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"Between a crazy-busy social calendar and piles of classwork, heading back to school can feel overwhelming\u2014and the proof may be showing up all over your face. \"Skin is where the first signs of stress appear,\" says Adam Geyer, M.D., Kiehl's product-development consulting dermatologist. Worrying causes inflammation and a gradual breakdown in the skin's natural barriers, which can lead to dryness, under-eye circles, increased sensitivity, redness, uneven skin tone\u2014and, yes, the dreaded zit.\n\nBut feeling anxious is just the beginning\u2014the choices you make when you're under duress can send your skin into a downward spiral. According to Chanel's advising \"skin shrink,\" dermatologist-psychiatrist Amy Wechsler, M.D., \"When you're stressed out, you don't take as much care of yourself. Most people don't eat as healthily, don't ercise as much, and are more likely to fall into bad habits, like picking at skin, which leaves marks and scars. Everything starts to fall apart.\"\n\nSound familiar? If you sense a tailspin coming on, the quickest fix could be a good night's rest\u2014 experts suggest seven to nine hours of uninterrupted sleep. David Volpi, M.D., founder and medical director of Eos Sleep Center, says it's because \"when you don't get enough rest, your body releases the stress hormone cortisol, which, in excess amounts, breaks down collagen, the protein that keeps skin smooth and elastic. Chronic sleep loss can also cause dullness and dark under-eye circles.\" Upping your beauty rest will do more than just help you wake up to better skin: It'll trigger a feel-good response. Think of it as hitting the reset button on your stress level.\n\nMore sage advice from skin pros: Avoid caving in to comfort-food cravings. According to Nicholas Perricone, M.D., stress and a poor diet cause spikes in blood-sugar and insulin levels, which lead to inflammation that worsens acne dramatically. His remedy? Limit foods loaded with trans fats, hydrogenated oils, and high-fructose corn syrup (junk food like processed snacks, fries, and candy), and instead fill up on natural antioxidants, such as fresh berries and veggies, and omega-3 fatty acid-rich proteins, like wild salmon. See? Beauty really does come from the inside out."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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