The appearance of itchy red spots (urticaria) on the body is usually associated with allergic reactions or skin pathologies. However, in some cases, such symptoms indicate the development of nervous urticaria (neurological urticaria), which is also characterized by itching and skin rashes similar to a plant burn. As is the case with an allergic reaction to other irritants, urticaria from stress develops rapidly and quickly disappears after the nervous system is restored.
Causes of urticaria
Due to excessive stimulation of the central nervous system, nerve conduction is disrupted, which causes skin itching due to an increase in the concentration of histamine in the body. Also, with such disorders, the content of serotonin increases, leading to the expansion of blood vessels and an increase in the permeability of their walls.
The description of the processes caused by a stressful situation does not give a clear answer as to whether urticaria can occur due to nervousness. Urticaria appear due to the fact that the skin is directly connected to the autonomic and central parts of the central nervous system. Therefore, red spots may appear on the surface of the body, which appear due to an abnormal reaction of the body in response to exposure to an irritant (stress).
Nervous urticaria occurs relatively rarely. Even exposure to severe stress does not always provoke its development.
Symptoms are caused by:
- physical and moral exhaustion;
- prolonged depression;
- mental disorders;
- chronic stress;
- character traits (for example, increased excitability).
What is noteworthy about the phenomenon under consideration is that nervous allergies arise as a result of both positive and negative emotions. This is explained by increased stress on the nervous system.
The following can provoke another attack of urticaria:
- pathologies of the digestive and genitourinary systems;
- cardiovascular diseases;
- endocrine disorders.
More often, itching and rashes are diagnosed in women due to their increased emotional lability. Nervous urticaria in children is usually caused by the formation of the central nervous system in the first years of life. Therefore, even mild stress and anxiety can cause urticaria in a child.
What rashes can be caused by nervousness?
Below we will look at the main types of rashes that occur in people due to stress.
Allergy
Allergies are characterized by so-called “migrating” spots. They appear, soon after emotional upheavals, on the face, torso, and inner thighs. The spots appear and disappear without causing any negative sensations.
Nervous allergies: photo
However, there are other types of manifestations, among them:
- nervous scabies;
- urticaria, asthma attacks;
- psoriasis;
- eczema;
- vitiligo;
- lichen.
Nervous urticaria
Nerve hives are a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. If it appears regularly, then you should have antiallergic drugs (antihistamines) in your medicine cabinet.
Nervous urticaria
Urticaria is characterized by:
- the body becomes covered in rashes almost instantly;
- a rash on the body is characterized by similar blisters on the hands and throughout the body and face;
- the appearance of itching;
- burning, redness;
- swelling, irritation at the affected sites.
Blisters can go away as quickly as they appeared: they usually disappear 24 hours after they appear and nothing remains in their place.
Urticaria is often accompanied by Quincke's edema - swelling and enlargement of the soft tissues of the face, neck, and head. Swelling can develop from a few minutes to several days after contact with the allergen.
Urticaria may be accompanied by symptoms of intoxication:
- dyspnea;
- fever;
- tachycardia (increased heart rate);
- chills;
- diarrhea;
- abdominal pain, etc.
Pimples due to nervousness
Due to the increased production of stress hormones - adrenaline, corticosteroids, norepinephrine, testosterone in the muscles, heat generation increases and catabolism begins.
This process triggers the formation of acne on the skin, which, under the influence of hormones, cannot partially resist bacteria and external infections. It is because of this that inflamed, purulent, painful acne appears on the face.
The hormonal “storm” slows down the functioning of the thyroid gland, which regulates the production of sebum, resulting in blackheads.
In stressful situations, people involuntarily spread infection to the face and injure the surface of the skin, namely:
- uncontrolled touching of the face;
- involuntary scratching of the dermis;
- rubbing cheeks, face;
Due to stress, a person's sweating increases, thus the dermis loses moisture, and bacteria provoke the appearance of new rashes.
Nerve spots on the skin
Often spotty rashes appear on the scalp. Also, the entire body is covered with them: they can change color and size. These symptoms may indicate the onset of dermatitis.
Spots on the body due to nervousness: photo
When spots appear, the following also occurs:
- itching;
- burning;
- peeling;
- bubbles.
Most often, patients develop red spots on the face, neck and groin.
Dermatitis
Dermatitis is an inflammatory process on the skin. Stressful situations and the influence of antigens on adults and children suffering from hereditary allergies provoke increased activity of the immune system.
As a result of complex biochemical processes, inflammatory mediators - histamine and cytoxins - begin to be intensively produced. This process affects the dermis, causing allergic dermatitis.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a complex systemic disease of the skin and nails caused by an abnormal response of the body's own immune system (autoimmune origin).
