'General Hospital' Actress Kirsten Storms Taking Leave From Show Because of Skin Issues
Storms said she is taking the next few weeks to heal.
— -- General Hospital actress Kirsten Storms is taking a break from the show because of stress and her skin.
The 32-year old tweeted Sunday: "My doctors say my breakouts are due to stress, but shouldn't take too long to get under control…. However, it was becoming too difficult for GH to cover up. And we all know in this biz appearance is important."
Storms said she is taking "the next few weeks to heal." She ended her tweet by saying fans will see her again "in no time."
“General Hospital” has not commented on Storms' leave from the daytime medical drama.
Board certified dermatologist Dr. Whitney Bowe stopped by “Good Morning America” today to pinpoint the most common skin problems associated with stress.
“Stress can exacerbate psoriasis, eczema, acne [and] hair loss," Bowe said. "Basically, when the brain senses stress, it triggers production of the stress hormone called cortisol and when cortisol levels in the blood rise, that can, in turn, trigger symptoms in the skin so it can lead to red patches because you’re actually dilating the blood vessels that are feeding the skin. It can lead to itchy skin, increased oil production, which can cause acne flares. The brain and the skin are very closely connected. It can set you up for this sort-of vicious cycle."
To deal with skin issues, Bowe said, simply seeking treatment can help in addition to the following tips:
“Diet plays a huge role," Bowe said. "So, probiotics, just looking for yogurt with live-active cultures, has been shown to boost immunity, help strengthen your immune system."
Bowe suggested incorporating foods with antioxidants into your meal plan like deeply-colored fruits and vegetables such as kiwi, strawberry and kale.
Avoid refined carbohydrates and saturated fats, which trigger inflammation in the skin, she said.
