Kerry Donald Bell

One inescapable factor that is the underlying reason for many diseases and health problems is stress. Stress could be a major factor for the onset or escalation of a disease. While many of us may know that stress can lead to internal problems, did you know that it can also be a reason for skin problems? Let’s find out more about this.

Understanding How Stress Affects the Skin

When your body is undergoing immense stress, or encounters a dangerous situation, the brain’s hypothalamus sets off the body’s alarm system. The system communicates to the adrenal glands to release different types of stress hormones such as cortisol, adrenaline, and epinephrine. Adrenaline elevates your heart rate, blood pressure, and the body’s energy. Cortisol increases glucose in the bloodstream and the brain begins using more glucose. Such stress hormones affect the nerve endings that are located around the skin, and can irritate the skin causing certain reactions like pimples or acne.

Why is this Important?

Most of us can say that this is a natural process that need not be given too much importance. However, skin conditions can be taken as a sign that the body is undergoing turmoil, and the problem needs to be addressed as soon as possible. Examples of these can be anxiety, hypertension, digestive problems, heart disease, and even depression. Also, with many parts of society focusing on the appearance of people, skin conditions caused by stress can lead to social ridicule.

Types of Skin Conditions caused by Stress

As mentioned above, stress can result in the body exhibiting a variety of skin conditions. The list below highlights a few simple and complex conditions:

• Sty: This is a simple example where the stress hormones create excess heat in the body, leading to the growth of a boil on the edge of the eyelid.

• Vitiligo: A traumatic event, such as a death in the family, or supporting a loved one in critical care, can create a fear response in the body, which may lead to vitiligo. Stress can destroy the pigments under the skin, which leads to large white patches and even sunburn.

• Eczema: While stress may not cause this condition, it can worsen the symptoms to a great extent. When the body is stressed, it causes a self-defense mechanism to take place within the body. In the case of eczema, this leads to skin inflammation, which aggravates the condition.

• Shingles: Also known as herpes zoster, this is a blistering skin rash that affects one side of the face or torso. Shingles is generally caused due to a weak immune system. Immense psychological stress can lead to shingle outbreaks in young adults and elderly people.

• Psoriasis: There is an interrelationship between stress and psoriasis. Stress can be a major cause for the condition, while psoriasis can lead to more stress. It is also known to worsen the condition.

• Pityriasis Rosea: A skin rash that lasts for about six to eight weeks, pityriasis rosea can be aggravated with the onset of stress. Stress can also add to the other symptoms that are experienced with this rash, such as flu, sore throat, nausea, fatigue, aching, and decreased appetite.



How to Prevent Stress Related Skin Conditions

Treatments for stress related skin conditions can vary between topical treatments and alternative therapies. It would be advisable to undergo both treatments simultaneously to ensure complete and faster recovery.

• Topical Treatments: This treatment type includes using skincare products with organic compounds.

• Benzoyl peroxide: This organic compound is used in creams and ointments to treat acne. Retinoids are another compound designed for acne treatments.


• Corticosteroids: A compound used to treat eczema, corticosteroids is available in many forms including foams, creams, lotions, and ointments.


• Salicylic acid: This drug is an active ingredient in many skin care products for the treatment of warts and rashes.

• Alternative Therapies: The following therapies help rid the body of stress, and thus alleviate one of the primary causes of a skin condition:

• Relaxation Training: This comprises any technique, process, or procedure that can help reduce the stress levels of the patient. Examples of these are yoga, QiGong, pranayama, and Tai Chi.


• Massage Therapy: Getting massages at regular intervals can help the body and mind maintain a de-stressed state. Reduced stress levels can help enhance the dissipation speed of a skin condition.


• Habit Reversal Training: Many times, regular outbursts of skin conditions can result in the patient picking and scratching the skin. If left unchecked, this can become a negative routine. Habit reversal training is designed to treat and impede any behavioral disorder that is a result of a skin condition.

Skin conditions can become recurring problems if left unchecked. Understanding how stress can affect skin diseases can help you make quick and smart decisions in terms of treatment, and thus, maintain your health.

A variety of diseases have become startlingly commonplace in many parts of the world today. Diabetes is one particular disease that affects numerous people. In 2014, the World Health Organization estimated that 9% of adults globally aged 18 years and above suffer from diabetes.

Diabetes is also known to affect different parts of the body, including the skin, which is a primary organs. In certain cases, skin problems are one of the greatest indicators that a person may be suffering from diabetes. However, skin conditions due to diabetes are treatable.

