Can stress cause itching rash

Can You Get A Skin Rash From Stress?

September 2, 2022 | Skin Care & Beauty

Stress rash often affects people with underlying skin conditions

Americans are among the most stressed people in the world, according to polls. While stress may be something we feel emotionally, it can have a significant impact on our physical health.

In addition to high blood pressure, headaches and fatigue, skin rashes are common stress symptoms.

What causes stress rash?

Stress rash often affects people who have underlying skin conditions, such as eczema, rosacea or allergies caused by environmental triggers, such as pollen, animal dander or certain foods. Some people even develop rashes from sunlight or weather changes. Still, even without an underlying condition, you can still develop stress rash.

“When you’re feeling stress, your body releases chemicals that can cause inflammation and make your skin even more sensitive,” says Erin Lester, MD, a family medicine physician at Scripps Coastal Medical Center in Solana Beach. “This can trigger a flare-up.”

What do stress rashes look like?

Stress rashes often appear as raised red bumps called hives. They can affect any part of the body, but often a stress rash is on the face, neck, chest or arms. Hives may range from tiny dots to large welts and may form in clusters. They may be itchy or cause a burning or tingling sensation.

Stress rash treatment

Stress rash is rarely a serious problem, but if you have difficulty breathing or your throat or lips swell up, call 911 immediately. Your reaction may be caused by something else that could be life-threatening, and you need emergency care.

Fortunately, most stress-induced rashes go away on their own within a few days; however, they can come back. Some may persist for as long as six weeks.

Avoid scratching the rash, which can make it worse and may even spread bacteria through tiny scrapes in the skin.

Home treatments, such as cool compresses and ice packs, can help relieve swelling and itching (but do not apply ice directly to the skin). Over-the-counter antihistamines, such as Benadryl and Zyrtec, can also help relieve symptoms. Read the labels carefully as some may cause drowsiness, or ask your pharmacist for a recommendation.

If your rash does not subside within a week, or your symptoms get worse, call your doctor. Depending on your provider, you may not need to make an office visit. Skin rashes often can be diagnosed during a video visit from your mobile phone or tablet.

“If your rash doesn’t respond to home treatment, we may prescribe a stronger antihistamine or a cortisone cream to knock down the inflammation and help your skin heal,” says Dr. Lester.

Preventing stress rash

Stress is simply the body’s reaction to a situation that feels overwhelming or creates anxiety. If you develop stress rash, it may be a warning sign that you need to reduce sources of stress in your life, whether they are related to your job, relationships, finances or other factors.

Even if you can’t change your situation, you can learn to manage how you react to stressful triggers. Once you have more control over stress in your life, you may experience fewer or milder rashes.

Try these tips to help manage stress:

Exercise or practice yoga, tai chi or meditation.
Seek out a friend for a walk or coffee.
Do something fun with your family.
Listen to music or read a book.
Play an audiobook or podcast.

In some cases, what you think is a stress rash may actually be caused by something else, such as eczema or insect bites. Contact dermatitis, which is a rash caused by contact with something you are allergic to, such as a chemical or fabric, may be another possibility.

If you seem to get frequent stress rashes, it’s a good idea to see your doctor. Together, you can determine the cause and develop a plan to reduce your outbreaks.

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Health and Wellness
Wellness & Prevention
Family Medicine
Skin Care & Beauty
Mental Health

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Hives caused by stress

Share on PinterestStress can play a big or small part in peoples daily lives, but it may also manifest in physical ways as well.

Stress can trigger an outbreak of hives that can make up a stress rash.

Hives are raised, red-colored spots or welts. They vary in size and can occur anywhere on the body.

Areas affected by hives can feel itchy. In some cases, they cause a tingling or burning sensation when touched.

These hives can occur due to a variety of different causes, such as:

cold or heat exposure
infection
certain medications, including antibiotics

The most common cause of hives is an allergen entering the body. For example, an individual with hay fever may develop hives as a result of exposure to pollen.

It is also possible for emotional stress to trigger an outbreak of hives. There can be a number of hormonal or chemical changes that occur in response to stress.

These changes can trigger blood vessels to expand and leak, causing red and swollen patches of skin. The resulting hives can be made worse by:

consumption of alcohol or caffeine
exposure to warm temperatures

Stress may worsen existing skin conditions

Stress can prevent existing skin problems from healing properly. For example, stress can worsen the skin conditions known as psoriasis and eczema.

Share on PinterestHives may cover the entire body and treatment should be sought to ease the irritation.

Stress rashes may be considered acute if they clear up in less than 6 weeks. If they persist for longer, they are deemed to be chronic.

Typically, rashes will clear up after a few days and it is not necessary to seek treatment. Help should be sought if the rashes take longer than this to clear up.

