Stress is a condition that psychologically, emotionally, and to some extent physically impairs an individual. It is your body’s way of letting you know that something is wrong. Stress is mainly induced by anxiety, pressure, or tension. Due to the demands put on your body, your nervous system responds in such a way that it releases stress hormones. Stress hormones include adrenalin and cortisol, which after being released arouse the body into emergency action.

When you have anxiety, the cortisol hormone produced causes glands under your skin to produce more oil. Excess oil can get trapped inside hair follicles, along with dirt and dead skin cells, thereby producing skin rash. Emotions have a powerful effect on our bodies and can cause hormonal imbalance. More often than not, negative emotions have an effect on your immune system, which in turn releases histamine.

If you have skin problems, you find that under duress, your skin condition worsens. Even people with healthy skin are not spared when it comes to skin rash caused by stress.

Symptoms of stress rash

Stress rash appears on any part of the body but commonly affects the face, arms and back. The rashes are usually red swollen however; some people may experience an itchy and burning sensation. The rashes can affect anyone irrespective of their age but people between 30 and 50 might be more prone to these rashes as they are mostly likely to be having anxiety. These rashes might appear and go away within 8-12 hours however, in some cases, they may persist for longer periods. In 1 out of 10 cases, the rashes might be chronic.

Causes of stress rash

When you are under stress, your body secretes adrenaline and cortisol into the bloodstream, which cause skin irritation. In turn, your skin becomes sensitive or develops a rash. It also becomes more sensitive to lotions and facial creams thus your skin’s natural ability to protect itself reduces and makes other skin irritations that were dormant to flare up.

Determining whether your rash outbreak is stress related might be a hustle. It is therefore advisable for one to seek a doctor’s help just to be sure it is a stress rash.

How to rid yourself of stress rash

Stress rash can cause a lot of anxiety hence making the situation worse. It can destroy your facial beauty thus lowering one’s self esteem. Here are a few tips on how to get rid of stress rash.

Avoid stress

It is important to note the reason for your anxiety and to avoid anything that brings about the emotions. If the situation were out of hand, then visiting a psychiatrist/psychologist would really be a good thing.

Use of moisturizers

Selecting the right moisturizer and products for your skin might help reduce the rash. The moisturizer should be applied at least twice a day. This will help keep your skin moisturized and thus reduce or prevent further outbreak of rashes. Seek advice from an expert on what products are best fit for your skin.

Yoga

While under duress, it is highly recommended to do yoga as it helps you learn to remain calm even during stressful times. By being at ease and reducing anxiety, your body is able to restore the skin’s beauty.

Morning walks

Walking is also a stress reducing exercise, which is less hectic and very beneficial. Also the morning sun is said to increase healing process in rash outbreaks.

Medication

Once you’ve identified that you’re going through stress and unable to manage it, you should seek medical attention. You will be prescribed medications that reduce the levels of stress, which in turn will reduce the outbreak of skin rash that appear as a result of stress.

Consumption of water

Consumption of water not only keeps the body hydrated but also gets rid of toxins out of your system thereby preventing rash outbreaks. It is recommended that an individual drinks at least eight glasses of water per day.

Consumption of fatty acids

Fatty acids tend to reduce inflammation that causes rashes. It is therefore advisable to consume them regularly. They include fish oil supplements among others.

If the outbreak is too severe and home remedies fail to work, then there’s need to consult a dermatologist. The expert will be able to advice you on what skin care products to use so as to control the rash or get rid of it.

Also, avoid scratching as it will only heighten the spread and might also lead to yeast or bacterial infection if the skin is broken. Avoid high temperatures as perspiration and swelling may lead to further irritation. Ensure you take great care of your skin, as most people who are stressed tend to neglect themselves.

In conclusion sometimes stress rash symptoms might resemble rashes caused by allergic reactions from bee stings, foods, medication or beauty products. It is important to rule out all these before coming to a conclusion. After having determined that your rashes are stress related, you should identify the cause of the anxiety and try to reduce the levels of stress thus preventing more outbreaks.

Developing an effective stress management plan may be able to help you through your journey. The only way to treat your rash outbreak is to understand your anxiety and how best to work through it. Get enough sleep and try talking to a friend or professional about what’s bothering you.

Stress Rash – Pictures