COVID-19 lockdowns have had serious effects on our collective physical and mental health. Because we are now inside for longer periods of time than ever, with most jobs switching to an online format, many are experiencing worsening skin health. Luckily, there are quite a few things that can be done to clear up your skin!

As a Result of the Pandemic, You Are Likely to Experience:

Vitamin D Crashes

• Many of the essential vitamins needed for proper functioning are obtained through simple exposure to sunlight. To stay healthy, and to better regulate the immune system, it is recommended to acquire a daily dose of Vitamin D. Since the majority of people now find themselves without direct exposure to sunlight, their skin is more susceptible to afflictions such as eczema and psoriasis.

Less Sleep and/or Poorer Sleep Hygiene

• We produce much more collagen and skin cells while asleep. This is often why we wake up with a “morning glow”, an appearance associated with youthfulness and beauty. Because many people now suffer from stress and therefore poorer sleep, the cycle of collagen creation is halted, and the result is acne and other unsightly blemishes.

Poorer Eating Habits

• A lot of people have found themselves eating more junk food due to stress. Unfortunately, sugary, processed foods (which are known to cause acne) are much cheaper and easier to acquire than healthy, organic foods. While it’s no secret that humans have been stress-eating since the dawn of man, today’s hectic world kicks this impulse into overdrive and causes the body to produce a hormone called cortisol, which provokes cravings for unhealthy foods.

More Stress

• Heightened cortisol levels stimulate the sebaceous glands, which produce oils and cause inflammation. Combined with a lack of sleep, which already instigates a build-up of dead skin, stress can create a duller, paler, and more unsightly complexion.

How Can I Avoid These Problems?

Get Outside When You Can

• Humans, just like plants, best obtain Vitamin D and other essential nutrients through direct contact with sunlight. A great way to not only acquire these vitamins, but to also stay in shape, is to go on walks. As social contact can be dangerous, it may be best to walk early in the morning before others are awake. Other options, if strolls are not your cup of tea, include gardening, exercising outside, or lounging on the porch or balcony for a few minutes. If it is impossible for you to do any of this, fear not—Vitamin D is accessible in the form of tablets or fruits, such as oranges, apples, and grapes.

Fix Your Sleep Schedule

• Try to set your alarm for a reasonable hour, and make sure to sleep for a total of 7 to 9 hours. This should help you not only improve your health and overall mood, but better organize your days.

Try a New Diet

• Processed foods are easy to come by, and they are offered at most stores for increasingly cheaper prices. However, these treats are usually filled with excessive amounts of sugar, artificial colorings, and preservatives, none of which are good for the skin. Besides trying to eat better foods, it is important to limit alcohol and tobacco use.

Of course, not everyone has the ability to cook healthy meals all the time. One of the best and easiest ways to get around this problem is to subscribe to a meal service like Fresh Meal Plan, Blue Apron, or HelloFresh.

Try to Reduce Stress

• There is no silver bullet for anxiety, but there are a lot of great ways to take a load off. Try a new hobby, do yoga, play video games, or simply put on some music.

Get a Non-Surgical Treatment

• Beyond adopting some of the aforementioned changes, a great way to correct skin problems is to opt for non-surgical treatments, such as facial fillers and laser therapy.

Stress causes wrinkles that can be easily combated via facial fillers like Botox and Juvéderm, which fill in the tissue below the wrinkles and support the skin.

“Laser”, of course, can be a scary word. But don’t be alarmed; the laser is one of the most efficient ways to clear up blemishes, pigmentation, and wrinkles. There are a number of lasers on the market, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Top New York facial plastic surgeon Dr. Andrew Jacono, for example, offers such remedies as PiXel8-RF, Erbium Laser, Fractional CO2 Laser, and Clear + Brilliant Treatment. The most enticing part about lasers is their ability to promote the growth of collagen, which hydrates the skin and makes it more elastic.