Experiencing an outbreak of hives can be uncomfortable regardless of when it clears up. In such cases, an individual should seek treatment to ease the irritation caused by hives.

Similarly, most stress rashes are fairly mild, but taking action to manage an outbreak is recommended to lessen its impact.

Particularly, a rash may cause feelings of unhappiness. This may amplify an individual’s stress and worsen the rash further.

Hives may sometimes cover the entire body or be accompanied by:

skin peeling or blisters
fever
pain

If so, it could indicate a more serious condition or allergy, and a doctor should be consulted immediately.

Treatment for a stress rash can usually be done at home, using nonprescription antihistamines. These should help to relieve the itching.

Antihistamines are available for purchase over-the-counter or online.

Alternatively, cooling the skin can also relieve itching. This can be achieved by taking a cool bath or using a cold compress, available for purchase online.

In more severe cases, a doctor may prescribe a short course of:

stronger antihistamines
steroids
antibiotic tablets

If the rashes continue, a doctor may refer a person to a skin specialist, who will continue to prescribe medication while trying to identify triggers for the hives.

Some people may also find their rashes are related to the development of other conditions, such as angioedema or anaphylaxis. This will affect how the rashes are treated, according to the nature of the complication.

Share on PinterestA rash may have an alternative cause such as eczema, which can appear as red patches.

It maybe that a rash is the result of a factor other than stress, such as:

Heat rash: Exposure to a hot and humid climate can cause heat rashes to develop.
Eczema: This chronic condition can occur at any age. It is characterized by small bumps on the skin that can spread to form dense red patches, known as plaques.
Contact dermatitis: This is caused by an allergen, such as particular soaps or jewellry, coming into contact with the skin.
Pityriasis rosea: This is a common skin condition typified by a large rash often surrounded by smaller bumps or rashes.
Rosacea: Rashes due to rosacea often (but not always) appear on the face and may persist for weeks or months. There is no cure for this condition and rashes can reoccur despite treatment.

It is common to experience stress. The best way to prevent stress rashes is to reduce exposure to stress. Unfortunately, this is not always possible.

Certain stressors, causing the stress, may be unavoidable. These include difficult work situations or relationships. However, it is possible to do things that aid a person’s ability to deal with stress.

One approach is to work with lifestyle factors to minimize the impact of the stress, by:

engaging in regular exercise
following a healthful, balanced diet

Stress can also be addressed through therapy or relaxation techniques, which are known to be helpful. One such technique is mindfulness meditation.

Eliminating or reducing the impact of stress can be a difficult task. The most effective strategies will vary depending on the nature of the stressor and the individual.

It will not be possible to always prevent stress from taking a toll on the body. In such circumstances, a stress rash may be unavoidable.

Should a stress rash occur, it is important to minimize the discomfort that it causes and prevent the condition from worsening.

what is stress, how does it lead to disease and can it cause hives

Daniil Davydov

medical journalist

Author profile

Chronic stress increases the risk of developing many diseases: from cardiovascular diseases to stomach ulcers.

But the disease will not develop unless other factors also act on the person, such as the invasion of harmful microbes, smoking, overeating, or heredity. Therefore, it is wrong to say that people suffer from allergies and dermatitis due to strong feelings or overload at work. nine0003

What is stress

Stress is a normal reaction of the body to sudden changes in the surrounding world that cannot be ignored. Stress helps us to mobilize and avoid danger - for example, dodging a person on an electric scooter, whom we did not even see a moment ago.

Understanding Stress - Medlineplus Medical Encyclopedia

How the Brain Regulates Stress - Cleveland Clinic Bulletin

The command center in the brain controls the stress response. From the brain to each organ, nerves descend, united in a thick cable, which we know as the spinal cord. nine0003

Nerve fibers belonging to the sympathetic or parasympathetic nervous system run from the spinal cord to almost every blood vessel, sweat gland and muscle.

If something unexpected suddenly happens around us, the sympathetic nervous system orders our internal organs to mobilize. At her command, the pupils dilate, breathing and heart rate accelerate, and the liver releases glucose stores into the blood - the fuel that the muscles urgently need to fight or flight. At the same time, digestion is suppressed, because the body is not up to digesting food now. As a result, we come to a state of full combat readiness. nine0003

Once the danger has passed, the parasympathetic system comes into play. She gives the whole body the “Free” command: constricts the pupils, slows down breathing and heart rate, and allows the digestive system to continue working normally. The liver stops releasing glucose into the blood and focuses on the production of bile, which is needed for digestion. As a result, we gradually calm down.

