If you're stressed out, it will show, especially if you are a Type A Personality. Our body is like a radar for stress; if you're losing it, you're losing your body. Hair - You will lose or it will turn grey. Everyone falls victim to hair loss, even great leaders. The irony is that when you see your hair fall or see it turning grey, you stress out even further. So relax, the next person may have it worse than you.Brain - This is when you think of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Stress is a trigger for headaches, insomnia, nightmares, depression, anxiety, mood swing, compulsive behaviour, to name a few. You will also feel light in the head, dizzy, experience difficulty in concentrating as well as have frequent racing or incoherent thoughts.Mouth - Sometimes ulcers may not be linked to what you eat but, instead, be linked to the stress you feel. The other symptoms include jaw clenching, teeth grinding, stammering, dry mouth and problem swallowing. While it's easier said than done, try and be conscious of your mouth's movements when you're thinking hard or involved in a stressful situation.
Skin - This is a lesser known fact, but stress may also result in skin-related ailments like eczema and psoriasis. Besides this, sweating, rash, itchiness and infections are also linked to increased levels of anxiety. The more you share your nervousness and tension with others, the lesser you'll be stressed. Besides all other stress outcomes like poor digestion, weak lungs, hormonal imbalances, etc, will manifest themselves as skin problems as well. For instance, most cases of acne that persist through to adulthood are related to these internal problems.
Washing your face will cure acne: You may have heard this way too many times, but washing your face constantly throughout the day does not aid in reducing acne. In fact, it strips your skin of essential oil and makes your skin extremely dry and parched and susceptible to acne. Restrict to washing your face only twice or thrice in a day.Scrubbing often reduces excess oil on the face: It is believed that if you have oily skin, scrubbing your face twice or thrice in a week will reduce the excess sebum. But this is not true. In fact, scrubbing your face more often might end up bruising your skin and in turn cause blemishes or pimples.Pimples reduce with age: Most women believe that acne mostly happens to women in their teens and early 20s. However, acne has nothing to do with age. Not everyone outgrows it with age. Instead it reduces when you alter your lifestyle and have the right kind of food that cleanses and detoxifies your system from within.
- Fungal infections are rampant in the scorching summer, so always make sure your feet are clean. Dry them with a medicated powder in the morning.
- Dab sunscreen on your hands and feet before stepping out. Look for a sunblock customised for the body instead of the more expensive facial sunscreen.
- For softer heels, mix glycerine with rose water. To soothe cracked heels, fill a tub with lukewarm water. Add some salt and petroleum jelly to it. Dip your feet for 30 minutes and clean with a pumice stone.
- Apply heel and foot cream before hitting the bed at night. This routine will keep your peds moisturised.
- Make a scrub for your hands and feet by mixing two tablespoons of baby oil or olive oil with sugar. Rub this paste gently on your skin for a few minutes and then rinse with water.
Drink lots of water: Every system and function in our body depends on water. Skin is no different. Dry skin has less resilience and is more prone to wrinkling, so ensure you take in enough water to reach your skin and keep it hydrated. Two to three litres a day is usually about right.Multi-task: Looking after your skin doesn't have to stop at home, so carry a multi-tasking quick-fix with you in your handbag for dewy skin on the go. A water spray can be used to cool and calm even the most sensitive complexions. Not only does it tone the skin, but it can also be used to set make-up and refresh skin on a hot day, as well as soothing and softening skin on the go.Always remove make-up: It sounds obvious, but one in five women still admit to sleeping with make-up on when away from home. During summer nights, one is naturally warmer and sweatier and if make-up is left on overnight, and bacteria is more likely to develop, leaving pores blocked and resulting in an increased chance of waking up with bad skin outbreaks - whether spots or dry patches.
- While washing your feet, use an antibacterial soap. Dry the feet completely, making sure you dry the area between the toes. Fungi and bacteria can develop between the toes if the area is not dried completely.
- Put antiperspirant on your feet before you put on your socks. Antiperspirants are quite effective in reducing foot perspiration.
- Dust your feet with foot powder. Follow the antiperspirant with foot powder, which absorbs excessive sweat and reduces odour.
- Wear cotton socks. Natural fibres allow more air to reach your feet.
- Change your socks often. When your socks feel damp with sweat, wash your feet and put on a fresh pair of socks. Keep baby wipes with you, and use them to clean your feet at work or while you are in public places and can't wash your feet.
