Acne, Hives and Other Skin Disorders Affected by Stress

Skin disorders aren't usually the first thing that comes to mind when people think of stress, but there is a connection. Stress aggravates a number of skin disorders, including hives, acne, and itchiness. The skin is the largest organ and one of the most sensitive in the human body. It can react noticeably to the effects of stress hormones.

The connection between acne and stress has long been suspected, but little research was available to prove a relationship. Often the belief that stress aggravated skin disorders was dismissed as folklore. However, recent clinical investigations are proving that stress does indeed worsen acne. A small study examined how stress affects college students' acne. The study discovered that acne worsened when the students were under stress, most notably before major examinations.

 

Another study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (May, 2003), detected a possible chemical relationship between stress, acne and other skin disorders. Stress causes the hypothalamus, a portion of the brain, to release a chemical called corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH). Oil glands in the skin have been shown to produce both CRH and CRH-receptors. When the CRH-receptors come into contact with CRH, oil glands are triggered to produce more oil, one of the causes of acne breakouts.

 

So far, oil glands have only been seen to produce the CRH stress chemical in the laboratory, but these results imply that CRH is also produced naturally in the human skin. If so, a very clear relationship between acne and stress is indicated. In addition, researchers note that testosterone lowers the production of CRH receptors, while human growth hormones increase CRH-receptor production. This interaction may explain why males and females are susceptible to acne skin disorders at different ages.

Emotional stress has also been linked to hives and itchiness. Hives are itchy, red skin rashes caused by histamines. Stress causes the release of histamines into the bloodstream, which can cause hives when they reach the skin. The skin reaction to the stress-released histamines need not be noticeable hives, often only itchiness is experienced.

 

Treatment for hives usually includes antihistamines. If, however, stress is the primary cause of hives, stress management can help reduce the severity and frequency of outbreaks.