/health-life-2/

Exercise, sleep and seafood instead of meat: 8 more healthy habits

The parasympathetic nervous system helps us relax and the sympathetic nervous system mobilizes us The parasympathetic nervous system helps us relax and the sympathetic nervous system mobilizes us

The normal stress response saved us in ancient times when humans were hunters and gatherers. In those days, stress was short-lived. If it was possible to successfully catch up with prey or avoid meeting with a flock of hyenas, people immediately calmed down, because nothing else threatened them.

When mankind moved from deserts and forests to big cities, there were fewer reasons for short-term stress. But new sources of stress have appeared, like unloved work or crowds in the subway, which affect us for years. As a result, the stress became chronic. Unlike short-term stress, which saves a person's life, chronic stress is not at all useful for health. nine0003

How Stress Increases the Risk of Disease

Because stress is a complex response that involves the entire body, exposure to stress increases the risk of both mental and physical illness.

Mental illness. When stress reactions last not for a few minutes or hours, but for months and years, the sympathetic nervous system is constantly on edge. As a result, a healthy person spends too much energy on the most common household tasks and gradually loses strength. The less strength a person has, the higher the risk that he will not cope with a difficult life test, such as losing a job or divorce, and will fall ill, for example, with depression. nine0003

If the sympathetic nervous system is constantly activated, the risk of depression increases - Journal of Modern Neuropharmacology

Chronic diseases. Stress is even more dangerous for people who have a predisposition or have already developed some kind of disease. For example, chronic stress increases heart rate and blood pressure. In a person with cardiovascular disease, an additional load on the heart and blood vessels can provoke a heart attack. nine0003

Chronic Stress and the Heart - Journal of the American Medical Association

Chronic Stress - a Risk Factor for Type 2 Diabetes - Nature

Chronic Stress May Accelerate Cancer - Brain, Behavior, and Immunity

Much the same way - overexertion already damaged systems - stress can trigger the onset of illness in people with a predisposition to type 2 diabetes, cancer and some other diseases. nine0003

Infectious diseases. Chronic stress directly affects the immune system - it increases the level of suppressor T-lymphocytes. The task of these immune cells is to keep the inflammatory process under control and prevent the immune system from destroying the organism itself along with microbes. But if suppressor T cells turn on for no reason, they begin to suppress the normal immune response. It is known that this increases the risk of contracting a viral infection.

Chronic Stress Disrupts the Immune System - Journal of Stress and Immunity in Space

Wounds and injuries. Wound healing begins with inflammation of the damaged area of the body. This allows you to destroy microbes and damaged cells. Then the cells in the damaged area begin to intensively divide, and the wound heals. By suppressing inflammation, chronic stress prevents wounds from healing normally.

Psychological Stress Interferes with Wound Healing - Journal of the Immunology and Allergy Clinic of North America

Generally, chronic stress increases the risk of disease by acting as a straw that breaks the back of an already overworked camel. But this does not mean at all that if people with a predisposition to chronic diseases did not stand in traffic jams, did not communicate with quarrelsome neighbors or with harmful bosses, and were not nervous for other reasons, then they would not get sick. nine0003

The role of the last straw can be played not only by chronic stress, but also by other factors, such as a viral infection. Science knows cases when people with a predisposition to autoimmune diseases fell ill with them after they had a rotavirus infection or caught the herpes virus.

Viruses and Autoimmune Diseases - Viruses Magazine

Are Stress, Urticaria, and Allergies Linked

Allergy is an immune system error that occurs when it mistakes a harmless protein from food, pollen or dust for a dangerous microbe and tries to destroy. For most allergies, the immune system uses its favorite superweapon, a biologically active substance called histamine. nine0003

Understanding Allergies - NHS

Genetic Predisposition Increases the Risk of Allergies - Nature

Histamine causes blood vessels to spasm, causing swelling and triggering inflammation. As a result, a person's snot flows, his eyes turn red, and an itchy rash appears on the skin. Skin manifestations of allergies are called atopic dermatitis, or urticaria.

Today, most allergists believe that chronic stress cannot cause an initially well-functioning immune system to start making mistakes. Although the causes of allergies are not yet fully understood, it is believed that many people are already born with a genetic predisposition to allergies. Stress, even chronic, is not able to reshape the genome. nine0003

Stress and Allergic Diseases - Journal of the Immunology and Allergy Clinic of North America

On the other hand, stress is quite capable of provoking an extraordinary attack in an already allergy-prone person. It can also make an allergy attack more severe.

It works like this. When a person suffering from hives becomes upset, their sympathetic nervous system dilates their blood vessels. This causes immune cells to release more histamine, and as a result, the rash becomes even more itchy. nine0003

/eczema/

How to treat eczema and how much it costs

How to reduce chronic stress

It is not possible for a modern city dweller to completely avoid exposure to factors that cause chronic stress. But we can try to adjust the intensity of the impact of sources of chronic stress on our lives.

