According to the National Eczema Association, hand eczema affects about 10% of US residents. Contact allergens, genetics, and any irritating substances can trigger it. Amazingly, the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD) admits that stress is a common trigger. That’s why many people consider stress-related eczema on hands.
When stressed, the hormone cortisol spikes, causing and worsening eczema flare-ups. These might be acute or chronic and lead to skin inflammation throughout your life.
To learn about hand eczema and how stress impacts it, let’s keep scrolling!
Contents
- 1 What is Eczema on Hands?
- 2 Why does Stress possibly relate to Eczema?
- 3 How to Treat Stress-related Eczema on Hands
- 4 1. Take Time To Recharge
- 5 2. Get Quality Sleep
- 6 3. Learn To Control Stress
- 7 4. Apply Proper Medications
- 8 Experience the Best Eczema Care with Phoilex!
- 9 FAQs
- 10 1. What Does Nervous Eczema Look Like?
- 11 2. What Is The Emotional Cause Of Eczema?
What is Eczema on Hands?
Eczema on your hands (hand dermatitis) is an inflammatory skin condition characterized by discolored rashes on the fingers and hands. However, the symptoms of hand eczema might differ depending on your medical history, age, and life factors. Here are several common signs of eczema:
- Chapped skin and dryness;
- Burning sensation;
- Redness and irritated skin;
- Dark or discolored patches;
- Itching blisters and painful cracks;
- Bleeding and pustules;
When you catch eczema on the skin, you can also have rare expressions, such as fever, allergic reactions, and psoriasis. Whatever symptoms you have, contact a dermatologist for an immediate diagnosis.
Today, the cause of eczema is still a big question. Despite that, many people consider genetics and immune-related factors the first causes. Indeed, hand eczema in children from birth is not easy to control effectively.
It has been proven that hand eczema is more common in individuals who frequently are exposed to chemicals, irritants, and water. Other environmental factors, including stress, cold temperatures, and dehydration, are also strongly involved. For example, a high-stress level can suppress the immune system, causing stress-related eczema on hands.
Why does Stress possibly relate to Eczema?
When you stress out, you may develop dyshidrotic eczema, a common eczema that causes blisters on the skin. This phenomenon might even last until the stress lessens. It’s time for stress-related eczema on hands to appear.
According to the National Library of Medicine (NIH), psychological stress can trigger complex immune pathways. One of the outstanding findings is both short-term (acute) and long-term (chronic) stress might impact eczema. In particular:
- Acute stress: When an acute stressor is triggered, there might be a rapid spike in a stress hormone called cortisol. This requires your immune system to release cells unexpectedly, leading to the risk of inflammation.
- Chronic stress: When you are under longer-term stress, your cortisol level will exceed the baseline, causing immune solid system reactions to protect your body.
Psychological stress could also affect the skin barrier – essential for maintaining moisture and protecting the skin from external irritants. Once the skin barrier is damaged, the skin becomes sensitive and easily inflated.
Notably, a 2023 study found a limited association between work-related stress and eczema. This partially contributes to the significant impact of psychological stress on hand eczema instead of work- or study-related problems. Additionally, other mental health conditions like depression and anxiety can be potential triggers of eczema outbreaks.
Finding the best stress-related eczema on hands treatment helps you improve your skin health effectively. Below are several valuable suggestions.
1. Take Time To Recharge
You should spend more time on self-care after a hard time to prevent long-lasting stress. More importantly, care for the skin to relieve dryness and increase skin hydration effectively.
To get started, you can try a typical skin routine, including the following phases:
- Use gentle skin cleansers and warm water to clean your hands;
- Prioritize dye-free or fragrance-free moisturizers;
- Follow the “3-minute” principle when you take baths to trap your skin with enough moisture.
2. Get Quality Sleep
Some modern eczema treatments relate to improving sleep health. Quality sleep can lead to a well-rested body, equipping you with solid energy for a stressful day. It’s also when you learn how to treat stress-related eczema on hands by balancing your lifestyle.
Sleeping hours might depend on aging or sexuality, but most people should sleep for at least 8 hours per night. Also, keep your sleeping space dark and cool enough for constant sleep.
3. Learn To Control Stress
It’s not easy to learn to control stress immediately. In fact, you need time to do some trials and find the best one for you. Here are our measurable solutions to help relieve stress:
- Practice deep-breathing exercises;
- Spend time on yoga or meditation;
- Communicate with relatives and friends;
- Have progressive muscle relaxation;
- Do exercise daily.
You can start with one or two methods to get familiar with. Or else, you can build a flexible routine that combines all of these for a more comprehensive performance.
4. Apply Proper Medications
You can use medications, either oral or topical, to control stress-related eczema on hands. One of the most common options is corticosteroids (steroids), which are designed to quickly reduce itchiness and prevent flare-ups. However, it may impact everyone differently and even lead to side effects like allergies, insomnia, or fluid retention.
In case you have a history of allergies or sensitive skin, it’s recommended that you try herbal-origin products to see gentle improvements in your eczema symptoms. Whatever trial you want, it is best to consult a medical professional first.
Currently, Phoilex’s Active Releaf Spot Gel and Phoilex’s Liverty Dynamic Drops work well together to alleviate eczema symptoms thanks to their beneficial ingredients. They include natural anti-inflammatory and hydrating properties, which can help with skin irritation. More importantly, there are nearly no potential risks related to these herbal-origin products.
Experience the Best Eczema Care with Phoilex!
Now that you have just clarified the aspects of stress-related eczema on hands, balancing your life without stress is essential. You can try any medications to control your hand eczema better. However, be aware of their side effects to ensure there will be no unexpected damage to your skin health.
Visit Phoilex’s website to discover more gentle products for treating eczema sufferers today!
FAQs
This part mentions common questions related to stress-related eczema on hands to help fully clarify eczema symptoms and its potential causes. This allows you to manage your eczema more effectively.
1. What Does Nervous Eczema Look Like?
Although the symptoms of eczema might vary from person to person, some common signs are itchiness, redness, and discolored rashes on the skin. People even suffer from severe skin inflammation, causing long-lasting skin damage.
2. What Is The Emotional Cause Of Eczema?
Stress can be one of the most common emotional (psychological) causes of eczema. Its impacts on immune response and skin barrier will lead to potential skin health risks. Additionally, depression and anxiety are other causes triggering eczema.
Reference:
- Hand Eczema. (n.d.). National Eczema Association. https://nationaleczema.org/eczema/types-of-eczema/hand-eczema/
- Stress: Is it a common eczema trigger? (n.d.). Www.aad.org. https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/eczema/childhood/triggers/stress
- Meštrović-Štefekov, J., Novak-Bilić, G., Kuna, M., Pap, N., & Lugović-Mihić, L. (2018). Psychological Stress in Patients with Atopic Dermatitis. Acta Dermatovenerologica Croatica: ADC, 26(4), 297–303. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30665478/
- Weinmann, T., Forster, F., Hell, K., Gerlich, J., Wengenroth, L., Wolff Schlotz, Vogelberg, C., Erika von Mutius, Nowak, D., & Radon, K. (2022). Work-related stress and atopic dermatitis: Results from the study on occupational allergy risks. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 20(2), 109–119.https://doi.org/10.1080/15459624.2022.2151604