Review of Skin Problems Caused by Stress

Abstract

Long-term exposure to social and biological/physical stressful events produces stress responses. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is one of the main neuroendocrine regulatory systems in the process of stress. Recent studies have shown that skin, as a large endocrine organ, also has peripheral neuroendocrine regulatory functions similar to the central HPA axis. The skin also responds positively to stress and produces a range of symptoms. This review will introduce a series of skin apparent problems caused by stress from the perspectives of molecular biology, skin neurology, endocrinology and immunology, hoping to provide another solution for cosmetic practitioners to deal with these skin apparent problems.