Stress, Skin & Stamina

We all experience stress, a significant mental, emotional and/or physical strain on our well-being. This is often perceived as surpassing our adaptive capacity. Although we are aware that certain acute pressures are valuable because they nourish courage, strength and endurance, other pressures are detrimental to our quality of life, leading to burnout and despair. Inflated stress experienced during the Covid Pandemic was a vital impetus for the creation of Stamina® Cosmetics by our founder, DR. MBK. “I experienced and witnessed the terrible effects of stress on our skin’s health and our minds during the pandemic, and I wanted to be part of the larger solution.” - #dermwithstamina

Everyone’s threshold for stress and potential for resilience is uniquely different (aka unique Window of Tolerance). For certain people, its intrinsic factors such as hormonal alterations that can be a major stressor, while others its lifestyle influences such as poor sleep habits or nutritional choices and for others, its environmental triggers such as urban pollution or ultraviolet radiation exposure. Whichever individual influences that generate our stress, we all search for the best ways to cope with and overcome it, in order to thrive.

What is Stress?

Physiologically stress is interactions between the nervous, endocrine (hormonal) and immunological systems and is mainly coordinated by a hormone, cortisol. When our bodies are under stress, cortisol levels rise leading to multiorgan response. Currently, significant science demonstrates that chronically elevated cortisol levels from stress lead to metabolic abnormalities, psychological anxiety, flares of arthritis and asthma, cardiac disease, neurological disorders such as migraines, gut disturbances, as well as sleep and focus disturbances. Our skin is also an active participant in this stress cycle, amplifying or curbing its mediators and reflecting its impacts outwards. Since our skin is connected to our minds and the rest of our bodies, it's not surprising to recognize that stress enhances an inflammatory state in our skin, too. Therefore skin health is linked with mental health.

Stress and Skin

Skin inflammation can present as minor skin dryness, sensitivity and reactivity. Stressed skin is characterized by dullness, blotches or uneven complexion, dark under eye circles, textural roughness, as well as unpleasant sensations of stinging, burning and itching. Persons who are highly impacted by stress will usually describe their skin as problematic, fragile and commonly prone to breakouts, blemishes and irritations.

Clinically, stress has been linked to skin dehydration by reducing formation of natural moisturizing lipids, increasing skin water loss and decreasing its retention. Stress also increases skin’s sebum (oil) production which clogs up the pores and together with rising stress-associated inflammatory factors precipitates in acne. Besides inflammation, long-term stress disrupts our skin barrier function as well as skin healing. In vulnerable individuals, it may lead to exacerbations of various skin conditions such as acne, rosacea, psoriasis, and eczema or dermatitis.

Internal and external stressors can also form various free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) that overwhelm skin function and its regenerative power. This can be detrimental to the skin cell’s DNA and mitochondrial (metabolic center) maintenance, leading to premature skin aging.

How can Stamina and Wellness counteract stress?

Just like the fountain of youth, the perfect solution to stress remains elusive. However, recent research points to integrative medicine to pave the way to the answer. The Global Wellness Institute defines wellness as the active pursuit of activities, choices and lifestyles that lead to a state of holistic health. One of the integral missions of Stamina® Cosmetics is to inspire wellness through skincare through Stamina® Complex, Stamina® Synergy and a healthy Dose of Stamina®.

Our skincare is curated by a dermatologist, DR. MBK, and has a blend of clean, effective adaptogenic ingredients, Stamina® Complex, which enhance skin stamina and equilibrium to counteract skin stress. Hypochlorous acid is a powerful adaptogen with cleansing and calming capabilities. Skin adaptogenic superfoods like Guarana, Gotu Kola, Green Tea, Curcumin, Cordyceps, and Tamanu oil hydrate, energize and restore skin balance. Please visit our skincare store.

Further Authoritative Reading on Stress and Skin

Peer-reviewed and editorial coverage on the skin–stress connection:

• Dr. MBK co-author of “Stressed Skin and How Dermatologists Can Help” — Practical Dermatology, April 2026
• How Stress Affects Your Skin — Allure
• Cycle Syncing Skincare — Vogue UK
• Bibliometric Study of Adaptogens — NIH PMC
• The Brain-Skin Connection: Stress, Inflammation and Skin Aging — NIH PMC
• The Stress–Skin Connection — Skin Inc.

Be Well,

DR. MBK