They can appear anywhere on the body. While they may initially start as tiny red bumps like a typical rash, stress rashes often become larger welts or patches that become worse after scratching them. Individual hives can be as large as dinner plates, but smaller hives can also merge together so that they appear to cover a large portion of the body.
Hives are often the result of an allergic reaction to something in your environment. Stress can trigger a response in the sympathetic nervous system, which leads to the release of histamine. Histamine is a compound that is normally produced by the body in response to injury, allergies, and inflammatory reactions, but it can also be triggered by stress. Some other factors that can lead to hives include:.
Common food allergens that might trigger hives include milk, nuts, soy, eggs, seafood, and wheat. If you are experiencing hives, you should start by assessing your activities over the last few days. Any unusual changes in your routine or exposure to new things might play a role in triggering hives. Some questions you might ask yourself to help pinpoint the cause include:.
If you cannot pinpoint another cause and you have been experiencing a great deal of stress, your symptoms might be a stress rash. Stress rashes tend to appear most commonly in women during their 30s, 40s, and 50s. People who have had allergic hives in the past are also at a higher risk of experiencing anxiety hives. If you are experiencing a stress rash, it is important to find a way to relieve your immediate symptoms in the short term while also looking for ways to lower your stress over the long term.
Some things you can do that may help:. If your hives are accompanied by other symptoms of an allergic reaction such as swelling of the face or lips, wheezing, or difficulty breathing, you should seek immediate medical attention.
It may be a sign of a serious, possibly life-threatening allergic reaction. You should also talk to your doctor if your hives worsen or last longer than six weeks.
Hives that persist longer than six weeks are considered chronic and may not go away on their own without medical attention. 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.
Eat a well-balanced diet including protein, carbohydrates, good fats and natural sugars where able. The interaction between the gut, brain and skin should not be forgotten when assessing skin health. The natural balance of the gut can be skewed by lifestyle factors and stress, this in turn can promote inflammation, which is implicated in itch. Take some time to consider if your diet is working well for your body, incorporate some healthy choices and consider a probiotic supplement.
Sleep at least eight hours a night to allow the skin time to repair itself. Scalps can also itch! Consider a targeted shampoo for issues with dry itchy scalps. Stress and anxiety: why you need to start treating your mind like a sink. Are there any specific products I can use to ease itching?
Balneum plus cream contains lauromacrogols to relieve itch. Dermacool cream contains menthol. Adex gel contains niacinamide. Eucerin Calming range contains colloidal oatmeal and menthol.
Head and Shoulders Supreme range for dry itchy scalps, infused with oils to protect and nourish hair. How can I prevent stress itching from happening in the future? This is a common skin condition that can cause redness and visible blood vessels on your face. Stress may also trigger flare-ups of problems caused by something else, such as an infection. One example is the herpes simplex virus, which causes cold sores.
Stress can keep you awake at night. It may also increase the urge to scratch itchy eczema and urticaria. You might find you turn to sugary and fatty comfort foods, alcohol , caffeine or smoking to cope with stress. Alcohol and caffeine, for example, can cause skin redness, such as rosacea. They can also trigger the itchiness of urticaria and eczema.
Smoking and drinking too much can make psoriasis worse too. This includes things like pulling at your hair and lashes or picking at your skin.
They can seem a form of short-term stress relief but are damaging in the long term. Skin conditions may also cause stress because of how they make you feel about yourself.
They can also impact your everyday life including your social activities and relationships. Talk to your doctor about tackling both problems together.
Cognitive behavioural therapy CBT can help you react differently to potentially stressful situations. It can also teach you to cope with the psychological effects of a skin condition. You might find it helps to address any body-focused repetitive behaviours too. Mindfulness is about being present in the moment. It makes you more aware of how you feel, both emotionally and physically.
It can help you be kinder to yourself and others. It can also help reduce stress symptoms that affect your skin, such as anger. Anger, for example, causes flushing redness in rosacea.
Physical activity can also reduce your risk of stress, boost your mental and physical wellbeing.
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