Anxiety Rash Pictures

Anxiety has a detrimental effect not only on the mind but also on the body. It puts a great deal of stress on the body. Various organs in the body react differently to stress. The skin, being the largest organ in the body reacts to stress in the form of a rash and other skin irregularities. 

The severity of the rash depends on your anxiety level. One thing to keep in mind though, not all people experience anxiety rash. It depends on the person's tolerance to stress and biochemical makeup of the body. ^{(1, 2, and 3)}

Can anxiety cause rashes?

Anxiety itself does not cause a rash, but the stress brought by anxiety causes a rash. If the body is in a state of stress, it releases hormones adrenaline and cortisol and both can trigger skin reactions. If you have an existing skin condition, it could be further aggravated by stress. ^{(2, 3, and 4)}

Is it really an anxiety rash or something else?

It is quite difficult to differentiate an anxiety rash from other types of skin rash because a skin reaction tends to look the same. Hence, the best way to differentiate an anxiety rash from that of other types of skin rash is to manage the stress level and see for yourself if the rash has improved or not. Dermatologists conduct a series of tests and procedures if they suspect that the rash is caused by something else. ^{(5, 6, and 8)}

How does anxiety rash look like?

An anxiety rash is often tagged as stress hives. Anxiety rash symptoms are as follows:

• presence of red bumps on the skin
• the affected areas of the skin are swollen ⁽¹⁰⁾
• the skin is itchy and painful at the same time
• the size varies from small to large and can spread from one place to another⁽⁷⁾

There are various forms of anxiety rash and they are grouped into the following categories:

• stress hives - This is a stress-induced rash characterized by itchy bumps. Those who are prone to hives will most likely have a rash when anxious.
• Sweat rash - If you are anxious, you tend to sweat a lot, which triggers sweat rash/heat rash. It can be extremely itchy, although, it does not have any serious implications. It usually takes two weeks or more for the rash to completely disappear.
• Specific-triggered rash - If you have an existing skin condition, an exposure to stress can further worsen the condition. Examples are psoriasis, eczema, herpes, and the likes. ^{(8, 9, and 10)}

Anxiety rash Treatment

How to get rid of stress rash? 

What can you do to treat and prevent anxiety-related rash? First and foremost, anxiety rash is caused by exposure to stress and so it is important to manage stress as it is one of the best treatments and preventions for anxiety rash.

Some cases of anxiety rash tend to go away as your stress level goes down. However, if you are experiencing severe swelling, itching, and inflammation, you need to see your doctor. He might prescribe antihistamine and creams or ointment to hasten the healing process. ^{(1, 5, and 8)}

References

1. https://www.calmclinic.com/anxiety/symptoms/rash
2. https://www.calmclinic.com/anxiety/symptoms/red-blotches
3. https://www.turnaroundanxiety.com/35617-2/
4. https://www.healthline.com/health/skin-disorders/stress-rash
5. https://symptomchecker.webmd.com/multiple-symptoms?symptoms=anxiety%7Cskin-rash&symptomids=17%7C185&locations=2%7C68
6. http://www.anxietycentre.com/anxiety/symptoms/burning-itching-skin-anxiety.shtml
7. https://www.healthy-skincare.com/stress-rash.html
8. http://www.livingwithanxiety.com/articles/anxiety/anxiety-rash
9. http://www.oprah.com/style/cures-for-skin-problems-caused-by-stress-and-anxiety
10. https://www.webmd.com/beauty/the-effects-of-stress-on-your-skin