Stress and Aging: All You Need to Know

Running into my childhood friend at a mall last week was a lovely surprise! While I was overjoyed to see her, her haggard and prematurely aged appearance left me in shock. It turned out that she was going through a stressful period of her life. This made me realize how profoundly stress and aging are interconnected. 

Stress doesn't just compromise your skin. In fact, it amps up your biological age and grossly affects you at the cellular and genetic levels. A study published in the journal Cell Metabolism showed that people who experience certain stress levels undergo rapid increase in their biological age. Remember, biological age is how old your body feels or behaves while chronological age is how many years you have lived.

Despite increasing biological age in response to stress, the good news is; IT IS REVERSIBLE as soon as stress diminishes. So, come with me and let us explore the mystery of stress and aging, bodily changes, their link to genes, and some anti-stress strategies to preserve your beauty! 

How Does Stress Affect Aging? The Science Behind 

When you hear people chanting, ‘Manage your stress, don't stress out, keep calm’! Don't frown, they are actually trying to save you from the harmful effects of stress on your skin and body. You might be wondering, but how does stress accelerate aging? Imagine a tight deadline, a nagging boss, late office hours, less sleep and bills to pay- super exhausting!  If these chronic stressors remain longer, you invite a cascade of biological changes at cellular, molecular, and genomic levels.

The first thing your body does in response to stress is the release of stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline. If these hormones are produced for a longer period of time, they can lead to Inflammation and oxidative stress. It occurs when the body loses its ability to repair the damage caused by free radicals. This oxidative stress leads to cells, proteins, and DNA damage and, in turn, premature aging.

Another surprising change is at the level of your telomeres, which are biological markers of aging. These are the protective caps or stretches of DNA and proteins at the end of chromosomes. When a cell divides, the length of telomeres shortens naturally. Telomerase enzymes work in telomere maintenance, which repair and protect them from shortening prematurely. 

However, telomeres reach their cut-off point at one point and no longer divide and become senescent. A systematic review published in Journal of Psychiatric Research in 2017 showed the relationship between stress and telomere length. High level of psychosocial stress is associated with shorter telomere length, which contributes to accelerated aging. 

In short, when you're exposed to chronic stress, various changes occur such as; reduced telomerase levels, increased cortisol levels, production of oxygen-reactive species (ROS) and shortened telomeres. All these changes together account for rapid biological aging.

How Does Stress Age Your Skin?

As previously discussed, you have seen how stress can age you even when your chronological age is less. Externally, it adds years to your appearance, like saggy skin, wrinkles, or crow's feet around your eyes, making you look 3.5 years older. 

So, how does stress age your face? The reason is cortisol, which is a hormone produced during stressful periods. During chronic stress, your brain turns on inflammatory response and activates receptors to release cortisol, leading to: 

• Soaring oil production, causing acne, dermatitis, or worsening conditions like psoriasis.

• Persistently high cortisol levels in chronic stress, causing wrinkles and fine lines.

• Slowed cell regeneration and collagen breakdown, contributing to aging skin.

The longer you're stressed out, the more cortisol is produced, ultimately impeding skin cells to produce collagen and elastin, resulting in aging signs. A study by Jeffrey H. Dunn and John Koo in 2013 showed that prolonged stress also disrupts the immune system, producing free radicals that damage DNA and skin tissues. 

Have you noticed how stress makes your skin dry and dull? A study done by John Lyga and Ying Chen in 2014 revealed the underlying reason. According to them, skin acts as a barrier between the internal and external environment. It also maintains hydration and protects against microbial infection. 

But know that stress is an enemy to your protective skin barrier! This disturbed skin barrier causes water loss through transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Just like a leaky bucket- the more stressed you're, the more moisture your skin loses, leading to dull, dry and wrinkled skin.

Genetic Factors Influencing Stress and Aging

Have you ever thought about why some people are more resilient during stressful events than others? It's due to their genetic makeup that determines how their bodies and brains respond to stress. The genes that influence stress include: 

• Serotonin Transporter Gene (5-HTT): This gene regulates the release of serotonin neurotransmitters, which is associated with mood. Variations in this gene alter the individual's response to stress. A study published showed that changes in this gene expression increases a person's likelihood of going into depression after stressful events.

