It’s officially the holiday season! It’s time to break out the hot cocoa and candy canes, the holly, and the twinkling lights! The child in all of us peeks around the corner of adulthood this time of year and wonders… why am I breaking out? Does stress cause acne? What is this itchy skin rash? Sigh. Yes, the stress skin rash, breakouts, and dry winter skin can emerge this time of year—but don’t let that dent your seasonal cheer. Although the shift to winter weather and holiday stress can indeed impact your skin, you can check in with your dermatologist, and modify your winter skincare routine to prevent stress damage. Together, we can help you sail glowingly through the season!
With that in mind, we asked Rachel McKernan MPAS, PA-C, who works in Apex Skin’s Mentor dermatology office, about how winter weather and stress get under our skin, and she shares steps to take to de-stress the skin and stay radiant through the winter.
How Stress Affects Your Skin, Especially During the Holidays
“Increased stress during the holiday season can lead to various skin issues such as acne breakouts, dullness, and increased skin sensitivity,” says McKernan. “Stress can trigger the release of cortisol, a hormone that increases oil production in the skin, leading to clogged pores and breakouts. It can also impair the skin’s barrier function, making it more prone to irritation and dryness.”
But it isn’t just stress-induced holiday acne breakouts people need to watch out for. Prolonged exposure to cortisol in the system can trigger chronic inflammation, which can also exacerbate other skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea.
“This inflammation will lead to sensitive skin that can react poorly to environmental triggers such as cold weather,” explains McKernan. “It can also cause blood vessels to dilate, leading to increased redness and flare-ups in rosacea patients.”
And then there are the dry winter skin and itchy skin rash problems that can flare up because of stress and dry, cold weather. The winter stress skin rash is real. Winter weather and stress can trigger or worsen hives, rashes, or other forms of skin irritation, such as contact dermatitis. This is especially common during heightened periods of anxiety, like the holiday season.
Signs of Stress on the Skin: Dry Skin in Winter
If you experience a stress skin rash you are not alone, especially here in Northeast Ohio where the weather can get so cold and dry. Although there are no statistics on stress and dry winter skin rashes alone, there are solid stats on how many people suffer from skin conditions that reliably get worse in the wintertime and under holiday stress:
- More than 31 million people struggle with eczema.
- More than 8 million people in America deal with psoriasis.
- More than 16 million people have rosacea.
- And a whopping 50 million Americans deal with some form of acne. Does stress cause acne? Not directly, but it sure can worsen or increase the frequency of acne breakouts.
In other words, it’s incredibly common to have some sort of skin condition that can worsen by winter weather combined with holiday stress. Even if your skin condition isn’t listed here, or you normally have pretty healthy skin, it’s a good bet that the dizzying cocktail of holiday stress and winter weather may complicate matters for you.
McKernan warns that these conditions can accelerate skin aging, too: “Stress can also cause the skin to appear dull and tired, which may lead to the development of fine lines and wrinkles due to the breakdown of collagen.”
For example, if you look in the mirror, do you see any of these signs of stress on the skin?
- Acne breakouts caused by increased oil production
- Dry, red, cracked skin
- An itchy skin rash, hives, or eczema flare-ups
- Dull, tired, lackluster, flaky skin from slowed skin cell turnover
- More fine lines
When these signs of stress appear, it’s a signal that it’s time to bolster your skin barrier.
“The skin barrier is more vulnerable during the colder months due to lower humidity levels, which can cause the skin to lose moisture and become dry and cracked,” explains McKernan. “Stress can further weaken the skin barrier by reducing its ability to retain moisture and by increasing inflammation, making the skin more susceptible to allergens, UV rays from the sun, blue light from devices, irritants, and environmental damage.”
Take Action: Managing Holiday Stress for Healthier Skin
If reading all of that made you even more stressed out, take a deep breath and relax. The good news is that you don’t have to just accept that breakout, stress skin rash, or dry winter skin. Lowering your stress levels, updating your winter skincare routine, and working with your dermatologist can turn dull, itchy, red, rashy winter skin into smooth, radiant, comfortable Holiday skin:
1. Reduce Stress by Prioritizing Self-Care
Forgive us for sounding like your mother, but she was right when she told you to focus on good nutrition, drink plenty of water, and get a good night’s sleep. And don’t forget the regular exercise. The truth is that if you don’t prioritize self-care in your schedule, your health, including your skin health, will eventually force you to prioritize it with illness, an itchy skin rash, or a worsening of any skin conditions you currently struggle with.
