The real world’s a mess - there are bills to pay, meals to cook, things to buy, and a life to live. And most days, all we want to do is lie down, cry and complain about everything. Instead, we dress up and deal with all the stress like an adult, and it’s exhausting AF!

What’s worse, the signs of stress can actually appear on your body in ways you wouldn’t have imagined. We’re not talking about your expanding waistline or your decreasing productivity. Your face bears the maximum brunt of all those late night shifts that you take up.

Here are some ways in which your skin, hair, and nails withstand the worst of all the stress you subject yourself to. More importantly, here is what you need to do about it.

Baggy Eyes and Dark Circles

These days, every second person you meet on the street has baggy eyes. It’s worrying how having dark circles is considered “normal” coz that’s just how our lifestyle is. What’s keeping you up? Is it tomorrow’s to-do list, scrolling through your Instagram or binge-watching some new show on Netflix? Either way, quit staying up late as it affects your health really bad. Not getting a proper sleep causes the eye fluid to pool under your eyelid. As a result, it puffs up in the morning, giving you that disoriented, “high” look all the time. A solid concealer by neocutis Lumiere is a quick fix we recommend.

Dry Flaky Skin

Everyone knows the classic skincare regime or cleansing, toning, and moisturizing. Unfortunately, most people don’t have the time or the patience to actually follow it every day. Add to it the excessive work pressure and your skin is damaged irrevocably. Discolorations, wrinkles, dry patchy skin, dark spots - they’re all signs of stress and not drinking enough water. You need to make some immediate changes in your lifestyle to restore the former glow and glory of your face. High quality skincare like Dermalogica products improve skin health and their Skin Kit’s are complete solutions to all your problems, especially for dry skin - they include a cleanser, toner, moisturizer, lip balm and a cream exfoliant in one pack.

Acne and Nasty Boils

Noticing a lot of acne breakouts and boils on your face lately? It’s probably coz of that new project you’re so worried about or overthinking about the recent fight with your partner. Stress disrupts the balance between the good and bad bacteria on the skin, causing conditions like psoriasis, or eczema all over your body. Eating disorders, irregular sleep cycle and not drinking enough water only add on to the problem. Hydrating masks and face masks by PMD Microderm open up the pores and cleanse the impurities, leaving you fresh, dewy-faced and glowing.

Rashes and Skin Infections

Pimples and acne isn’t the only thing you must watch out for when looking for stress signs. Unexpected rashes, fungal infections, puffiness, redness, and inflammation are all SOS signs your body gives out when put under excessive pressure. Chronic stress blocks the pores and infects the natural barrier of the skin. This causes the bacteria and impurities to freely enter and entrench upon your skin causing infections and itchiness. A proper diet, exercise, and hygiene can help you battle blemishes. People looking for a quick solution can try the foundation, BB creams, and concealers by Foero or Obagi.

Fine Lines and Wrinkles

“If you continue making faces like that, it’s going to stick!” We’ve all heard that warning by our mothers at some point in our childhood and laughed at it when we were adults. Well, guess what, mothers are always right! Constantly frowning or furrowing your eyebrows can actually cause deep wrinkles and fine lines on your skin. There is only so much pressure that your face can handle before it succumbs to the stress. Lucky for you, the damage can be undone (to some extent). Try anti-aging moisturizers and serums by ELTA MD or the new Obagi SuzanObagiMD Intensive Daily Repair - it works wonders on your skin.

Hair Loss and Premature Greying

Are you finding more hair on your hairbrush than on your head? Well, that’s a sign that all’s not well in your body. Extreme stress can lead to hair loss and premature greying. Stress accelerates the natural cycle of hair growth, causing it to fall off your scalp faster than it’s meant to. A sudden change of diet, medical issues, pollution, or any psychological stress can lead to this situation. Your scalp wants nutrients and proteins to function. The solution? Switch to using better quality hair care products and get an appointment with your hairdresser! We love the hair masks and serums by Peter Thomas Roth that add volume to your hair and suit all hair types.

Weak Brittle Nails

Biting your nails is a sure-shot sign that your body is overworked and stressed out. It’s nothing harmless but can lead to more trouble if left unchecked for long. Weak brittle nails are caused by vitamin deficiency and aging. Picking at the cuticle continuously often forms horizontal lines across the nails that look very ugly. The vertical lines and deep grooves, on the other hand, are a lot more serious. We suggest you get it checked out by a doctor ASAP in case you notice linear lines. Try meditation or yoga to battle stress. And if you’re looking for a quick fix, well conceal those grooves with nail art.

The Bottom Line

Still blaming your chapped lips on the weather? Think again. If any or all of the aforementioned signs apply to you then you are in trouble, my friend. The signs of stress are subtle but significant nonetheless. Don’t worry though, we got you covered. The first step is to identify the symptoms, and then you’ve got to work towards a solution. Recognise what winds you up and then learn new ways to deal with it. And never compromise on your physical and mental health. Your well-being should be your number one priority, not your job or any other commitment.