• FKBP5 gene: This gene regulates the body's stress-response system. Variations in this gene disturbs an individual’s response to stress, making them more vulnerable and less resilient. 

But that's not all, stress-induced epigenetic changes in gene expression trigger premature aging. If stress is left unchecked, high levels of stress hormones are released, which can damage DNA, further accelerating aging at an alarming rate. 

Strategies to Manage Stress and Slow Aging 

A lower biological age is crucial to a healthy and longer life. But how do we measure biological aging? For this, a biological age test is performed to determine genetic biomarkers. Two primary methods include: assessing telomeres length and measuring DNA methylation at specific points. 

DNA methylation involves adding methyl groups during DNA repair. Scientists have developed epigenetic clocks to measure the impact of methylation on biological aging. 

Next, the question arises: can you reverse stress aging? Fortunately, yes! You can turn back the clock by removing and addressing the underlying causes of stress. And the secret to rejuvenation? A healthy lifestyle! While we can't altogether remove stress from our lives, we can manage it effectively. I’m going to reveal some fantastic strategies to combat stress, which in turn slow down aging: 

• Mindfulness and Meditation 

Mindfulness and meditation are huge contributors to managing your stress. If you practice 10 minutes of daily meditation in a quiet place, it can be a game-changer. Focus on your breaths as you inhale and exhale and let go of distractions. According to Creswell and Lindsay, meditation and mindfulness have a positive impact in lowering cortisol levels. The result? Less stress and healthy aging!

• Exercise 

Exercise has amazing stress reducing effects. Engaging in physical activity daily relaxes your stressful mind. When you exercise, the body releases feel-good neurotransmitters endorphins, which lifts your mood. 

• Adequate Sleep

Sleep is the most underrated health tip that we often take lightly and indulge in irregular sleep habits. We forget how crucial adequate sleep is for reducing stress and getting rid of visible signs of aging. During sleep, your body eliminates waste products and repairs itself while improving biological markers for youthful skin and slow aging.

• Healthy Diet 

If you're someone who has a sweet tooth, you have to think twice as it can make you look older than you are! Can't believe it? Have a look at this study in which scientists have revealed a link between nutrition and skin aging. They showed that eating more sugary food and refined carbohydrates can damage your skin overtime, causing aging signs like wrinkles and saggy skin.

However, a healthy diet is a way to a healthy mind and body. A diet rich in antioxidants, Omega-3 fatty acids, and other anti-inflammatory nutrients is super important to combat oxidative stress and inflammation, thus, limiting aging signs.

• Social Support 

Spending time with your family, friends, and social circle reduces stress. These connections lower the effects of stress and lift your mood.  

• Yoga

According to the American Osteopathic Association, stress management is one of the benefits of yoga. Yoga also affects the vagus nerve, which shifts the nervous system from a “fight or flight" response to "rest and digest” mode, reducing stress. 

Interestingly, a study was done by Masoumeh Shohani and Co. on women who completed 12 sessions of yoga. They found that stress was considerably reduced in these women and came to the conclusion that yoga can be used as a complementary treatment. 

Genomii. AI: Say No to Aging Skin

Genomii.ai is a revolutionary app amidst a myriad of technologies, boosting your beauty and well-being. Wondering how it's going to do wonders for you? Well, its unique features scan your face and analyze it for assessment. Based on your personalized needs, Genomii.AI provides you with customized tips to improve your aging skin, overall well-being, and lifestyle changes. 

FAQs

Q: Does stress cause aging? 

Yes, stress causes biological aging, which is the marker of your overall health. Chronic stress can lead to skin conditions like acne, wrinkles, fine lines, and even cells, proteins, and DNA damage. 

Q: What is stress age syndrome?

With age, the body undergoes changes at cellular, molecular, genomic, and tissue levels, known as stress-age syndrome. 

Q: Can stress wrinkles go away?

It depends! If the wrinkles are due to short-term stress, they can eventually go away, but if the stress persists, then it might be challenging to get rid of them. However, the best practice is to use a skincare regime that contains hydrating ingredients.

The Bottom Line

While stress and aging take a toll on your skin and overall well-being, your genes hold the key! Rather than surrendering to their impact, you can still manage your stress and aging skin by adopting healthy lifestyle choices and proper skincare regimen. Thus, by understanding your genetic makeup using apps like Genomii.ai, you can better transform your life into a healthy and youthful appearance!