care!