Stacie Warren
National Education Manager, Ameliorate
Robin Parker
R&D Director, THG Labs (Acheson)
Debilitating skin conditions can have a damaging impact on confidence and, ultimately, mental health. It’s why finding products to improve skin appearance can be life-changing.
Stacie Warren had suffered from severe dry skin concerns for as long as she can remember. As she entered her early adult life, her skin health deteriorated so much that it started to affect her confidence.
“At the time, I didn’t connect the dots,” she says. “But the way my skin looked was having an impact on my mental health. I was so embarrassed that I wouldn’t even leave the house if I could help it, so I struggled to meet people and make new friends. It was even hard for me to go out with the friends I already had. If I did go out, I had to cover up completely — I’d never wear skirts or short-sleeved tops. I couldn’t be myself, and I didn’t feel confident in my skin.”
Trial and error finding the right skincare
Thankfully, things have changed for the better. Warren is now National Education Manager for skincare brand Ameliorate, which makes a range of products designed to help dry and oily skin, accredited by the British Skin Foundation.
“I found and began using these products before I started working for the company,” she says. “To anyone with a skin condition that’s affecting their physical and mental wellbeing: keep looking for the right products for you. It might be trial and error at first, but when you find something that helps your skin or improves its appearance, it’s life-changing.”
When things go wrong or are out of balance with our general wellbeing, it’s likely that our skin could be affected.
Poor general wellbeing may affect skin health
While there’s no doubt that skin conditions can affect our mental wellbeing, can poor mental wellbeing impact the health of our skin? “We know that mental health can impact other facets of our lives such as stress and diet,” says Robin Parker, R&D Director at THG Labs (Acheson), the product development partner behind Ameliorate.
“While there is no direct link between poor mental health and the health of our skin, everything is bound together. So, when things go wrong or are out of balance with our general wellbeing, it’s likely that our skin could be affected.”
Parker first formulated Ameliorate to help with a friend’s keratosis pilaris, known as chicken skin. “This is a dry skin condition where little lumps — sometimes white or circled red — are found on the backs of the arms,” explains Parker. “We made a body lotion for our friend, and the feedback she gave us was phenomenal. So we tried it on a panel of other patients with keratosis pilaris with similar results.”
Hormonal changes can impact your skin
Dry skin conditions can be common in perimenopause and menopause. “This is due to hormonal changes,” notes Parker. “Women can suddenly be confronted with a skin issue that they have never had to deal with before, which can be extremely disconcerting. Hormonal imbalance can also result in oily skin due to excess sebum production — we see it in teenagers and younger people — so it’s important to find a product that works with the condition you have.” If a skin condition is concerning you, or is debilitating, see your GP or consult your pharmacist.
For Warren, clear skin means that social situations are no longer a problem, and skirts and short-sleeved tops are back in style. “My skin and mental wellbeing are the healthiest they’ve ever been,” she says. “There are things you can do if a skin condition is affecting your confidence. Talk to a doctor, but also do your own research. Find out about your skin type, and look for products with ingredients that will help your skin. It may take a while, but the results can be transformational.”
