Crying is a universal human experience, but its effect on the skin is often misunderstood. Tears, or lacrimal fluid, are designed primarily to protect and lubricate the eyes, not the face. While crying provides emotional release, the physical and chemical interaction of tears with facial skin raises the question: Are tears beneficial or detrimental to your complexion? Evaluating the components of tears and the body’s physical response helps clarify their true impact on skin health.
The Chemical Makeup of Tears and Skin Interaction
Tears are a complex fluid, composed of about 98% water, along with electrolytes, proteins, lipids, and enzymes. Electrolytes like sodium and chloride give tears their salty taste. This salt is a key factor in how tears interact with the skin barrier, as concentrated salt can draw moisture out of the outer layers of the skin, leading to dehydration or dryness.
The fluid also contains protective proteins, notably lysozyme, an enzyme with antibacterial properties. While lysozyme helps keep the surface of the eye clean, its presence in tears running down the face offers no significant dermatological benefit for the skin barrier. The pH of tears is generally neutral, averaging around 7.0, but can range from 6.5 to 7.6.
This tear pH is slightly higher than the average healthy skin surface pH, which rests in the mildly acidic range of 4.5 to 5.5. When a substance with a higher pH remains on the skin for an extended time, it can temporarily disrupt the skin’s acid mantle. This disruption can make the skin more susceptible to irritation and impair its natural protective function.
Emotional tears, unlike basal or reflex tears, also contain trace amounts of stress-related hormones, such as adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and leucine enkephalin. However, the quantity of these hormones is minimal. The body’s primary detoxification organs, the liver and kidneys, process stress hormones far more efficiently than the skin.
Physical Effects of Crying on Facial Skin
The visible consequences of crying are primarily due to the body’s physical response and mechanical actions, rather than the chemical composition of the tears. Intense emotion triggers a physiological reaction, including the dilation of blood vessels (vasodilation) around the eyes and face. This increased blood flow causes the temporary redness and flushed appearance observed after a crying episode.
This inflammatory response often leads to periorbital edema, commonly known as puffiness or swelling around the eyes. This occurs because the delicate tissues surrounding the eye temporarily retain fluid. The effect is short-lived, but it is a direct sign of tissue inflammation.
The most damaging effect often comes from the mechanical friction of wiping away tears or rubbing the eyes. Repeated or aggressive rubbing causes trauma to the thin, sensitive periorbital skin. This physical action leads to irritation, increased redness, and can worsen existing skin conditions like acne.
Using coarse tissues or wiping harshly can further abrade the skin’s surface, disrupting its integrity. The combination of physical friction and the mildly irritating nature of tears can leave the skin feeling raw, dry, and sensitive. Focusing on the physical act of crying clarifies that the damage is less about the tear fluid and more about the body’s reaction and manual contact with the face.
Clarifying Common Myths and the Final Verdict
A popular misconception is that tears detoxify the body by flushing out toxins. While emotional tears contain minimal stress hormones, the amount is insignificant for detoxification, which is the specialized role of the liver and kidneys. The notion that tears act as a natural moisturizer is also inaccurate, as the salt content can lead to surface dehydration.
The evidence points to tears being neither significantly beneficial nor severely harmful in isolation. However, the combination of their slightly irritating pH and salt content, coupled with the inflammatory and physical trauma of crying, means they are generally not good for the skin. The negative effects are transient, but they are a sign of temporary irritation and barrier disruption.
To mitigate the effects of crying, the key is to avoid physical friction by gently patting the skin with a soft cloth or tissue instead of rubbing. A cool compress can help constrict the dilated blood vessels and reduce puffiness around the eyes. Following a crying session with a gentle cleanse and the application of a moisturizer helps replenish lost hydration and quickly restore the skin’s natural barrier function.