Stress Affects Looks and Health

[From article]
Stress can make you ugly by making your face look less healthy, a study has found.
Men and women became 'significantly more attractive' to potential partners if they had lower tension levels than their rivals.
British behavioural ecologist Dr Fhionna Moore looked at how mental or emotional strain can affect physical appearance.
The diminished attractiveness was blamed on the anxiety hormone cortisol, which increases the amount of glucose floating around your body while also inhibiting muscle and bone growth.
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'Cortisol is an interesting hormone because it is released when we deal with a stressor, and allows us to cope in the short term.
'But if it's elevated for longer periods, though, for example during more difficult times, it can be very bad for our health,' said Dr Moore, a lecturer in Psychology at the University of Dundee.
She has conducted several investigations into the phenomenon and is currently giving free speeches on the subject called, 'Facing up to Beauty - Is it Really Skin Deep?'
In one study, she measured levels of cortisol from saliva samples and took photographs of the faces of our participants.
'We found that the faces of men and women who had high levels of cortisol in their saliva were rated as less attractive and healthy than those with lower levels of cortisol.
'Although we haven't yet identified specific cues to stress in the face, it seems to come down to simply how 'healthy' someone looks.'
[. . .]
According to Dr Moore, cortisol helps us to deal with stress by shutting down unnecessary functions, like reproduction and the immune system.
It stimulates gluconeogenesis - the making of new glucose - in the liver, using amino acids, lactate, glycerol, and propionate.
Cortisol also inhibits insulin from transporting glucose into cells, meaning it remains present in the blood stream and can in time damage blood vessels.
It also inhibits the uptake of amino acids into the muscle cells, which has a negative impact on bone and muscle growth.
Meanwhile Dr Moore claims men who can handle stressful situations appear instantly more attractive to women.
'We believe that the link between low stress levels in men and high attractiveness to women is because an ability to handle stressful situations suggests a strong genetic make-up, the future suitability of a partner, and their ability to pass on 'good genes' to their children,' she said
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Getting a good night's sleep, once again, has a two fold benefit.
Bad sleep is both a cause and affect of stress - if you sleep poorly you're going to be stressed and if you're stressed, you're going to sleep poorly.
So you get stuck in a vicious circle. Getting a good night's sleep is very important to ensure that you're body can deal with stress.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3290291/How-stress-makes-UGLY-Emotional-strain-gives-men-women-unhealthy-look-repels-potential-partners.html

How stress makes us UGLY: Emotional strain gives men and women 'unhealthy look' which repels potential partners
Men and women were more attractive if they had lower tension levels
Study found anxiety hormone cortisol can affect how healthy we look
But men who can handle stressful situations were appealing to women
By Kate Pickles For Mailonline
Published: 12:11 EST, 26 October 2015 | Updated: 15:32 EST, 26 October 2015