Sometimes you know very well where an itchy bump on your arm comes from. A mosquito has attacked you or you were visited by bed bugs in dreamland. But you can’t always put your finger on it. Where do those red spots on your skin come from? Maybe stress is the culprit.
The influence of stress on skin rashes
“About thirty percent of all skin diseases are influenced by stress,” explains David Njoo, dermatologist and editor-in-chief of Knowledge centerhuidarts.com, out. ‘Stress leads to the release of stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol and also affects your immune system.’
Those stress hormones can be very useful. This way they ensure that you run away a little faster when you come face to face with a bear. But even just before an important presentation, adrenaline sometimes rushes through your body. With a less pleasant side effect: flushed cheeks or red spots from stress.
Why do you get red spots on your skin due to stress?
Stress hormones cause your body to go into a fight-or-flight mode. Your breathing speeds up, your heart rate increases and your blood vessels dilate. And you can often see the latter: you blush or get red spots on your skin.
Such a red cheek often disappears quickly as soon as your exciting conversation is over. But chronic stress also affects many other skin conditions. The dermatologist mentions acne, eczema, psoriasis and hives, among other things. “These are all immune-mediated conditions, where stress can cause or worsen the symptoms,” says Njoo.
Immune mediated. That sounds complicated, but the bottom line is that your immune system is out of balance. For example, because you are busy and stressed. Then your body starts to fight against itself, sometimes resulting in a rash or itching. Or with a not so nice hairstyle, because stress can also cause hair loss.
Also read: Why do you get headaches from stress? And can stress make you dizzy?
2023-11-09 16:10:47
#stress #itching #rashes
