The stress we experience is different for everyone. For some, it might come from final exams or a looming deadline at work. For others, it could be a major life change, like moving or going through a breakup. We also each respond to stress differently, and it can show up in unique ways throughout the body. For some people, stress manifests as red, itchy patches of hives on the skin.1
Why Does Stress Cause Hives?
Stress manifests with physical symptoms all the time. You may have experienced a racing heart or stomachache during stressful times. Stress hives are just another physical reaction. They arise when your body releases a chemical called histamine in response to stress. Histamine is the same chemical that your body releases when it encounters something it’s allergic to. Although your body thinks it’s protecting itself, the chemical can cause unpleasant symptoms like hives.
Identifying Stress Hives
Hives are raised, red splotches about the size of a fingertip on your skin. Individual hives can cover a large area or present in smaller areas around the body. Beyond the visual identifiers, hives will most likely itch or burn—especially if you can’t stop scratching them.
Managing Stress Hives
Try the following to manage stress hives:
- Take over-the-counter antihistamine medications
- Rub antihistamine cream on the affected areas
- Avoid long, hot showers
- Keep your home at a cooler temperature
- Wear loose clothes to avoid rubbing the hives
- Try not to scratch the affected areas
Beyond managing the hives themselves, do your best to dissolve the stress in your life. You might not be able to instantly remove the cause of your stress, but there are a few stress-relief techniques you can use to minimize its effect:
- Exercise regularly
- Hike the Madison County Nature Trail
- Try guided meditation or journaling
- Delegate your workload
- Put your phone away for a few hours
- Read your favorite book or watch a comfy movie
- Spend time with friends and family
- Listen to calming music
If your hives develop outside of stress or you believe there is an unidentified allergy behind their frequent presence, contact North Alabama ENT Associates today. We’ll schedule an allergy test to help you get to the bottom of those itchy hives.
Sources
1 Xiang, Y.-K., Türk, M., Cherrez Ojeda, I., Elieh-Ali-Komi, D., Salman, A., & Kocatürk, E. (2024). Psychological stress and urticaria: Pathophysiologic and therapeutic updates. Current Treatment Options in Allergy, 11(4), 194–210. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40521-024-00375-8