Here in the Pacific Northwest
we were fortunate to have a long lasting stretch of warm and sunny days that
seemed endless. However, fall has come,
and with the changing of the seasons comes the arrival of the holidays. Often the arrival of these times of gathering
and festivity brings an element of stress into our lives. Whether it is the expectations we place upon
ourselves or it's the last minute scramble to prepare for the upcoming holiday,
the stress of the holidays is something that most everyone can relate to. Unfortunately, when we are unable to manage
our stress effectively it begins to take a toll on our health. In addition, our eating habits over the
holiday seasons typically worsen. On top
of this, with all the preparation for the gatherings we often find ourselves
falling out of our typical fitness routines.
Between the poor diet, decrease in exercise, and stress, it is clear
that the holiday season can have a negative impact on our health.
These stress triggers in our lives can often be aggravating
factors for new and pre-existing skin conditions. This is especially upsetting during seasons
when we want to look our best, as we get together to celebrate with friends and
family. In response to these stressors,
the skin can flare. So why is this? Stress often disrupts our immune response and
affects our adrenal glands. Within our
immune system there is an inflammatory response (innate immune response) and an
adaptive immune response. Often times
stress can cause the immune response to fall in favor of a more intense
inflammatory response leading to an aggravation of one's skin. However, don't view inflammation as a
negative process. It is essential for an
effective immune response. Without it white
blood cells wouldn't know where to go to fight off infections and repair
damaged tissue. Think of it as a signal
to flag down the repair crew of our body.
The key is to have a balanced inflammatory response, rather than one
that is over reactive.
So where do the adrenal glands play in this picture? With long-term stress and a high paced life,
the adrenal glands can become weakened due to the continual demand that is
placed on them. Over time, they can't
keep up and they begin to decline in function.
With this decline comes a decline in cortisol in the body. Cortisol acts as an anti-inflammatory in our
body and can thereby manage excess inflammation that may arise. However, with a decline in this management
system, the increase in inflammation in the body cannot be adequately
controlled. When this occurs we begin to see the skin become more active with
the appearance of new lesions.
In Chinese Medicine, stress is also identified as a trigger
for numerous skin conditions but is often discussed using different
terminology. When stress occurs, the
liver Qi becomes stagnant or doesn't flow smoothly. With impeded flow of Qi in the body, heat
begins to generate. Over time this heat
builds up and creates stagnant heat which can be viewed as inflammation. This is the very basic foundation of this
concept of liver Qi stagnation generating heat.
There are many other elements that can play a role in this pathology
which can further perpetuate this concept of stagnant heat or aggravate the
condition. A concept known as dampness
which often arises from a weakened digestive tract, poor eating habits, or
inactive lifestyle can often aggravate the presence of heat. By adding an element of dampness, flow is
impeded even further and leads to the generation of more heat, often described
as damp heat. This brief explanation of
stress induced stagnant heat gives you an introduction to the concept in
Chinese medicine. Unfortunately, there
isn't enough time in this article to discuss all the variants of stress induced
stagnant heat.
From both a biomedical and Chinese medicine view, it is
clear that stress can disrupt the balance of our body leading to inflammation
or stagnant heat. Conditions such as
nummular eczema, pompholyx eczema, seborrheic dermatitis, lichen simplex,
rosacea, acne, perioral dermatitis, psoriasis, herpes simplex, pityriasis
versicolor, and even some forms of urticaria all have a connection to emotional
stress. This illustrates the vast array
of conditions that can be affected by this omnipresent factor in our
lives.
With the trigger being stress, thinking of ways in which to
reduce this element is crucial for effective and long-term management. The number one self care tip is to maintain
an active lifestyle by exercising for a minimum of 30 minutes a day. Studies have shown that regular exercise has
a favorable effect on the immune response and is an effective means of stress
relief. Second, trying to maintain a
predictable sleeping schedule where you go to bed at the same time and wake at
a similar time. This goes for the
weekends as well. While sleeping our
body produces growth hormone which not only assists with growth and development
but also triggers a healing response in the body. So it is essential to ensure that adequate sleep
is a part of the daily regimen to encourage this natural healing process. Third, diet should be considered, since a
poor diet will lead to fatigue, poor health, and ultimately poor skin quality. In particular, overconsumption of sugar has a
suppressive effect on the immune system.
On top of the list of food items to avoid are excess sugar, processed
foods, fried foods, greasy foods, hot and spicy foods, caffeine, shellfish, and
alcohol. Often times people will have
particular food sensitivities as well, and it is imperative that these foods be
removed from the diet to avoid any additional inflammation that may be
triggered by the consumption of these items.
For some, these fundamental changes make a big difference in
skin quality. However, sometimes strict
adherence to these measures proves ineffective.
When these lifestyle changes prove to be inadequate in controlling a
person's dermatological complaint then further intervention is warranted. The use of Chinese herbs is a safe and
effective treatment approach that is often overlooked when seeking help for
skin problems. Herbs are used both
internally and externally to address the affected areas. Before formulating a treatment approach the
skin is closely examined and a thorough history is taken to determine the root
cause of the disease. Each person will
require an individualized treatment designed to meet their own skin needs. For example, if the lesions on the body are
showing more weeping or erosion, then the formula is directed at addressing
more damp heat and if the lesions present with more dryness and erythema then a
blood heat treatment is necessary.
Lesions that are very active and present with vesicles or pustules would
require the addition of herbs to address more fire toxin in the
presentation. The treatments can become
very refined, as no two individuals have exactly the same skin concerns.
During the course of treatment with Chinese herbs, the
formula will need to be modified to address changes in the skin. As the lesions begin to clear, the formula
will be changed to correctly address the current presentation. It can almost be viewed as guiding heat out
of the body. So as the damp heat is
cleared, there may be more blood heat present that must then be cleared using
different herbs. If dryness plays a part
in the picture, then specific nourishing herbs would be introduced only after
the heat has been removed. If the dry
element is addressed too early the skin may become irritated. It is these individualized and fluctuating
treatment approaches that make Chinese medicine so powerful in addressing these
acute and chronic skin conditions.
If you or someone you care about is struggling with a skin
condition, try to think about the ways in which stress, diet, exercise and sleep
can be improved. Assess your level of
stress. Whether it is a family reunion,
holidays, weddings, or just day to day stressors, think about how stress may be
impacting your health and skin. Are you
getting enough exercise? Are you
sleeping adequate hours and soundly? How
is your diet, and are you eating too many of the foods that can cause problems
for your skin? If you already have these
lifestyle elements in place, or if you get them into place and are still having
problems with your skin, then consider implementing a supportive treatment such
as Chinese herbal medicine. Your skin is
a reflection of your underlying health, and working towards achieving clear
skin in a holistic way will help you take steps toward overall wellness,
improved self esteem, and stress reduction.
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