Highlights
- Crying leaves you with splotchy skin and puffy red eyes
- To counter the ill effects of tears on your skin you need to follow a few steps
Every day we expose ourselves to several situations including where we suffer from sadness, disappointments, stress, heartbreak and whatnot that affect us so to an extent we end up sobbing hysterically and shedding tears. At times crying can make us feel better and improve our state of mind. Apart from an emotional impact some people even feel that their skin starts glowing and turns brighter. But have you ever thought about why your skin behaves in such a way? Well, it's because the blood vessels of your face dilate and cause increased blood flow. But in long term, crying can cause damage to your skin. It leads to skin dehydration or slight irritation due to pH differences.
“Rubbing your eyes or using certain tissues to wipe your face can affect your skin and cause inflammation, darken the skin, and even irritate acne in some cases,” tells Angie Seelal, PA-C, of Advanced Dermatology PC while talking to Helathline.
Crying wipes away moisture from your skin and thus it becomes more vulnerable to environmental irritants such as sun damage, allergens, and pollution. It becomes more prone to acne, breakouts. Excessive crying can also lead to the breaking of your blood capillaries.
How to take care of your skin after crying
Make sure to wipe your tears with a clean and soft cloth. You should avoid rubbing your face and eyes. If you feel redness and inflammation, use cold compresses like a freezer spoon or a reusable plastic bag. You can gently massage your face with your fingers or a jade roller.
However, we can't deny that crying has a positive impact on our mental health. It helps us release stress and is a natural way of coping with grief, stress and sadness in our life. Crying boosts our mood detoxifies the body and release endorphins (feel-good chemicals).
Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purposes only and should not be taken as professional medical advice. Please consult an expert for proper guidance.
FAQs
Emotional tears may help release stress hormones and other toxins accumulated in the body during periods of distress. By flushing away these harmful substances, crying may promote skin detoxification and contribute to a clearer complexion.
Why do I glow when I cry? ›
Apart from an emotional impact some people even feel that their skin starts glowing and turns brighter. But have you ever thought about why your skin behaves in such a way? Well, it's because the blood vessels of your face dilate and cause increased blood flow. But in long term, crying can cause damage to your skin.
Does your face change if you cry a lot? ›
The production of tears and shedding them has an affect on your entire face. “When crying, the blood vessels around the eyes, face, and nose become dilated with increased blood flow leading to swelling, puffiness, and redness,” explains Dagny Zhu, MD, a board certified ophthalmologist.
Why do I always look good after I cry? ›
Crying causes a release of endorphins or feel-good hormones and a reduction in stress hormones like cortisol, which have been linked to breakouts and other skin conditions. Though this may require more research, indications are that occasional bouts of crying can be good for the skin in the long run.
Is crying anti-aging? ›
“In essence, this is psychologically good for the person to reduce stress,” explains Dr. Hayag. “However, it is notable that reduced levels of cortisol can also reduce premature signs of aging. Therefore, crying often may also have an anti-aging benefit.”
Is it good for your body to cry? ›
Crying for long periods of time releases oxytocin and endogenous opioids, otherwise known as endorphins. These feel-good chemicals can help ease both physical and emotional pain. Once the endorphins are released, your body may go into somewhat of a numb stage. Oxytocin can give you a sense of calm or well-being.
How to look pretty when you cry? ›
Try your best not to make any heavy, loud breathing sounds, (although it is hard to control for some people). Instead, take slow and steady breaths and just sob or sniffle every once in a while. Giggle a bit when you cry. If you act all serious and dark, you won't look cute.
What will happen if we cry daily? ›
Research has found that in addition to being self-soothing, shedding emotional tears releases oxytocin and endorphins. These chemicals make people feel good and may also ease both physical and emotional pain. In this way, crying can help reduce pain and promote a sense of well-being.
Why do eyes look brighter after crying? ›
When you are happy, angry, or sad, your body releases a hormone that makes your pupil size change. When you're happy or angry, your eyes usually become more vibrant, while when you cry, your eyes obtain a reddish color, making your eyes appear brighter.
Can wrinkles from crying go away? ›
Your facial muscles move and create lines, but then they disappear. When you get upset, cry, or even have a particularly stressful day, you'll notice them even more, but after a good night's sleep, they disappear. Static wrinkles are the dreaded lines that don't go away — even when you're rested and refreshed.
“Because tears are made from our blood, vessels carrying blood to our eyes can dilate or become bigger to allow for more passage of blood to the area — this can contribute to redness and puffiness of the eyes, eyelids, and surrounding skin,” says Jason Brinton, MD, a board certified LASIK surgeon in St.
What to do after crying too much? ›
Rehydrating your body and your skin should help bring back moisture.
- Drink water. Grab a tall glass of water and keep drinking. ...
- Cleanse your skin. Although tears are not bad for your skin, over time, they have the potential to cause dryness. ...
- Apply a moisturizer. Your skin may feel dry and itchy after crying.
Crying is not good for the skin. It's terrible in various ways. Let me explain: Excessive and continuous skin exposure to tears can irritate the skin barrier and cause rashes.
Why do I get wet when I cry? ›
Crying, whether from saddness or happiness, causes our sympathetic nervous system to be stimulated. This is the same system that gives us the “fight or flight” response. Our heart rate and breathing rates increase, our sweat glands are more active.
What happens to your body after you cry? ›
Dr. Tworek says that after a good cry, your parasympathetic nervous system (the system of nerves in your body that allow you to “rest and digest”) can take over. That allows you to shift out of a “fight or flight” response. That shift can make you feel as if a weight is lifted and things become clearer.
Why do we cry when we see beauty? ›
It's common to have tears of affection for someone you care about. Beauty. You can cry tears when you become overwhelmed by an astounding scene. It can happen when you're overtaken by beautiful music or a riveting nature scene.
How to make your face look better after crying? ›
Reducing the swelling is all about cooling and moving the fluid away from the eyes.
- Apply a cool compress.
- Apply cucumber slices or tea bags.
- Gently tap or massage the area to stimulate blood flow.
- Apply witch hazel.
- Use a facial massage tool.
- Apply a chilled cream or serum.
