Adult Skin Acute Stress Responses to Short-Term Environmental and Internal Aggression from Exposome Factors

The document reviews the acute stress responses of adult skin to short-term environmental and internal factors, collectively known as exposome factors. These factors include weather, pollution, diet, psychosocial stress, and others that disrupt homeostasis for periods ranging from minutes to a week. Acute stress triggers a strong response in skin functions such as the physical barrier, pigmentation, defense mechanisms, structure, neuroendocrine, and thermoregulation. Clinical signs of stressed skin include dryness, oiliness, sensitivity, itching, redness, paleness, sweating, swelling, and can exacerbate conditions like acne, rosacea, dermatitis, pigmentation disorders, and infections. Notably, acute stress can also affect the scalp, leading to sensitivity, telogen effluvium, and worsening alopecia. The review suggests that acute stress and sleep deprivation can impair the skin barrier, increase oxidative stress, and alter cytokine levels. Visible changes like dark circles and wrinkles can result from fatigue, and dietary choices and alcohol can cause facial erythema and rosacea. Hormonal changes post-partum can lead to hair loss, and certain foods can impact acne. The COVID-19 pandemic has also caused skin issues among healthcare workers due to protective equipment. Preventative measures include sun protection, a healthy lifestyle, and reinforcing the skin barrier, with a call for more research on the combined effects of multiple stressors on skin health.