Aug 07, 2014 03:40 PM EDT By J Baulkman, UniversityHerald Reporter

Living a less stressful life may be the secret to clearer skin.

Researchers discovered that stress may be linked to inflammatory skin conditions, such as acne, psoriasis and rosacea. They found that stress can make inflammatory skin conditions worse.

"Nearly everyone has some form of stress in their life, so it's difficult to determine whether stress can actually make the skin's appearance worse," Richard D. Granstein, professor and chairman of the department of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College, said. "However, it's been known for a long time that the nervous system, which processes our stress, has an impact on conditions such as psoriasis."

For the study, researcher reviewed previous research examining the impact stress has on inflammatory skin conditions.

Granstein added that animal studies have demonstrated that stress can make inflammatory skin conditions worse. In a Japanese study, mice genetically prone to develop a rash similar to the inflammatory skin condition atopic dermatitis did so when stressed, while mice that were not exposed to stress did not develop the rash.

Experimental data support the idea that the nervous system and stress affect inflammatory skin conditions in humans. Many types of cells in the skin, including immune cells and endothelial cells (cells that line blood vessels), can be regulated by neuropeptides and neurotransmitters, which are chemicals released by the skin's nerve endings. Stress can result in the skin's nerve endings releasing an increased level of these chemicals. When this occurs, it can affect how and at what level our body responds to many important functions, such as sensation and control of blood flow, and can contribute to the symptoms of stress that we feel. In addition, the release of these chemicals can lead to inflammation of the skin.

"If we could block specific steps in certain pathways between the nervous system and the skin -- without impacting the whole body -- we would likely have new ways to prevent or treat some skin disorders," Granstein said. "We're gaining a greater understanding of the mechanisms underlying many skin conditions, which will help us develop new therapies."

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