Stress is related to the emergence of a number of health problems in the body, including itching and hives.
As quoted in the Everyday Health broadcast Adam Friedman, head of the dermatology department at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in the United States, said that stress is not an independent risk factor for hives for most individuals, but can trigger hives in people who are susceptible to them.
According to Friedman, stress can trigger people to scratch their skin. Friction or pressure on the skin is a risk factor for itching.
The act of scratching the skin can cause the release of histamine and when that happens, the body reacts by producing itching.
Hives and itching can occur due to stress or other factors, but both can definitely be caused by stress.
Board-certified dermatologist Sarina Elmariah, MD, PhD of the University of California at San Francisco says chronic itching can affect the mental health of sufferers.
"They may choose to avoid certain social situations to avoid feeling embarrassed," she said.
Itching can also make it difficult to sleep well and make people more tired and irritable, which can cause problems at home and at work.
