When you think of skincare solutions, you likely envision topical products, supplements, or maybe even healthy whole foods. You probably don’t think of a daily mindfulness practice.
Researchers continue to prove the whole-body health benefits of meditation. But when it comes to eczema and rosacea, can you really clear your mind to clear your skin? Maybe so. Research suggests that meditation and mindfulness can reduce stress and lower inflammatory markers in the body—two major factors that influence eczema, acne and rosacea.
Ready to go? We have a FREE guided meditation for you to try. It’s designed to help you harness the benefits of meditation, no matter your skin condition.
What Is Meditation?
Meditation is a mindfulness practice that has been used for thousands of years. Most often, it’s used as a tool to bring awareness to the present moment. That could mean focusing on your breathing or a specific object, noticing sensations in the body, or repeating a mantra or phrase. You don’t try to stop your thoughts or feelings. You’re simply observing what’s happening in the present. It’s all about perspective. But how does that relate to your skin?
How Meditation Benefits the Skin
Meditation is best known for fighting stress—a major trigger for inflammatory skin conditions. Because stress contributes to inflammation, meditation’s soothing capabilities could benefit the skin. When you’re stressed, your body goes into fight-or-flight mode, which increases the hormones adrenaline and cortisol. Higher levels of cortisol equal higher levels of inflammation, which can trigger flare-ups.
Meditation helps beat stress by slowing your breathing and heart rate, which lowers those stress hormone levels.
Other Meditation Benefits
For people with eczema, research shows meditation can help reduce itchiness, which in turn can improve your overall quality of life by improving sleep, concentration, and confidence.
Research also shows that chronic itch activates the same areas of the brain as stress and pain. Meditation helps deactivate those same areas.
A meditation practice may also help you simply feel more at peace in your own skin and help you accept your skin condition.
Try Meditation
If you’re ready to slow your breathing, focus on the present, and support your skin along the way, it’s time to try meditation. When meditating for the first time, here are a couple of tips to keep in mind:
- Try not to have any expectations. Mediation isn’t a quick fix, and you may not feel any more relaxed after your first session. That doesn’t mean it isn’t working!
- Start small. If you’ve never meditated before, it may feel hard or uncomfortable at first. Start with short periods of meditation, and then gradually increase the session duration as you continue your practice.
- Get comfortable. Skip the tight clothing and awkward chair. Instead, wear loose-fitting, breathable clothing… It’s better for your skin anyway! Find a comfortable spot to sit and tune in to your breath.