While stress is a natural reaction, too much stress could cause a flare-up in itchy red hives on the hands, neck, chest or arms.
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Too much stress isn’t good for you — on top of feeling relentless burnout, it can lead tosleep problems, apoor immune system,higher blood pressureandlower cognitive function. And occasionally, chronic or acute stress can affect your skin, too.
Stress is a natural response to perceived threats and can be healthy to a certain degree, as it creates needed hormones such as DHEA and oxytocin that motivate people to perform betterin certain aspects of life, including social relationships. If people experience too much stress for too long, thestress hormone cortisol rises and can trigger the immune system to be more reactive and make skin more sensitive, according to Allina Health.
Stress-induced rashes typically cause a flare-up of hives — persistent, raised itchy bumps — and are common. For those who experience other skin conditions, such as eczema, rosacea and psoriasis, stress can trigger extreme outbreaks.
While you may not realize how stress is affecting your skin until it’s too late, there are preemptive ways to avoid recurring stress rashes, and ways to treat the hives if you already have them.
What causes a stress rash?
“Most of the time, the lay term ‘stress rash’refers to ‘hives’ or what a medical provider would call ‘urticaria,’” said Dr. Whitney High, a professor and director of dermatopathology at theUniversity of Colorado School of Medicine, in an email. Cholinergic urticaria is a rash that develops with emotional stress, or after eating hot or spicy food, according to aSeptember 2022 study.
Stress hives can occur in response to elevated body temperatures caused by stress. The skin condition can also develop from an increase in histamine, a chemical your immune system makes in response to certain triggers, resulting in hives or welts, saidDr. Lauren Ploch, a board-certified dermatologist in Augusta, Georgia, and a member of the American Academy of Dermatology Association, via email.
If you break out in hives, a visit to the doctor could be a good idea, as the hives can also be caused by a change in laundry detergent, shampoo or soaps, a change in diet, or other factors. Ruling out these possible factors first will help to determine whether stress is the cause.
“While we recognize, as Dermatologists, that hives can be caused by stress, it is not our ‘first-explanation,’” said High, who is also a board-certified member of theAmerican Academy of Dermatology Association, via email.“If we can’t find any other cause for hives, then it is reasonable to consider stress.”
Occasionally, with prolonged stress, the condition can develop into neurodermatitis, which is a seemingly never-ending cycle of scratching, causing the skin to become itchier with each scratch, High said.
What does a stress rash look like?
Stress rashes look like puffy red bumps that can appear all over the body, but most commonly on the face, neck, chest or arms, according toScripps Health.The size of the hives can range from tiny dots to large welts and occasionally form in clusters, High said.
The hives come on suddenly and can last as few as a day or up to weeks, but the lesions are always migrating, High said, where a hive will go away and a new one will form, until the condition goes away entirely or is treated.
The hives are relentlessly itchy and can sometimes cause a burning sensation. Stress rashes are occasionally paired with swelling of the eyelids or the 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 begins to itch.
About 20% of people will be affected by hives at one point in their life, according to theAmerican College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.Most of the time, the hives can be treated with oral antihistamines, such asBenadryl and Zyrtec, but could even go away on their own after the factor that caused them is taken away. With 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 onset of a rash, taking a cold shower or a cold plunge may help, Ploch said, and she recommended avoiding hot foods, alcohol, and hot tubs and saunas, which could irritate the rash. It is important not to scratch, too, as it can make the itchiness worse and could spread harmful bacteria, according to Scripps Health.
While stress is a natural response, when too much begins to affect your physical health, it may be time for a change in routine.The World Health Organizationrecommends tactics to mitigate stress, including staying connected with close friends and family and maintaining a daily schedule that allows time for meals, exercise and recreational activities.
“Long-term stress prevention can be achieved with a healthydiet,adequate amount of sleep, and moderate amount of exercise,” Ploch said. “Also, immediate stress reduction techniques such as meditation or breathing techniques may be helpful.”
Stress-induced skin issues, like hives, are fascinating yet challenging aspects of how our body responds to psychological stressors. I've delved extensively into dermatology and stress-related health concerns, which aligns perfectly with the CNN article snippet you shared.
Firstly, stress triggers a cascade of hormonal reactions in the body, including the release of cortisol, which, when elevated for prolonged periods, can compromise the immune system and impact the skin's sensitivity. This aligns with research from institutions like Allina Health, discussing how chronic stress can exacerbate skin conditions like eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis.
Regarding stress-induced rashes, they often manifest as hives or urticaria, as mentioned by Dr. Whitney High and Dr. Lauren Ploch. These raised, itchy bumps appear due to an increase in histamine, a chemical released by the immune system in response to stress triggers. The migration of these hives and their persistent itchiness are characteristic features, as highlighted by Scripps Health.
When it comes to managing stress-induced rashes, addressing the underlying stressors is key. Techniques such as mindfulness, relaxation, meditation, and cognitive therapies prove effective in reducing stress levels and subsequently alleviating these skin conditions. Cold showers or avoiding specific irritants like hot foods and alcohol can aid in symptom relief, as recommended by dermatologists like Dr. Ploch.
Additionally, the World Health Organization's recommendations to combat stress align well with the holistic approach to managing stress-induced skin issues. Strategies including maintaining a balanced lifestyle with adequate sleep, exercise, a healthy diet, and social connections serve as preventive measures against the adverse effects of chronic stress on skin health.
Understanding these connections between stress and skin manifestations allows for better management and prevention, emphasizing the importance of stress reduction techniques in maintaining overall well-being.