Also, if you find it hard during your hectic holiday schedule to get the right nutrients in your diet, help yourself out with some extra supplementation. Talk with your healthcare provider about a good overall supplement, and make sure it has things like omega-3s and vitamin D for supporting skin health.
Your skin health—and your overall health—will thank you.
2. Prevent an Itchy Skin Rash: Protect Your Skin Barrier
The most important thing, of course, is protecting your skin barrier through your winter skincare routine. “To strengthen the skin barrier during colder months, people should focus on using gentle, hydrating cleansers, applying lipid-rich moisturizers, and ceramides, and incorporating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin into their skincare routine,” explains McKernan. “Avoiding harsh exfoliants and protecting the skin from cold winds with appropriate clothing can also help.”
Remember to wear an SPF 30 or higher sunscreen every day too, even throughout the winter. This will protect your skin from UV rays and blue light exposure from your devices that can prematurely age you, or trigger skin cancer.
“Also, add a vitamin C serum to your morning routine,” McKernan urges. As an antioxidant, it protects your skin from environmental free radicals that your skin might be more susceptible to in the winter and when under stress, such as air pollution, smoke, sugar, and alcohol. Vitamin C serums reduce cellular damage and enhance collagen production to keep the skin plump, soft, and vibrant.
3. De-Stress Your Winter Skincare Routine with Your Dermatologist
“Consistent skincare routines and regular visits to a dermatology clinician also play a key role in maintaining healthy skin,” says McKernan. “Partnering with a dermatologist can help minimize stress-induced skin problems.
Your dermatologist understands what products can scientifically work to protect, nourish, and revive your skin. They can also evaluate your individual skin needs and conditions, and make recommendations that streamline your winter skincare routine to reduce holiday stress while helping you look fresh and radiant all season long.
“A dermatology clinician plays a crucial role in helping patients manage stress-related skin issues by developing tailored treatment plans, recommending the right skincare products, and educating patients on skin health,” says McKernan. “Even if you’ve never been to Apex before, we can get you the right diagnosis and right treatment plan so you can feel better, quicker!”
Preparing Your Skin for the Holidays
Now is the time to schedule any pre-holiday skin treatments for the holiday glow-ups you need too. This gives chemical peels and other skin treatments time to work their full magic on your skin so it looks truly vibrant and smooth when it’s party time. Here are McKernan’s top recommendations for in-office skin refresher treatments:
1. Hydrating Facial Mask
“My number one go-to treatment for a quick skin refresh during the holidays is a hydrating facial mask,” she says. “It can provide an instant boost of moisture and make the skin look more radiant and plump. Our aesthetic department offers a glycolic acid peel that is perfect for this time of year!”
2. Chemical Peels
This is a real holiday skin reviver. “Chemical peels can help exfoliate the skin, improve texture, and promote a more even skin tone, making the skin look refreshed, dewy, and rejuvenated,” says McKernan.
3. Cortisone Injections
If you’re having a skin emergency like a cystic acne breakout or pruritic rashes, contact your dermatology provider about cortisone injections. “Quick-fix treatments like cortisone injections can reduce inflammation and provide rapid relief for serious inflammatory skin conditions,” says McKernan.
4. Microneedling and Laser Treatments
“Treatments like lasers and microneedling can help with holiday stress-induced skin problems by promoting collagen production, improving skin texture, and reducing the appearance of fine lines and scars,” explains McKernan. “These treatments also rejuvenate the skin and provide a more youthful appearance. Additionally, these procedures allow you to take care of yourself, which can be beneficial for your mental health!”
5. Ask Your Dermatologist for a Winter-Appropriate Sunscreen Update
The sunscreen you were wearing over the summer may not be what you want to continue wearing through the winter. Your dermatologist can help you pick a recommended sunscreen that will lock in moisture and block out UV rays while not clogging your pores.
