‘The only reason I don’t hold grudges against people is because it affects my skin’ Shalini Passi reveals — what do experts have to say?

indianexpress.com spoke to a dermatologist and found out how our emotions impact our skin health.

Dr Mikki Singh, founder and medical director of Bodycraft Clinics, Bengaluru and Gurgaon, said that there is a scientifically-backed connection between emotions and skin health. However, she said avoiding disagreements altogether may not be the answer. “Our skin often mirrors our emotional state, and chronic stress or holding onto grudges can indeed contribute to skin issues. Stress elevates cortisol levels, which can trigger or worsen conditions like acne, eczema, psoriasis, and even premature ageing. When we hold onto negative emotions, our body remains in a prolonged state of stress, impacting overall health, including the skin,” she said.

According to her, the “brain-skin connection” is a term that describes how psychological stress affects the skin, largely through the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis that regulates stress responses in the body. When we’re stressed, our body releases hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, which can have multiple effects on the skin, such as increased inflammation, a weakened skin barrier or the triggering or worsening of autoimmune responses.

Having said that, is it really healthy to avoid disagreements altogether fearing compromised skin health? Where exactly do you draw the line?

From a dermatological standpoint, Dr Singh mentioned that avoiding disagreements at all costs can be problematic. Healthy expression of emotions, even if it involves some conflict, is essential. It is ideal to handle conflicts or emotions in a balanced way. “Practicing stress management techniques such as mindfulness, breathing exercises, or even talking through issues, can improve not only mental health but also give the skin a more radiant, healthier appearance,” she said.

The “brain-skin connection” is a term that describes how psychological stress affects the skin. (Source: Freepik)

Consulting psychologist Priya Parulekar shared that skin is one of the most important physical attributes which affects self confidence, especially in childhood and adolescence.

“Disagreements can cause emotional distress, particularly when left unresolved for too long. The immediate damage could be a sleepless night causing skin to sag or dry and long-term consequences could be mental health issues like anxiety. This could, in turn, trigger autoimmune skin conditions like psoriasis and rosacea. Autoimmune conditions are difficult to treat and control,” Parulekar said. However, like Dr Singh, Parulekar is also of the opinion that avoiding disagreements altogether––out of the fear that it may affect skin health––is the solution.

“Disagreements, depending on their nature, may affect emotional wellbeing and deep-rooted unprocessed emotions caused by long term disagreements may affect overall physical health or any aspect of health, not necessarily only skin.” Thus, as a form of self protection, Parulekar encouraged processing and navigating emotions, so that they do not end up damaging physical health or any organ of the body.

From the homepage

‘Shocked, but it’s a forgotten chapter’: CJI Gavai on shoe-attack in Supreme Court

Muttaqi in India: Why New Delhi is increasing engagement with Afghanistan’s Taliban

Academics, professionals, ex-RJD MLC, famous singer in Prashant Kishor’s first list for Bihar