Daily psychological stress is known to aggravate various skin conditions and weaken the skin's barrier function.
The latest research by the Japanese beauty company focused on the relationship between adrenaline and the skin.
Part of this research was presented at the 34th International Federation of Societies of Cosmetic Chemists (IFSCC) Academic Conference held October 14 to 17, in Brazil.
Adrenaline is in response to stressful situations and prepares the body to react quickly to perceived threats or challenges.
While it is widely accepted that psychological stress can have an impact on the skin, there has been limited understanding of its specific mechanisms.
“A decrease in the skin's barrier function can cause moisture evaporation and the intrusion of foreign substances from the outside, which can lead to dryness, inflammation, and other skin problems,” said the researchers.
This research aimed to reveal exactly how stress weakens the skin's barrier function.
Studies on cells and 3D epidermal models found that adrenaline inhibits the formation of tight junctions, a barrier structure inside the skin, and weakens the skin barrier function.
“We investigated the effect of adrenaline on tight junctions in human skin and confirmed that the barrier function of tight junctions is impaired in real skin by increasing adrenaline in the epidermis.”
To clarify the link between varying stress levels and the skin barrier function, the study measured transepidermal water loss (TEWL) against the varying stress levels in people.
TEWL is an important indicator of skin barrier function and is commonly used to access its integrity.
By measuring TEWL, the research confirmed that higher stress levels were associated with higher epidermal adrenaline and poorer skin barrier function.
“As a result, it was demonstrated that people with high stress levels had significantly higher levels of adrenaline in the epidermis and lower skin barrier function than those with low stress levels.”
A new understanding
Overall, the study confirmed the widely-held belief that stress negatively impacts skin health by revealing a clear biological mechanism.
“This study has clarified the mechanism by which stress, which is inseparable from life in modern society, reduces skin barrier function.”
The researchers said this understanding could inform the development of new skin care products, especially products that aim to target stress-induced skin issues.
Kosé intends to apply these research findings to product development and continue investigating the relationship between stress, skin health, and well-being.
However, further research is needed to explore how these findings can contribute to overall well-being through improved skin health.