In psoriasis, dermal cells suddenly begin to divide at a high rate, but their viability lasts only 3-5 days. Normally, the life cycle of a cell is 28-30 days.
The disease can occur either due to prolonged stress or due to a hereditary predisposition. However, the definitive cause of psoriasis is unknown.
Psoriasis is characterized by the fact that the rash on the body begins to itch and peel. The affected area then changes color, most often to red and burgundy red.
Characteristic symptoms
With nervous urticaria, symptoms appear in the form of red papules or blisters, the formation of which is accompanied by itching of varying degrees of intensity. Also, the clinical picture may be supplemented by the following signs of a nervous disorder:
- joint pain;
- increased body temperature;
- general weakness;
- decreased or complete lack of appetite;
- headache;
- attacks of dizziness and nausea;
- dyspnea;
- feeling of tightness in the chest area;
- feeling of anxiety.
Localization of spots is noted on different parts of the body. More often, red tumors form on the face, back, and chest. Possible damage to the limbs and mucous membranes. On average, urticaria caused by nervous tension lasts for 5-7 days. After this, the manifestation of general symptoms weakens, and pigment spots or scars do not remain on the body.
Nervous urticaria is more severe in children. This is due to the failure of the central nervous system, which is not able to respond normally to external stimuli. Therefore, in children, the clinical picture is often supplemented by angioedema, which causes difficulty breathing. If asthma attacks occur, medical intervention will be required, without which death is possible.
Prolonged manifestation of allergy symptoms indicates other disorders not related to the functioning of the nervous system.
Allergy symptoms
Weakening the body's defenses often leads to disruption of the functioning of internal organs. The disease can be accompanied not only by skin rashes, but also by disturbances in the functioning of the cardiovascular system and respiratory organs.
The development of nervous allergies is accompanied by the following symptoms:
rash on the skin, localized in the face, neck, arms, back. Rashes may appear on the mucous surfaces of the oral cavity, and therefore are mistaken for stomatitis;- Nervous urticaria is common in young children and teenagers. Individual rashes gradually merge together and form large red areas on the body that begin to itch;
- cough that occurs for no reason. The symptom does not go away after using antitussive drugs;
- itchy skin causing itchy rashes;
- sneezing and runny nose that occur without signs of a cold;
- bronchospasm and suffocation, accompanied by swelling of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract.
In more severe cases, patients may experience irregular heart rhythm, tremors of the limbs, excessive lacrimation, nausea and vomiting. The skin may become very pale or take on a crimson color.
Currently, in medical practice , a psycho-emotional state is identified as an allergic vegetative storm. This form of the disease can manifest itself in the patient for a long time under heavy nervous stress. In this case, the symptoms of the disease appear and disappear on their own.
The main signs of an “allergic storm” are severe headaches and dizziness, muscle spasms, decreased visual acuity, impaired memory and attention, fatigue, general weakness, and a tendency to depression. Signs of the disease appear at the moment of exposure to the stimulus, after which the state is replaced by a good mood.
In childhood, bowel dysfunction may occur . Nervous tension may be accompanied by abdominal pain, flatulence, and diarrhea.
Diagnosis
It is recommended to seek medical help immediately after itching and skin rashes occur. Urticaria occurs against the background of various pathologies, including food poisoning. Therefore, it is important to establish the provoking factor and only then begin treatment.
Diagnosis of the disease is carried out through an external examination of the skin. At this stage, it is often possible to differentiate nervous urticaria from other dermatoses.
During the initial examination of the patient, the doctor collects information about recent contact with possible irritants. To narrow down the search for the triggering factor, allergy tests are performed. Additionally assigned:
- general and biochemical blood tests;
- general analysis of urine and feces;
- ECG;
- Ultrasound of the heart;
- liver tests and other tests to exclude helminthic infestation and infectious diseases.
If necessary, a biopsy is performed and other tests are prescribed to rule out autoimmune, endocrine pathologies, and metabolic disorders. If neurological urticaria is suspected, the patient is sent for consultation to a psychotherapist.
Psychosomatics of urticaria in adults
Your psycho-emotional background and skin are very closely connected. How to understand that you have psychosomatics? Very simple.
If you see that itching appears during times of emotional stress, when you are nervous, this suggests that emotions are manifested through the body in this way. This is psychosomatics.
The psychological cause is often the need for security and the disruption of this feeling. Because the skin performs precisely the function of protection.
And if a person’s soul is good, nothing bothers him, then everything is fine with his skin. As soon as fears appear, the feeling of security disappears and the need arises to protect one’s borders, become irritated and nervous - this is where the skin comes into defense.
