How does stress cause itchy skin

The itch can happen at the same time as symptoms of anxiety or it can occur separately. Even if the cause of your itching is anxiety, serious skin problems can develop if you scratch too much or too vigorously. This can leave you with irritated, broken, or bleeding skin. It can also lead to infection.

On the other hand, the skin condition and relentless itching may have come first, prompting the anxiety. You may indeed have two unrelated problems — anxiety plus an itch caused by something else entirely. Depending on your specific symptoms, your doctor may want to investigate some other causes of itchy skin , such as:. Most of these conditions can be identified upon physical examination.

Itchy skin can also be a symptom of less visible conditions such as:. Treatment depends on the specific causes of anxiety and itching. No matter the cause, unrelenting itching can have a negative impact on your overall quality of life. Aside from your primary care physician, you might benefit from seeing a specialist or perhaps two. A mental health professional can help you learn to manage anxiety, which can alleviate that aggravating itch.

Psychologists can also help with dermatological problems related to anxiety. This field is called psychodermatology. Here are some things you can do on your own to help relieve itching :.

Stress rash is rarely a serious problem, but if you have difficulty breathing or your throat or lips swell up, call immediately. Your reaction may be caused by something else that could be life-threatening, and you need emergency care.

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.

Warm temps and caffeinated or alcoholic drinks can aggravate hives. Can be caused when stress hormones rise, triggering your oil glands to produce more oil, and voila!

An acne breakout. Eczema is red, itchy, dry and inflamed skin. Hair loss can be triggered by stress, but sudden, patchy hair loss also can be a sign of an underlying health condition. See a provider to determine the cause and treatment.

Most rashes and acne breakouts will clear up after a few days with good skin hygiene and over-the-counter medications. Treatment is similar for skin breakouts and eczema. Antihistamines and medicated creams and ointments often help clear it up within a few days.

Many skin conditions can be diagnosed and treated through a virtual or online visit. Definitely check with a provider if:. When you reduce anxiety, you might find that your itching goes away.

Anxiety and itching can result in a continuous itch-anxiety cycle. Anxiety leads to itching, which in turn leads to more anxiety, and so on. Many people with chronic itch report that psychological stress is a factor that aggravates their itching. Research has also shown a link between itching and symptoms of depression. People who report severe depression also report higher itch intensity, compared to people who report low symptoms of depression. One study found that when people with a chronic itch condition viewed stressful images — such as a snake preparing to strike or a person being pulled from a burning building — their itch severity increased.

In another study , healthy women with no chronic itch conditions reported greater itching sensations due to histamine reactions when they experienced negative emotions from distressing film clips. Everyone can experience this at some level, but it tends to happen to a greater degree among people with neurotic personalities. Some people with anxiety-related itching report that their itching is worse at night. Itchy skin at night is also called nocturnal pruritus.

First, your body increases blood flow to the skin at night, and your skin tends to retain less moisture — both of which could potentially worsen itchy sensations. In addition, the body releases fewer anti-inflammatory corticosteroids at night, while releasing higher levels of certain itch-related hormones.

Also, unlike during the day when we have plenty of distractions, lying in bed at night can draw our attention to the sensations in our body, including itchy skin, making it feel more itchy. Some people seem to get an itchy scalp when they have anxiety. Internal stressors may also be linked to the growth of bacteria and fungi on the scalp, which can cause it to get dry and flaky, leading to itchiness.