Stress and Your Skin

Do you need to relax more? A quick peek in the mirror holds the answer. As it turns out, recent research shows that stress can hurt your skin. "We know that stress can have a dramatic effect on the immune system," says Joshua Fox, MD, founder of Advanced Dermatology and a spokesman for the American Academy of Dermatology. "And quite often, that can create immune- related responses in the skin." Read: the more stress you're under, the more you're prone to breakouts, flare-ups with chronic conditions like psoriasis and eczema, and even wrinkles. Dr. Fox's de-stress suggestions: try meditation, hypnosis or biofeedback. Personally, I'm using this as evidence that I deserve a massage!

The Face of a Teen

I woke to a very unpleasant surprise the other day: several unsightly blemishes on my chin. Foolishly, I thought I'd left my teen years (and all the skin woes that went with them) behind, but apparently that was wishful thinking on my part. I'm hardly alone: according to researchers at The University of Alabama, 73 percent of people will experience acne at some point in their adult lives. And thanks to hormones and stress, adult acne is far more common in women than men.

So, what's a blemished beauty to do? I remembered that my dermatologist told me that prescription retinoid products can help, so I slathered on my Retin-A Micro. I needed quick relief, though, so I dabbed on some Clearasil Adult Acne Treatment Cream for good measure. 24 hours later, my face was looking better--but not completely clear. How do you get your acne under control?