Skin care

Is Stress Making You Ugly?

Understand what tension can do to your hair, skin and nails -- and skin care tips on what you can do to help prevent it

by Audrey Fine

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How does stress affect our nails? Our nails tell a lot about our health. If they're too soft it can be an indication of malnutrition or chronic arthritis, while longitudinal ridges can point to thyroid disease. And, what about stress? How is it manifested in our nails?

Our nails take the hit both internally and externally. We may bite them or even rub our fingers over our thumbnails in a nervous fidgeting motion, which, according to dermatologist Flor A. Mayoral, MD, causes a distortion of the nail plate and results in ridges. "Sometimes patients with nail problems are not aware that their habits or tics from being stressed out or nervous are at the root of their problem," Mayoral told colleagues at a 2007 conference at the American Academy of Dermatology.

Looking at what happens from the inside, Dr. Murad says, "nails are made of keratin protein. If we damage the cells in the nails by stress, then the nails become weaker." Weaker, more brittle, more prone to splitting.

What, besides general de-stressing and eating well, can be done to offset stress-induced nail nightmares?

Next: Check out reader-approved nail hardening solutions.

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Older comments

Nice.

by Mollysunshine Friday, April 12, 2013 at 07:29AM Report as inappropriate

interesting article!

by Chris213 Sunday, January 20, 2013 at 06:01PM Report as inappropriate

Yep stress at times!

by EricaC123 Friday, December 28, 2012 at 05:20PM Report as inappropriate

I had no idea more sleep could help your hair not fall out!

by sportimonki13 Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 01:51PM Report as inappropriate

I have a lot of stress in my life but im really young so hopefully I can get that under control before I start seeing the effects! :P This article was interesting and helpful!

by cheydy15 Friday, January 6, 2012 at 09:32PM Report as inappropriate

the scalp mask looks interesting

by krycekov Monday, December 12, 2011 at 11:14AM Report as inappropriate

i really get acne when i'm stress

by LadyLC26 Wednesday, September 21, 2011 at 08:04PM Report as inappropriate

wish I could avoid stress!

by Bon_Bon Monday, August 15, 2011 at 09:06PM Report as inappropriate

Thats going to be my excuse from now on...the stress is making me ugly, lol.

by MissPurple Monday, July 18, 2011 at 11:36AM Report as inappropriate

Psh. Explains why my nails break so easily :/

by brown_eyes23 Thursday, July 7, 2011 at 04:57PM Report as inappropriate