The stress hormone cortisol is a natural consequence of our fight or flight response, but how much damage is chronic low-level stress doing to our skin?
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Your face has an uncanny knack of being able to tell the world exactly how you’re feeling. Much of this skin-psyche connection comes down to the fact that the brain and the skin are formed from the same layer of cells so, in theory, they share the same emotional responses – especially when it comes to jangling nerves.
Whether you’re being chased by a saber-toothed tiger or have a looming deadline at work, your body deploys the same response. The amygdala, the part of the brain responsible for emotional processing, sends a signal to the hypothalamus, which controls the body’s nervous system. Your nervous system responds by releasing a flood of stress hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol, for emergency action.
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