Cause 4. Stress: The Invisible Aggravator
Navigating the high-pressure maze of modern life, we often find ourselves on the receiving end of stress. It’s a silent companion to many of us, subtly influencing our mental and physical health. But did you know that stress can also aggravate eczema? Yes, stress and eczema are more intertwined than you might think. But how does stress, an intangible sensation, result in tangible skin changes?
At the crux of the matter is our body’s response to stress. When under duress, our body’s fight-or-flight mechanism kicks into gear, releasing a surge of hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones stimulate a cascade of reactions designed to prepare us for a perceived threat, one of which is heightened immune response. This response can, unfortunately, lead to an increase in skin inflammation, a hallmark of eczema.
It’s not just the body’s internal response to stress that contributes to eczema, though. Stress can lead us to behaviors that indirectly aggravate eczema. For example, under stress, many people tend to scratch more, either as a nervous habit or because stress can make the skin feel itchier. This increased scratching can lead to more severe eczema symptoms and increase the risk of skin infections.(4)
