Stress and worry can trigger skin conditions.

Studies show that stress contributed to acne, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and contact dermatitis. (source)

It would make sense, then, that we do all we can to control the stress. Here are some ways:

Get your mind off it.

Every time I see clips of the movie The Terminal, where Tom Hanks plays an Eastern European tourist stuck in the JFK airport for months, I recall being in active labor with my now 11-year-old son. My husband and I sat on the living room floor of my midwife's home, watching The Terminal while I endured painful contractions. Following the life of Viktor Navorski throughout the movie made my 2 hours of contractions not quite so intense. There are times that the best way to get your mind off your worries is to get on board to watch, or read about, another character's trials.

Suggested books to enjoy (courtesy of The Literary Medicine Cabinet... a whole ebook dedicated to a compilation of good books designed to ease the stressed-out mind*):   Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Secret Garden and A Little Princess, Trenton Stewart’s The Mysterious Benedict Society series, Beatrix Potter’s The Tale of Peter Rabbit and other stories, Thomas Merton’s The Seven Storey Mountain, Jan Karon’s The Mitford books are just a few listed in this ebook. 

Use essential Oils that promote relaxation and reduce stress:

Clary sage, Roman chamomile, lavender, lemon balm, bergamot.  Diffuse or dilute these oils and apply to the skin. 

Use Herbal Tea to relax at the end of the day: 

RECIPE: Steep dried leaves/flowers of red clover, chamomile, and peppermint in just-boiled water. Cover for 5 minutes and then strain. Enjoy as is or add some honey. More recipes can be found in The Healing Power of Teas by Rosalee de la Foret (included in the Herb and Essential Oil Superbundle)