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Q: Between dealing with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and trying to stay informed about what’s happening in the world, I’m finding myself significantly more stressed than usual, and it’s negatively impacting my skin.

What changes can I make to my skin care routine to best take care of my skin and reduce the emergence of wrinkles?

A: The skin is the human body’s largest organ. It can unfortunately be one of the first targets of elevated stress hormones that circulate throughout the body. Elevated stress hormone levels have been linked to inflammatory conditions such as acne, eczema, psoriasis and more wrinkles.

Thankfully, employing an evidence-based daily skin care routine is a good way to prevent long-term damage to your skin. It can also be a good way to de-stress and take care of yourself, helping you feel calmer and more confident during these uncertain times.

Here are some immediate changes you can make to your skin care routine that will help preserve your youth and prevent the emergence of wrinkles:

Wash your face daily with a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser.

Make sure to wash with lukewarm water, scrub in gentle circular motions, and gently pat your face dry with a towel. Choosing a cleanser without added fragrance will also help minimize skin irritation.

Use moisturizer immediately after cleansing, preferably while the face is still damp.

Applying moisturizer while the face is still damp helps seal in more moisture in the skin, increasing hydration levels to help improve skin elasticity and smoothness.

Always apply sunscreen and avoid unnecessary sun exposure.

Do not skip this step! Even on overcast days, damaging ultraviolet rays can penetrate your skin and wreak havoc, causing photo-aging and wrinkles. Aim for an SPF of 30 to 50, and reapply every two hours if you are outdoors for an extended period of time.

Speak to your dermatologist to see if a retinoid may be helpful.

Retinoids are vitamin-A-like compounds that, when applied to the skin, increase skin regeneration and collagen production. These changes help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Prescription-strength retinoids like Retin-A (tretinoin) are first-line treatments for wrinkle reduction and prevention, while some are available over-the-counter without a prescription, such as retinol and Differin (adapalene).

Find ways to de-stress and improve your overall health.

Exercise, yoga and meditation are all effective ways of reducing stress levels and stopping stress from aggravating your skin.

It is important to stay informed and to make productive contributions to society, but make sure you find time to unwind and destress at least once a day so that you take care of your physical and mental health as well.

Everyone has different skin and distinct skin-care needs, so there truly isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to developing a skin care routine. A little trial and error may be needed to figure out the best skin care routine that works for you, but these are changes you can make that will help maintain your skin’s integrity and may help make you look and feel better.

Andrew Zabala is a fourth-year Pharm.D. student at VCU School of Pharmacy. He majored in biology and minored in astronomy at the University of Virginia. After graduating pharmacy school, he hopes to pursue a career in either ambulatory care pharmacy or psychiatric pharmacy.