What we are going through right now as a collective community is what health professionals call chronic stress. Unlike acute stress, which is immediate, (think: stepping on a piece of glass), chronic stress is long-term and can ultimately cause more harm.

To help aid us in all of the tools we need to successfully manage stress—when it affects our skin and our emotions—during this unique time, we’ve turned to Dr. Ava Shamban. The Harvard-educated, board certified renowned dermatologist (Nicole Kidman, and the Deschanel and Arquette sisters are all fans) has spoken with us from a safe social distance about the viable tools and options to help manage what challenges come our way. Below, she discusses the essential steps for achieving clear skin and a clear mind.