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Too much stress is not good for you, in addition to relentless exhaustion, it can lead to sleep problems, a weakened immune system, higher blood pressure and lower cognitive function. And sometimes chronic or acute stress can also affect your skin.
Stress is a natural response to perceived threats and can be healthy to some extent because it creates necessary hormones such as DHEA and oxytocin that motivate people to perform better in certain aspects of life, including relationships. social. If people experience too much stress for too long, the stress hormone cortisol increases and can cause the immune system to be more reactive and make the skin more sensitive, according to Allina Health.
Stress-induced rashes usually cause a persistent outbreak of hives and raised itchiness and are common. For those who suffer from other skin conditions, like eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis, stress can trigger extreme breakouts.
Although you may not realize how much stress affects your skin until it’s too late, there are preventative ways to avoid recurring stress breakouts and ways to treat hives if you are already suffering from it.
What causes a stress rash?
Most of the time, the layman’s term stress rash refers to hives or what a doctor would call hives, said Dr. Whitney High, professor and director of dermatopathology at the University of Texas Medical School. the University of Colorado, in an email. Cholinergic urticaria is a rash that develops with emotional stress or after eating hot or spicy foods, according to a September 2022 study.
Stress hives can occur in response to high body temperatures caused by stress. The skin condition can also develop from an increase in histamine, a chemical produced by your immune system in response to certain triggers, leading to hives or welts, said dermatologist Dr. Lauren Ploch board certified in Augusta, Georgia, and a member of the American Academy of Dermatology Association, by email.
If you have hives, a visit to the doctor might be a good idea, because hives can also be caused by a change in laundry detergent, shampoo or soaps, a change in diet, or other factors. Eliminating these possible factors first will help determine if stress is the cause.
While we recognize as dermatologists that hives can be caused by stress, that’s not our primary explanation, said High, who is also a certified board member of the American Academy of Dermatology Association, by email. If we find no other cause for the hives, then it is reasonable to consider stress.
Sometimes with prolonged stress, the condition can progress to neurodermatitis, which is a seemingly endless cycle of scratching, causing itchy skin with each scratch, High said.
What does a stress rash look like?
Stress rashes look like swollen red bumps that can appear all over the body, but most often on the face, neck, chest, or arms, according to Scripps Health. Hives can vary in size from tiny dots to large marks and sometimes form in clusters, High said.
Hives appear suddenly and can last as little as a day or several weeks, but the lesions always migrate, High said, where one hive will disappear and a new one will form, until the disease disappears completely or is treated. .
Hives cause incessant itching and can sometimes cause a burning sensation. Stress rashes are sometimes associated with swelling of the eyelids or lips, Ploch said.
How to Get Rid of a Stress Rash
The best treatment for a stress rash is to prevent it altogether, but don’t panic if after a hard day at work your skin starts to itch.
About 20% of people will be affected by hives at some point in their lives, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Most of the time, hives can be treated with oral antihistamines, such as Benadryl and Zyrtec, but may even go away on their own once the factor that caused them is removed. For stress-induced rashes, stress-reduction techniques such as relaxation, meditation and other similar cognitive therapies may be appropriate, High said.
To relieve swelling and itching at the start of a rash, taking a cold shower or cold dip can help, Ploch said, and she recommended avoiding hot foods, alcohol, hot tubs and saunas, which could irritate the rash. It’s also important not to scratch, as this can make the itching worse and spread harmful bacteria, according to Scripps Health.
Although stress is a natural response, when too much begins to affect your physical health, it may be time to change your routine. The World Health Organization recommends tactics to alleviate stress, including staying connected with close friends and family and maintaining a daily schedule that leaves time for meals, exercise, and recreational activities.
Long-term stress prevention can be achieved through a healthy diet, adequate sleep and moderate physical activity, Ploch said. Additionally, immediate stress reduction techniques such as meditation or breathing techniques may be helpful.
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