THE NERVOUS SYSTEM.
Nervous system regulation has a direct impact on skin health and it’s something I try to support clients with all the time. I think we are so often fed this idea that ‘clear & healthy’ skin stems from a good self care routine and expensive products. In my experience, neither of these two things will do anything unless you’ve addressed your nervous system first. My own inflammatory skin issues were absolutely exasperated by chronic stress, little sleep and anxiety. It wasn't until I got on top of these things (along side diet) that my skin truly began to heal.
A regulated nervous system supports healthy skin by:
Controlling inflammation.
Maintaining a strong and healthy skin barrier.
Enhancing wound healing.
Stabilizing sebum and sweat production.
Supporting a healthy skin microbiome.
I wanted to give you an overview of how the central nervous system works to give you an idea of how it can impact the skin and what we can do to support and regulate our nervous system.
What is the Nervous System?
The nervous system is your body's communication network. It sends messages between your brain and the rest of your body so you can move, think, feel, and react.
Two Main Parts:
Central Nervous System (CNS)
Made up of your brain and spinal cord.
Controls automatic, involuntary functions like breathing, heartbeat, and digestion.
It’s the control center for your body.
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
Made up of nerves that branch out from the spinal cord to the rest of your body.
These nerves carry messages to and from the brain.
How It Works:
Senses pick up information (like touching something hot).
The nerves send that info to the spinal cord and brain.
The brain processes it and decides what to do.
A response is sent back through the nerves.
Your body acts (like pulling your hand away quickly).
This system works super fast, often in fractions of a second.
The Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous Systems are two main branches of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS), you may have heard of the terms fight-or-flight and rest-digest, these are two super important functions of the nervous system and understanding how it works will help us to understand it’s effect on our day to day life and how we can make small changes to help!
1. Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS)
This is your “fight or flight” system. It gets your body ready to deal with stress or danger. Think of it like the accelerator pedal in the car.
What it does:
Increases heart rate
Opens airways for more oxygen
Dilates pupils (so you can see better)
Slows digestion (so your body can focus on survival)
Releases adrenaline
Example:
If a dog suddenly barks loudly, your body tenses up, your heart races, and you're ready to run — that’s your sympathetic nervous system in action.
~ It’s relation to skin - our sympathetic nervous system is responsible for releasing cortisol (a stress hormone) that is really helpful in the right scenario, but cortisol can also influence the amount of testosterone which is linked to sebum production, so it can negatively impact the skin in this way .
2. Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS)
This is your “rest and digest” system. It calms your body down after stress and helps it recover and conserve energy.
What it does:
Slows heart rate
Constricts pupils
Stimulates digestion
Helps with rest, sleep, and body repair
Example:
After you eat a big meal and relax on the couch, your parasympathetic system takes over to digest food and slow everything down.
These systems in the body are vital for us to survive. We depend on our fight-or-flight response to get us out of trouble and respond to danger. This was especially helpful to our ancestors who faced great danger regularly. Unfortunately our brains haven’t caught up with our modern way of living and even the smallest of stressors like getting stuck in traffic or a difficult email at work can kick our Sympathetic nervous system (SNS) into action. When our nervous system is constantly stuck in fight or flight it can mean our bodies get stuck in a stress response and contribute to inflammation in the body. There are many ways to influence the Parasympathetic nervous system, our PNS or Rest-and-digest state:
Slow, deep breathing or diaphragmatic breathing
Meditation or mindfulness
Restorative yoga & yoga Nidra
Massage / intentional touch
Positive social interactions
Hugs with favourite people or pets!
quiet time in nature
Quality sleep
Guided relaxation
Laughing
THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM & SKIN
Lymphatic drainage is a super important part of the restorative facial treatments I offer. It has a wide range of benefits for the skin (listed below!) but also the gentle nature of this massage is super calming for the nervous system, which in turn supports the skin too.
Here is how our lymphatic system supports skin health:
1. Detoxifies the skin
Your lymphatic system helps clear out toxins, waste, and cellular debris from your tissues—including your skin. When it’s flowing well, it keeps your skin clear and radiant. If it gets sluggish, waste can build up under the skin, leading to puffiness, dullness, or breakouts.
2. Reduces inflammation
A balanced lymphatic system helps regulate fluid levels and remove inflammatory molecules from your body. Since inflammation is linked to many skin issues (like acne, eczema, and rosacea), keeping your lymph flowing can help calm and soothe your skin.
3. Boosts circulation and nutrient delivery
While your blood delivers nutrients to the skin, your lymphatic system helps maintain the balance by removing excess fluid and waste. Together, they keep skin cells nourished, hydrated, and functioning properly.
4. Supports immune defense in the skin
The lymph system is packed with immune cells that help defend against bacteria, viruses, and other threats. Since your skin is your body’s first line of defense, having a strong lymphatic response helps protect it from infections and irritations.
5. Affects skin tone and puffiness
Ever wake up puffy or notice fluid retention in your face? That’s often lymph. Gentle facial massage, dry brushing, or lymphatic drainage techniques can help reduce that puffiness and give your skin a firmer, more sculpted appearance.
PRACTICES TO SUPPORT THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM
Lymphatic drainage practice
Click here to follow along with a ten step practice to support the lymphatic system around the neck, head and face.
Diaphragmatic breathing
Click here for a breath practice focused on a deeper, fuller, diaphragmatic breath to support lymph flow and calm the nervous system.
The Big 6
A short but brilliant daily practice to support lymphatic flow throughout the whole body, guided by the fantastic Perry Nicholson. Click here.