How to Beat Chronic Stress - Bulletin of the American Psychological Association, APA

Here's what experts from the American Psychological Association advise you to do. nine0003

Limit the interference of stressors. Try to make a list of all the projects and commitments that make you nervous or overwhelmed. Leave only those items in the list of daily tasks that you can’t do without, for example, exams or trips on the subway.

If work tasks cause a lot of stress, it makes sense to discuss this with the manager. It may be possible to distribute the load. It may turn out that one of your colleagues could perform a task that causes you great discomfort without any problems, and in return you could take on some of his tasks. nine0003

Complain to a loved one. Some people experience chronic stress from not telling anyone that times are hard. This does not mean that it is worth turning into a whiner. But many people feel better simply by telling their loved ones about their problems.

There is nothing wrong with occasionally asking a friend or relative for support. Perhaps they, too, have encountered similar problems and know how to solve them. For example, they will advise a convenient way to streamline work tasks or give the contact of a proven psychologist or psychotherapist. nine0003

/antistress-methods/

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Cut down on coffee. Caffeine invigorates, but in too large quantities it can also provoke nervousness. Try limiting yourself to one cup of morning coffee. If before that you often drank this drink during the working day, it may become easier.

Add daily walks to your schedule. Physical activity increases the concentration of endorphins - chemical compounds that improve mood and reduce stress levels. Not every job allows you to go to the gym, but you can almost always find time for a half-hour walk around the house or office, or at least to the subway. nine0003

Get enough sleep. A healthy 7-8 hour sleep reduces the harmful effects of stress. But the catch is that chronic stress itself disrupts sleep, and a vicious circle is obtained.

In addition to the usual advice to eat less at night, avoid glowing gadgets and sleep in the dark, you can try to get into the habit of writing down all disturbing thoughts in a notebook. It works in much the same way as complaining to a loved one, that is, it reduces stress. After you write everything down, the chances of falling asleep increase. nine0003

If all else fails, seek help. Some people find it easier to cope with chronic stress when they work with a psychologist or psychotherapist. True, sometimes it’s not easy to find a specialist that is right for you, and services can be expensive: in different cities, an appointment costs 1,500-5,000 R. Most people feel better after the tenth appointment.

/psychotherapy-search/

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What is the result

Short-term stress is a normal physiological reaction that helps to survive in emergency situations.
Chronic stress is unhealthy because it weakens the body and increases the likelihood of disease in people with a predisposition.
Chronic stress can provoke and exacerbate the symptoms of many diseases, but does not in itself cause allergies or urticaria.

Allergic rash - urticaria | Symptoms

Drugs, contrast agents (used in imaging studies such as computed tomography)
Signs: Allergic rash that begins within 48 hours after using the drug.

Emotional and physical stimuli (stress and anxiety, cold, exercise, skin pressure, warmth, sunlight, sweating)
Signs: Allergic rash, which usually begins within seconds or minutes after contact with an irritant; an allergic rash that starts within 4 to 6 hours and affects only the area of skin where pressure has been applied, or an allergic rash that only affects the area of skin exposed to sunlight. nine0003

Food (food allergens)
Signs: Allergic rash that starts within minutes or hours of consumption.

Infections (bacterial, parasitic, viral)
Signs: Fever, chills, and fatigue. Specific infection symptoms, particularly for parasitic infections, recent travel to a developing country.

Insect bites or burns
Signs: Allergic rash that starts within seconds or minutes of an insect bite or burn. nine0003

Serum sickness
Signs: An allergic rash that begins within 7 to 10 days after an injection of a blood product (as in a transfusion), a drug derived from the blood of animals (used to treat venomous snake and spider bites). May be accompanied by fever, joint pain, swollen lymph nodes, and abdominal pain.

Contact allergens (latex, animal saliva or dander, dust, pollen or mold)
Signs: An allergic rash that begins within minutes or hours of contact.

Transfusion reactions
Signs: Allergic rash that usually starts within minutes of a blood product transfusion.

Systemic lupus erythematosus
Signs: Various symptoms depending on the autoimmune disease. With systemic lupus erythematosus, symptoms may include fever, fatigue, headache, joint pain and swelling, pain when breathing, and mouth ulcers. nine0003

Sjögren's syndrome
Signs: Dry eyes and dry mouth.

Urticarial vasculitis
Signs: An allergic rash that may be painful but not itchy. Usually lasts more than 24 hours. Does not whiten (brighten) when pressure is applied. May be accompanied by the formation of small blisters and red-violet spots (purpura).

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