Stress isn’t just a psychological burden — it’s a full-body experience.
From sudden hair fall to unexplained acne, muscle pain, and even weakened bones, the signs often manifest in forms that may imitate symptoms of graver physiological ailments.
As International Stress Awareness Week, observed from November 3 to 7, comes to a close, experts remind us to check for early signs and take us through ways of dealing with symptoms.
Stress affects the body’s natural balance
“Stress doesn’t just affect the mind — it speaks through the body. When we are under constant stress, our body releases hormones like cortisol and adrenaline to help us cope. However, prolonged elevation of these hormones disrupts the body’s natural balance,” said Dr Deboshila Bose, counselling psychologist, Fortis Hospital, Anandapur.
This imbalance can reduce nutrient flow to hair follicles, trigger skin flare-ups such as acne or eczema, and even cause joint or muscle pain due to constant tension and inflammation.
The skin, Bose added, is often the first place to reflect what’s happening inside the body. “Our body and mind are deeply interconnected — what affects one inevitably influences the other. When emotional stress is unmanaged, the body begins to communicate distress through physical symptoms. The good news is that these effects are reversible when we focus on holistic wellbeing,” she explained.
Stress keeps the body in a constant fight or flight
Chronic stress keeps the body in a constant “emergency alert” mode, said Bhavya N, consultant - internal medicine, Manipal Hospital, Kanakapura Road. “This state floods your system with cortisol, which becomes harmful when levels remain high. The body starts breaking down its own healthy tissues, muscle, skin, and hair, for emergency energy.”
Over time, muscles stay tense and sore, leading to pain in the neck, shoulders, and back. Cortisol also breaks down collagen and elastin, the proteins that keep the skin firm and youthful, causing dryness, wrinkles, and inflammation.
Cortisol further disrupts the body’s ability to repair itself, worsening skin conditions like eczema and delaying wound healing.
Even the hair pays the price. “During stress, the body signals that hair growth is non-essential. Stress hormones push growing hair follicles into a shedding phase, causing sudden hair loss, often months after a stressful period,” said Bhavya.
The impact runs deeper. Prolonged stress can worsen joint pain and inflammation, and even reduce bone density. “Long-term exposure to high cortisol levels leads to bone loss and muscle atrophy. It’s a vicious cycle where stress and physical pain feed each other,” she added.
Stress hormones alter the skin’s immune responses
Dr Sai Lahari Rachumallu, associate consultant, dermatology, Manipal Hospital, Bhubaneswar, said stress is now one of the most common triggers for skin and hair issues.
“Prolonged emotional or physical stress can disrupt normal hair growth cycles, leading to conditions like telogen effluvium, where hair falls excessively a few months after a stressful event. It can also worsen autoimmune hair loss conditions like alopecia areata, or cause habits like hair-pulling,” she added.
The skin, often described as “the mirror of the mind”, reflects these internal imbalances. Stress hormones alter the skin’s immune responses and oil production, leading to flare-ups of acne, eczema, psoriasis, or hives. “Increased cortisol levels stimulate oil glands, clog pores, and worsen breakouts. Stress also slows down wound healing and increases skin sensitivity,” said Rachumallu.
But stress-related damage is reversible, experts say.
A combination of good sleep, balanced nutrition, daily physical activity, and mindfulness practices like yoga, meditation, or deep breathing can help calm the body’s stress response. “True wellness lies in nurturing both mental and physical health. Caring for the mind is one of the most effective ways to heal the body,” said Bose.