Happy Relationships, Happy Skin

Understanding the Link Between Relationships and Skin Health

Positive Relationships and Your Skin

Positive relationships don’t just lift our mood - they can support our skin health too.

Connection, laughter, and emotional support help lower stress hormones like cortisol and boost ‘feel-good’ chemicals such as oxytocin, which promote skin healing and balance.

Strong social bonds - with family, friends, or partners - are an important part of overall wellbeing, emotional resilience, and, indirectly, healthier skin.

How This Can Show on Your Skin

Healthy, supportive relationships may contribute to:

• Reduced Stress: Lower cortisol can mean fewer breakouts, less inflammation, and a calmer complexion.

• Better Sleep: Positive emotional support improves sleep quality, allowing skin to repair and regenerate.

• Healthier Habits: Supportive people encourage better self-care routines and consistency.

• Enhanced Immunity: Emotional wellbeing strengthens the immune system, helping the skin fight infection and inflammation.

On the other hand, toxic or stressful relationships can raise stress levels, which may worsen conditions such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, or rosacea.

Tips for Building Healthy Relationships (and Healthier Skin)

• Prioritise Connection: Spend quality time with loved ones and share meaningful conversations.

• Practice Gratitude: Appreciation strengthens emotional bonds.

• Set Boundaries: Protect your emotional energy by limiting time spent around toxic influences.

• Laugh Often: Laughter reduces stress and boosts endorphins - your skin will thank you!

• Communicate Openly: Honest, kind communication reduces tension and builds stronger relationships.

• Support Self-Care: Encourage self-care in yourself and those you care about — it’s contagious!

The Science Behind It

Research shows that chronic stress can trigger or worsen many skin conditions, including eczema, acne, psoriasis, and rosacea.

Supportive relationships act as a protective buffer, helping to lower stress levels and support both emotional and skin health.

In a 2020 survey by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Skin, 98% of people with skin conditions reported that their emotional and psychological wellbeing was affected -

highlighting how deeply connected our mental and skin health truly are.

While healthy relationships alone cannot prevent skin conditions, they are an important part of nurturing emotional wellbeing and overall resilience.

Need Extra Support?

Nurturing healthy relationships is an important part of overall well-being - and it can support your skin health too.

If you’re navigating relationship challenges, a counsellor or relationship coach can provide guidance and support.

A qualified skin therapist, such as a Corneotherapist (trained in skin barrier care), can also offer tailored advice to help protect your skin and promote long-term resilience.

Disclaimer

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, the information in this leaflet is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional advice. This resource is informed by current evidence, clinical observation, and emerging research in skin health.

Version: [March / 2025]

© 2025 Jacqui de Jager | The Skin Well™ & The Happy Skin Clinic®
All rights reserved. This leaflet is for personal use and education only. It may not be reproduced, distributed, or adapted without written permission.