Stress can sometimes leave a physical imprint on us. According to experts, stress rashes may take various forms, and finding techniques to handle such sentiments properly might help our skin.
Dr. Shasa Hu tells TODAY.com that she’s witnessed an increase in young patients seeking treatment for stress-related skin diseases such as stress rashes.
“It’s very unfortunate because many times they will have tried TikTok solutions before, such as elimination diets,” says Hu, an associate professor of dermatology and cutaneous surgery at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. “But then, of course, we need traditional medicine and other approaches to address the underlying issue.”
Is it possible for stress to induce a rash?
According to Hu, stress can cause a rash, such as hives, and it can aggravate other rash-like skin problems.
According to Dr. Evan Rieder, a board-certified dermatologist and psychiatrist in New York City, the relationship between stress and skin stems from the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in the brain, which governs the body’s response to stress.
As part of that function, the HPA axis regulates the release of cortisol, sometimes known as “the stress hormone.” Cortisol also interacts with your immune system, making your skin more prone to hives, rosacea, psoriasis, and eczema flare-ups.
Hu explains that when it comes to stress rashes, “Cortisol revs up the whole immune cascade, and that gives people the clinical manifestation.”
Furthermore, Rieder notes that many variables might combine to impact your skin during times of stress. If you’re traveling for work, for example, your job stress may be exacerbated by a lack of sleep, dietary changes, or even a cold picked up along the road. These variables, when combined, can cause skin disorders to worsen.
“Any time that your sleep is dysregulated, your entire HPA axis gets dysregulated and that feeds directly upon onto the skin,” Rieder said.
What is the appearance of a stress rash?
Hives appear as raised, itchy lumps on the skin that may be red or pink when a stress rash appears as hives. Hives can be a group of small bumps or they can be joined to form one huge hump.
“Hives develop when your blood vessels dilate and become leaky,” explains Dr. Joshua Zeichner, associate professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital. “Blood cells leak out through the blood vessels to cause this red, itchy raised welt in the skin.”
Flushing may accompany a stress rash at times. “People get embarrassed or stressed,” he explains, “and some individuals have more reactive blood vessels and can become flushed or blushed.”
According to Hu, stress-related rashes can coexist with another disorder known as dermatographism (also known as dermatographia).
Dermatologists will drag something dull, such as the eraser of a pencil or the end of a tongue depressor, along an area of skin to test for dermatographism. Normally, this would leave a red stain that would fade in approximately 10 minutes, according to Hu. However, if a person has dermatographism, it might progress to a longer-lasting raised mark or even hives, according to her.
Dermatographia isn’t dangerous, but it can be a symptom of underlying hypersensitivity, making you more prone to develop a stress rash, according to Hu.
How to Avoid a Stress Rash:
Finding stress-management tactics that work for you is critical if stress or worry is creating rashes.
“Proactively, you want to do things to minimize the stress in your life as much as you can while understanding that it’s not reality to get rid of stress entirely,” Rieder said.
According to the experts, this may involve massage therapy, breathing exercises, physical activity, balanced eating, prioritizing excellent sleep, meditation and mindfulness techniques, or more formal mental health care.
According to Rieder, even a regular skin-care routine may be part of a peaceful, persistent mindfulness practice that decreases stress and increases general health. “These self-care moments decrease your heart rate, they can decrease your blood pressure, and they can be a moment of respite during times when you’re under a lot of stress.”
How to Treat a Stress Rash
According to Hu, while stress relaxation methods are beneficial, they are not a standalone therapy for stress rashes. Patients frequently require more standard treatment as well. And the best technique to cure a stress rash depends on the problem at hand.
Rieder recommends starting with over-the-counter antihistamines if you develop hives. Hu recommends using topical steroids as required. Other disorders, such as acne, rosacea, psoriasis, or eczema, may necessitate more specialist therapy.
However, if possible, include stress-management practices into your daily routine to avoid stress rashes.
Stress-related skin problems:
Stress may cause or worsen a variety of skin diseases, including:
- Acne
- Rosacea
- Eczema
- Psoriasis
- Hair thinning
- Skin dehydration
“The same hormones that prepare our body to deal with a stressful environment, the hormones involved in that flight or fight response, have been shown to stimulate your oil glands,” he explains.
He explains that corticotropin-releasing hormone, which tells your body to release the “stress hormone” cortisol, also affects the oil glands, aka sebaceous glands, in your skin, which can cause a breakout.
Stress has also been linked to premature aging, skin barrier failure and dryness, as well as decreased wound healing, according to Ziechner.
When to visit a doctor for stress rashes
You may need to consult with a medical expert at some time to find better ways to manage your stress rashes.
“If you’re recurrently having these — whatever the rash looks like —and it’s getting in the way of your quality of life or your ability to function socially or occupationally, then that would be the time to talk to a doctor,” Rieder said.
According to Zeichner, your doctor or dermatologist may recommend a skin biopsy or blood test to search for underlying disorders that may be contributing to your stress rashes. According to Hu, your rash might be an indication of a more serious immune system disease called mastocytosis in rare situations. Ziechner adds that it might be connected to lupus.
A medical expert may also refer you to mental health counseling to help you deal with some of the stress. That might be done “through cognitive behavioral therapy or just relaxation techniques that can be really helpful,” according to Rieder.
“Everyone gets rashes.” “We can explain them sometimes, but not always,” Zeichner adds. “But if they’re recurring and getting in the way of your quality of life, it’s time to visit a board-certified dermatologist for evaluation.”
