Yes, the stress can make the skin break into hives. Stress induces a chemical response in the body that makes the skin more sensitive. It releases the hormone, cortisol, in the body that directs the gland in the skin to produce more oil, causing more skin problems.
Stress rash isn’t a reason for concern and can be treated at home. Stress rash can also occur due to underlying skin conditions, such as psoriasis, rosacea, and eczema.
Skin problems associated with stress include:
- Acne
- Fever blisters
- Different types of skin rashes
What are the symptoms of stress rash?
The most common signs of stress rash include:
Why do I have a stress rash?
Women in their 30s and 40s with a previous history of hives are at high risk of getting stress rashes. Stress alters the hormonal levels of the body. It makes a certain part of the nervous system hyperactive. These changes cause the chemical, histamine, to be released in the body. The histamine damages the skin cells and causes hives.
The excessive oily skin due to stress hormones is more prone to acne breakouts.
What happens if I scratch my stress rash?
Scratching the rash stimulates more histamine release leading to more itch; hence, it is advisable to stop scratching the rash. Use some soothing lotion instead, to calm the itchiness.
How long does stress rash last?
Generally, a single hive disappears within 24 hours or less, and a new hive appears at a different site as the older one subsides. A bout of hives or multiple hives usually takes about six weeks to resolve and is known as acute hives. Hives lasting for more than six weeks are known as chronic hives and should be brought to a dermatologist's attention.
How to treat a stress rash?
The best treatment is to learn proper stress management. A stress rash may require medications to treat them, which may include:
- Antihistamines, such as Allegra (fexofenadine) or Claritin (loratadine)
- Corticosteroids like Deltasone (prednisone)
- Aczone (dapsone)
- Xolair (omalizumab)
- Anti-inflammatory medications
Other ways to relieve stress rash include:
- Applying a cold compress
- Avoid overheating
- Wear loose-fitting cotton clothes
- Use over the counter anti-itch medications
- Use fragrance-free moisturizer to prevent dry skin
Following measures can help handle and avoid stress.
- Taking good care of your skin by keeping it clean and moisturizing it
- Exercising regularly may prove beneficial to your skin and the body
- Setting aside some time for yourself by indulging in things that make you happy
- Relieving your stress and anxiety by practicing breathing techniques and meditation
- Sleeping for seven to eight hours is essential for healthy skin
- Do not overstress yourself with tasks or deadlines
- Seeking help from someone you trust
SLIDESHOW
The 14 Most Common Causes of Fatigue See SlideshowHealth Solutions From Our Sponsors
https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/hives-chronic-relief
https://www.stress.org/what-to-do-when-stress-gives-you-hives
Top Can You Get a Skin Rash From Stress? Related Articles
Tips to Fast Stress Relief
Stop stress and stress-related problems like overeating, headaches, hives, and anxiety. Try simple interventions like chewing gum, getting outside, spending time with friends, smiling, listening to music, sniffing lavender, journaling, and listening to music to stop stress in its tracks.
Holiday Travel Tips
Learn holiday travel tips for a stress-free adventure. The holidays can be a very stressful time and it is important to prepare your family for traveling during the holiday season.
Anxiety, Stress, and Worry
Want to find ways to reduce anxiety, stress, and worry? Find treatments to ease stress, eliminate worry, and combat anxiety as you discover how stress affects your body. Learn whether stress fights colds or encourages them, why some stress is bad and some is good, and why exercise and diet can be relaxing.
Stress-Reducing Foods
While there are many ways to cope with stress, one strategy is to eat stress-fighting foods. Find out which foods to eat as part of a stress management diet.
Job Stress and Your Health
Early warning signs of job stress include headache, sleep disturbance, difficulty in concentrating, short temper, upset stomach, job dissatisfaction, and low morale. Stress on the job can be damaging to your health in that job stress is the outcome when job demands cannot be met.
Stress and Heart Disease
The connection between stress and heart disease is not clear. Stress itself may be a risk factor, or high levels of stress may make risk factors for heart disease worse. The warning signs of stress can be physical, mental, emotional, or behavioral. Reducing stressors in an individuals life not only can lead to a more productive life, but may also decrease the risk for heart disease and causes of heart disease.
Stress Management Techniques
Stress may be considered as any physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental unrest and that may be a factor in disease causation. An important goal for those under stress is the management of stress in our lives. Elimination of stress is unrealistic, since stress is a part of normal life. We can however, learn to manage stress through techniques such as exercise, relaxation, meditation, time management, and support systems so that we have control over our stress and its effects on our physical and mental health.
Stress Quiz
Stress creeps into everyone's life at one time or another, while some people will suffer from poorly managed chronic stress. If you're suffering, there are things you can do. Take the Stress Quiz to learn what you can do to beat the long-term effects of chronic stress.
What Does a Stress Rash Look Like?
Stress often affects the skin adversely. It causes the formation of a stress hormone that increases oil production in the body, making it prone to acne. Stress may also cause itchy welts to appear on the skin.