Clive Anderson
THE TIME Magazine of January 17, 2005 looked at 'The Science of Happiness'. In that issue it stated, "vigorous laughing, even when there's nothing particularly amusing, may be good for your health." Although studies on laughter are limited, some do suggest that laughter can :
Boost the immune system
Improve blood circulation
Lower blood pressure
Make the heart stronger
Reduce stress
Stimulate the nervous system.
All of the above must be good for the skin, right? The answer is yes ... and no, but more yes than no. Anything that we do to improve our overall good health will result in nicer looking skin. A strong immune system will protect our skin and bodies from the ravages of infection.
Improved blood circulation is an important asset, especially in areas such as our lower legs, where the circulation is only just adequate; and any reduction may result in skin changes and even ulceration. A lower blood pressure and healthy heart are important for the overall health of our body, and express themselves in the vitality of our skin. The effect of chronic stress is closely linked to many chronic or more appropriately-termed, lifestyle diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension and heart disease.
A Japanese study found that patients with a history of atopic dermatitis, after watching a humorous video for 87 minutes, showed significantly reduced allergic responses to house dust allergen pollen and cat dander. These results lasted for four hours after watching the video. The researcher concluded that the induction of laughter might play a role in alleviating allergic diseases.
LAUGH LINES
But laughter also leads to the formation of laugh lines around the eyes. These fine wrinkles in the skin are due to frequent movement of one of the muscles around the eye. This muscle the orbicularis oculi contracts when we smile widely or laugh. When it moves we get crows feet, which after a while do not go away when the humour has subsided. These lines of movement often develop first in our 30s and gradually deepen as we get older. Along with the crows feet beside our eyes, we may develop furrows in our forehead and a deep groove beside our nose and mouth. As we age, the loss of fat in the tissues and the reduction in the skin support fibres result in a deepening of these lines.
HEARTFELT SMILE
Research quoted in Time Magazine of January 17, 2005 found differences in the Pan American smile the forced grins of flight attendants or the grin we give when we have heard the joke before, and the so-called Duchenne smile that gives you 'crows feet, a little gleam in your eye and impouches the lower lid'.
This smile is considered the more heartfelt smile, because it is linked to feelings of happiness and activation of the left hemisphere of the brain, which is associated with positive emotions. Additionally, research found that decades later, people with this smile turned out to be happier people.
Are the laugh lines that develop as we age too high a price to pay? In some societies, the advice was to avoid any animated emotion in order to maintain smooth , creaseless skin. Not long ago facial exercises were in vogue to maintain muscle and skin tone. This trend did not last as it probably increased facial lines. It is possible with various facial rejuvenation techniques to erase these lines from our features. Some of these techniques used by dermatologists are:
Chemical peeling
Microdermabrasion
Botox injections
Laser resurfacing
Soft tissue augmentation
Dr. Clive Anderson is a dermatologist and venereologist; email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com.
