Different things could cause us to be stressed, and being stressed could be manifested in your appearance as well. Read the two researches below to learn how stress could affect your looks.
1. Facial color and blood flow – biological effect
Psychological stress can cause physiological changes in autonomic nervous activity and skin decreased facial blood flow that can be manifested through facial color change. These are the findings of a published Japanese paper in 2023 that studied the negative effect of stress on facial impressions before and after mental stress tasks using an online survey. To observe this, participants had their facial photos taken before and after the psychological stress task. Results of the study revealed that short-term mild psychological stress can worsen or deteriorate facial impressions. The observed physiological responses caused by stress were increased heart rate and a decrease in blood flow. Moreover, the results have demonstrated that the negative impact on facial impressions may persist for several hours after the stress load. (1)
2. Physical appearance modifications – aesthetic preferences and self-expression
Changes in appearance because of stressful events may indicate it as a coping
mechanism. The way a person perceives and displays their self physically could be related to their inner psychological world or a sign of a shift in their internal perceptions of their self. A study conducted in Philadelphia and its surrounding communities in October and November 2009 investigated the association between major stress events and changes in appearance. Outcome of the study yielded that changes in appearance were higher in groups with moderate to high stress scores. With regards to gender, it has been found that both male and female participants consider or make changes in appearance in response to stress events. Moreover, findings of the study revealed that individuals who had personally meaningful stressful life events changed or considered changing their appearance more often than those who had less personally meaningful stressful experiences. Those who had major stress events had both minor modifications such as haircuts and permanent appearance changes such as tattooing, piercing, plastic surgery, and weight change. This finding demonstrates that experiencing personally meaningful stressful life events can motivate someone to change outward appearance. Therefore, successive or dramatic appearance changes may be an indication of stressful experiences. (2)
Being stressed can make you look haggard than usual, and appearance-conscious people may get even more stressed when they look unattractive. As for you, how do you handle stress and appearance?
Writing Prompt
Reflect on your usual response about stress and appearance by using the writing prompt below.
- Do you make some modifications to your style (or at least consider it) when you’re stressed?
- How does altering your look make (or would make) you feel?
- Do you think modifying your look could make you feel better? (Or did it make you feel better if you’ve already tried it)
- Have you experienced looking haggard because of stress? (obvious eye bags, paler skin, pimples, etc.)
- How do you handle when you look haggard, imperfect, or flawed because of stress?
- Does your confidence diminish when you look stressed and haggard? Does it make you feel even more stressed, anxious, or depressed when you look less attractive?
- How do you manage stress to ensure you still look presentable regardless of what you’re experiencing?
Take time and reflect on your answers above. Being honest and objectively assessing yourself would enable you to be more aware of the areas you need to develop and improve in yourself.
References:
- (1) Koizumi, K., Hirao, N., Yamanami, H., & Ohira, H. (2023). Effects of mild psychological stress on facial impressions. Frontiers in psychology, 14, 1186046. doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1186046
- Stitz M.E., Pierce Jr. J.D. Changes in Appearance in the Presence of Major Stress Events. Sage Publication (2013)1–8. doi:10.1177/2158244013485093
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