As the seasons change and stress levels increase, it’s important to enlist your dermatologist’s help in updating any skincare routine issues. “We can monitor and manage any stress-related skin issues proactively,” explains McKernan “We ensure that the skin remains healthy and that any emerging problems are addressed promptly. Especially as the environment changes, we are bound to see changes in our skin. Catching these changes early will help our skin heal better!”
Got a Holiday Skin Emergency? Apex Can Help!
There are times, however, despite putting in your best effort, an emergency happens just before a big party or holiday get-together. Who are you going to call? Apex Skin! “We can prescribe topical medications that can calm inflammation and hydrate stressed skin,” says McKernan. “And an in-office calming facial or light therapy can provide rapid relief when you need it.”
Here’s how we can help with specific holiday skin emergencies:
1. Acne Breakouts
Does stress cause acne breakouts during the holidays? Very frequently, yes! If you have a sudden breakout, a cortisone injection or prescription-strength spot treatment can quickly calm inflamed pimples. “In fact, for painful or large cystic acne that appears suddenly before a big event, a cortisone injection can rapidly reduce inflammation, flatten the breakout, and make it less noticeable within 24-48 hours,” says McKernan.
2. Dry Winter Skin
Sometimes you can’t seem to shake dry skin in winter. “Professional hydration treatments or dermatologist-recommended moisturizers restore the skin’s barrier,” explains McKernan. “Also, a light, in-office chemical peel can instantly brighten dull skin and improve its texture, giving you a radiant holiday glow in a short amount of time. Peels also promote cell turnover, which helps alleviate stress-induced dullness.” Chemical peels also allow moisturizers to sink deeper into the skin to improve hydration.
3. Redness and Inflammation
“Both non-invasive LED light therapy and laser skin therapy help reduce redness, inflammation, and acne without downtime. It’s perfect for calming down irritated skin before a big holiday event,” says McKernan.
4. Stress Skin Rash and Irritated Skin
If your eczema, contact dermatitis, or hives are acting up as the holidays approach, a dermatologist may prescribe topical steroids or calming treatments to soothe the skin and reduce inflammation quickly. In more severe cases, light therapy or oral medications might be recommended to control symptoms.
5. Increased Sensitivity
Apex Skin can provide calming serums or anti-inflammatory treatments that can soothe sensitive skin so it feels comfortable and looks smooth and radiant.
6. Dull, Uneven Skin Texture
If you’re dealing with fine lines, dullness, or uneven texture, microneedling stimulates collagen production and helps with overall skin rejuvenation. It’s a great option for a quick pre-holiday skin refresh.
7. Fine Stress Lines
The cortisol-stress-collagen breakdown can bring out more fine lines, especially over the holidays. But we can smooth those out with Botox injections quickly, with results appearing in just a few days and lasting for several months!
8. Chronic Skin Condition Flare-ups
De-Stress Your Skin All Year with Help from Your Northeast Ohio Dermatologist
Although it can be hard to balance all the busyness of the holidays and the stress that comes with the season, remember, you can manage it all better if you prioritize your health and wellness first! Otherwise, your body may make decisions for you that you won’t enjoy very much. Your mood, your skin, and your immune system will be so much happier and ready to celebrate if you are well-rested, well-nourished, well-hydrated, and well-moisturized! Book an appointment with PA-C Rachel McKernan in our Mentor location, or find an Apex Skin dermatology provider closer to you, and get ready to shine with fresh, smooth, glowing skin during the holidays, and all year long.
Rachel McKernan is a licensed Ohio State Physician Assistant and is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. She received her Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences degree and was an inductee of the Pi Alpha Honor Society upon completion of her Master of Physician Assistant Science degree at Gannon University in Erie, Pennsylvania.
Rachel has been working in the field of dermatology since graduation and finds fulfillment in helping individuals in the Tri-state Area maintain healthy skin by treating a variety of acute and chronic skin conditions. She encourages regular skin cancer screenings and enjoys educating her patients on the importance of prevention.
