Eczema And Stress: How Are They Related?

Science has not been able to fully explain the relationship between eczema and stress. However, it is known that such a relationship exists and there are also some hypotheses and lines of explanation that can open the way to a thorough understanding of the phenomenon.

Eczema and stress make up a problematic pairing for anyone. They are two health conditions that usually go hand in hand and that feed into each other. It is undoubtedly a very annoying combination for which there is no easy solution.

The skin is the largest organ in the body and one of the ones that most easily reflects the states of the mind. This is because the skin is directly related to the nervous system through sensory terminals that send information to the brain and vice versa.

At the same time, stress causes a series of substances to be released that end up affecting the skin. Thus, several anomalies are originated, among which is eczema. As you can see, the relationship between eczema and stress is direct and very close.

Eczema

The word eczema  is a generic term for any inflammation of the skin. Such inflammation is classified as dermatitis, being atopic dermatitis that which is generated by stress. In better terms, when we talk about eczema and stress, we are actually talking about atopic dermatitis and stress.

Eczema appears when the external protective barrier of the skin has suffered some damage. This is when inflammation arises; the skin looks red and itchy  in the affected area. It most often appears on the arms, knees, groin, and face.

In 85% of cases, the first episode of eczema occurs before the age of five. Likewise, it is estimated that up to 20% of children and between 1 and 2% of adults have suffered one of these episodes at some point in their life. There are cases in which eczema becomes a chronic and recurring disorder.

Stress and skin

There are several mechanisms by which stress influences the skin. It all stems from the fact that stress modifies the functioning of the immune system. This leads to two effects: on the one hand, skin defenses decrease ; on the other, the skin becomes inflamed.

Likewise, under stress conditions there is greater production of adrenaline  and corticosteroids. These act on the receptors of the skin and cause changes in it. On the other hand, it has been found that all inflammatory diseases tend to worsen with stress.

A study carried out by the Spanish Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (SEAIC) has indicated that at least 50% of people with atopic dermatitis also suffer from episodes of depression and anxiety. They also noted that stress-related eczema has increased in recent years.

The relationship between eczema and stress

Stress affects the skin in many ways. It causes disorders ranging from hives to atopic dermatitis, through acne, psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis and rosacea. It is now known that there is a relationship between eczema and stress, but that link is not yet fully understood.

As already noted, there is a very direct connection between the nervous system and the skin. Additionally, eczema and stress manage to configure a vicious cycle from which it is very difficult to escape. The presence of the disorder increases the level of stress, especially in social situations.

At the same time, increasing the level of stress can lead to an increase in eczema. All this together causes a significant dose of suffering and generates feelings of frustration, insecurity and hopelessness. This is increased by the fact that there is no definitive treatment for eczema.

Data to take into account

Stress eczema indicates that a person is being subjected to great pressures and demands that they cannot manage. This is a red flag that should not be ignored. It means that there is a problem that has not been solved and overflows the tools we have.

While there is no specific treatment for stress eczema, beyond hydrating the affected areas, the solution is to address its cause, that is, the stress itself. The most advisable thing in these cases is to introduce some changes in the lifestyle.

Regular physical exercise is often very effective in managing stress. Likewise, activities such as yoga or meditation practices are also highly recommended. It is advisable to consult with a psychologist, who can train us in the handling of stressful situations.