Can Stress Cause Hives

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Can Stress Cause Hives? Yes is the answer ! I was so stressed the first time my partner and I bought a house. It was at Christmas and New Year and the lawyers all went on holiday leaving us with bridging loans to cover. My knees came out in horrible small pink blotches which were so itchy, that I scratched and scratched away until they bled. I went to the doctor who told me it was hives and as soon as my stress disappeared the hives would also disappear. He was absolutely right. As soon as we had the keys to the new house my rash disappeared so quickly it was almost like a miracle.

When we are stressed the pituitary gland produces hormones which are designed to get us out of a dangerous situation often by running away. However if these hormones are continually produced over time- as with stress - they can damage your body. However stress can also produce many other symptoms, such as headaches, indigestion, sleep disturbances, chest discomfort, backache, asthma, eczema, sweating : the list goes on and on.

Hives looks like raised, small, pink lumps which can become very itchy. They can last from 30 minutes to several days. The rash can appear immediately after eating a food or two or three days later. Hives can also be triggered by hot and cold sunlight, insect bites and contact with plants. Often however the cause is just not known.

Can stress cause hives ? If you are sure it’s stress that is causing your skin condition, try and find ways to relax. Read a good book, meet some friends for a coffee or a meal. Take a bath with lavender or chamomile bath oil. However you decide to relax it should be something you enjoy so it takes your mind away from the stressful situation.

Exercise will not only help you achieve a healthy body, but it is well known to relieve stress by sending out feel-good signals to your brain. So go ahead and take the dog out in the rain or yes I know you haven’t been out on your bike for the last ten years, this is now the time to dig it out of the garage. You will feel so much better for it.

You should look at your diet. Often when we are stressed we drink far too much alcohol because it relaxes us. However in the long run alcohol is an unwanted friend who can do so much more damage than an attack of hives normally can. Food allergies can cause inflammation in the throat which causes difficulty breathing so stay clear of foods which are known allergies to you. If you suspect an allergy to a food then eliminate that food product for two weeks and take note of any lack of symptoms, then introduce the food product to your diet and again take notes.

If you smoke then you should address reducing or stopping altogether. When stressed, smokers often tend to smoke more. Reducing the oxygen which reaches the body and the brain is never a good idea at any time.