Common Skin Conditions Associated with Diabetes
Skin conditions that occur due to the onset of diabetes are either general or specific in nature. Hence, many can be treated, and prevented when caught in the early stages. Let’s take a look at both types and their prevention methods.

• General Conditions:
  • Itching: This is usually caused by dry skin, poor blood circulation, or a yeast infection. A few simple tips to prevent itching are to have lukewarm baths, and reduce the number of baths during humid seasons. You can also use a mild moisturizing soap while bathing, and apply a skin cream thereafter.
  
  
  • Bacterial Infections: These include boils, sties, carbuncles, nail infections, and folliculitis. The infections usually result in inflamed tissues, which are red, swollen, hot, and painful.
  
  
  • Fungal Infections: Diabetes related fungal infections are generally caused by a yeast-like fungus called Candida albicans. This can create rashes, scales, and blisters that are extremely itchy. Candida albicans usually occurs between toes and fingers, and nail edges, mouth corners, under breasts, on the groin, and in the armpit areas.
  
  If you are suffering from bacterial or fungal infections, it is advisable to visit your dermatologist for a solution.


• Diabetes Specific Skin Conditions:
  • Allergic Reactions: The use of insulin, diabetic pills, or diabetic allopathic medication can lead to allergic reactions in some patients. Some of the common allergy symptoms include:
    • Hives
    • Sneezing
    • Runny nose
    • Ear popping
    • Itchy roof of mouth
    • Stuffy and itchy nose
    • Watery and itchy eyes
    • Dark circles under the eyes
    • Pressure in nose and cheeks
    • Ears feeling full or blocked
    
    The easiest way to alleviate an allergic reaction is to consult your doctor and get the medication changed. When using insulin injections, always ensure that you do not inject on any rashes, bumps, or depressions.
  
  
  • Bullosis Diabeticorum: The common name for this condition is diabetic blisters. This is a rare condition but there is a possibility of it occurring. The blisters are identified as large burn sores, but they do not have redness, and do not cause any pain. Bullosis diabeticorum can occur on a patient’s fingers, hands, forearms, legs, toes, and feet.
    
    One major reason for the growth of these blisters is low blood sugar. As long as this is managed and kept under control, the blisters are considered harmless. Doctors usually recommend leaving these blisters alone, as they mostly heal by themselves.
  
  
  • Acanthosis Nigricans: This condition is identified by the browning or tanning of certain areas of the body. Generally, acanthosis nigricans affects the armpits and hands, elbows, knees, groin, and sides of the neck. This condition is commonly seen in diabetics with weight problems. Usually, a balanced diet and regular exercise can help get rid of these symptoms. If the symptoms persist, you can also speak to your dermatologist about using creams or lotions to reduce the tan.
  
  
  • Necrobiosis Lipoidica Diabeticorum: Also known as NLD, this disease causes changes to the body’s small blood vessels. This results in spots or scaly patches on various parts of the body. While these are few in number, they are large in size and quite deep as well. The spots first appear as raised, red and dull areas, which then grow into a deep violet colored scar. NLD spots are known to cause pain and itching. They can even crack open, which can aggravate the skin condition. This condition does not necessarily require treatment as long as the spots don’t crack open.
  
  
  • Eruptive Xanthomatosis: This condition is commonly seen in patients who suffer from Type 1 diabetes, and occurs when the diabetes is beyond a certain measure of control. Eruptive xanthomatosis comprises stiff pea-like enlargements that are yellow in color. The enlargements are further identified by a red halo, which may cause itching. Affected areas of the body include arms, legs, feet, buttocks, and the back of hands. Bringing the diabetes to a controllable stage will result in the symptoms receding.
  
  
  • Digital Sclerosis: Digital sclerosis is another disease that affects patients with Type 1 diabetes. The term ‘digital’ refers to the fact that this condition affects the toes and fingers (digits) of the arms and legs. The symptoms include tight, thick, waxy skin and immense thickness. This encumbers the functioning of the digits. However, in some rare cases, the symptoms extend to the ankles, knees, and elbows as well. This condition can also be managed once the diabetes is brought under control.
  
  
  • Disseminated Granuloma Annulare: This is identified by rashes or raised areas on the body. The rashes are shaped as rings or arcs, and are generally seen on the ears, fingers, and the torso. They can also be identified by their colors, which can be red, normal skin color, or a combination of red and brown.

As diabetes is a disease that can lead to difficult circumstances for the patient, it is always advisable to make regular visits to the doctor, and take his advice before taking any preventive steps. If allopathic medications do not agree with you, speak to your doctor about organic gels, creams, and lotions, which can be used to deal with such skin conditions.