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!
“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.
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.
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:
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?
When these signs of stress appear, it’s a signal that it’s time to bolster your skin barrier.
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:
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.
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.”
“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.
“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.
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:
“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!”
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.
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.
“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!”
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!”
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:
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.
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.
“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.
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.
Apex Skin can provide calming serums or anti-inflammatory treatments that can soothe sensitive skin so it feels comfortable and looks smooth and radiant.
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.
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!
Keep your regular dermatology appointments to manage conditions like psoriasis, eczema, rosacea, etc. With regular care, your dermatologist can help you with topical treatments, antihistamines, or stress management strategies to keep rashes and irritation under control.
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.