That is, we can say that the basic emotion when a disease appears is fear.
Situations that provoke fears can be different:
- fear of something specific (for example, an exam or a serious conversation at work),
- anxiety that appears when you need to talk with people you don’t like,
- childhood psychological trauma and corresponding conditions (the habit of constantly being in fear).
With psychogenic illnesses, you are in constant tension. Either this is tension of an internal nature, or caused by external factors, for example, being near a person whose presence causes discomfort.
We have to endure it. Such a person could be a boss at work, or a loved one (for example, a husband).
Methods and means of therapy
The doctor determines how to treat urticaria caused by nervous strain based on the results of tests, tests, and anamnesis. Often this pathological condition goes away on its own, after restoration of the central nervous system. During the rehabilitation period, the patient is recommended to limit the impact of stressful situations as much as possible and switch to a diet that excludes allergens (citrus fruits, tomatoes and other foods).
In severe cases, treatment is supplemented with psychotherapy sessions and medications.
Treatment with drugs
Since urticaria from nerves causes an increase in the concentration of histamine in the blood, treatment of such a reaction in the body is carried out using anti-allergy drugs. More often, topical antihistamines are used in the form of ointments and gels. But in difficult cases, second or third generation tablet medications are recommended, which have a complex effect on the body and reduce the likelihood of a recurrence of the reaction.
When treating nervous urticaria, anti-itch medications are used:
- "Gistan";
- "Fenistil-gel";
- "Skin-up";
- "Nezulin."
To suppress the inflammatory process and, as a result, get rid of red spots, it is recommended to treat the skin in the problem area with non-hormonal ointments and creams. In complicated cases, general therapy is supplemented with corticosteroids. Drugs in this group are also prescribed in the form of ointments and tablets. The doctor selects the type of corticosteroids and dosage of medications taking into account the course of the disease, since these drugs have side effects.
In extremely severe cases, drug therapy is supplemented with immunosuppressants. In addition, the use of herbal-based sedatives and antipsychotics is indicated.
Psychotherapy
The basis for the treatment of urticaria due to nerves is psychotherapeutic techniques. This approach allows us to identify the true causes of urticaria and select the optimal way to eliminate the influence of the provoking factor. The treatment method is selected taking into account the specific case. If necessary, psychotherapeutic intervention is combined with hypnosis sessions and psychotropic medications.
Help with folk remedies
If symptoms of urticaria from nerves occur, treatment can be supplemented with:
- Infusion of knotweed. To prepare the medicinal composition you will need 20 g of the main component and 250 ml of water. The mixture is infused for two hours, and then taken three times a day, a tablespoon.
- Infusion of wormwood. 1 tsp plants are mixed with 500 ml of water, infused for 2 hours. The product is taken twice a day, one tablespoon at a time.
- Motherwort. You will need 15 g of herb and a glass of hot water. The mixture is infused for 40 minutes, consumed 5 times a day, a tablespoon.
Taking baths with the addition of wild rosemary infusion has a calming effect on the nervous system. In order to prevent another exacerbation of nervous urticaria, it is recommended to regularly eat chocolate.
Prevention recommendations
To avoid another exacerbation of psychogenic urticaria, it is necessary to limit the influence of stressful situations. To do this, you need to avoid conflicts and take herbal-based sedatives.
Daily walks in the fresh air and regular physical activity strengthen the nervous system and reduce the likelihood of allergies.
Self-hypnosis sessions or meditation sessions are also recommended to prevent relapses. It is necessary to treat diseases that provoke the development of an allergic reaction and comply with the requirements to prevent the exacerbation of such pathologies. In addition, you need to give up smoking and other bad habits, as well as normalize your sleep and wakefulness patterns.
Consequences
Nervous urticaria rarely causes complications. Common negative consequences of the body's reaction include inflammation of the skin caused by a secondary infection due to scratching, and scarring, which occurs for the same reason.
Among the dangerous complications of urticaria is Quincke's edema, which provokes anaphylactic shock. The lumen of the larynx narrows, and the volume of incoming air sharply decreases. If glucocorticosteroids are not administered within a few minutes or hours (depending on the severity of the case), the patient will die from suffocation.
Psychosomatics of urticaria in children
In little ones, skin manifestations are often associated with feelings of guilt.
They may even feel guilty for their parents' divorce. They may also experience constant tension from their parents’ expectations and tension from the excessive responsibility placed on their fragile shoulders.
All this can cause a disturbance in the feeling of safety.
In some cases, it happens that babies who are several months old suffer from hives. They do not yet experience the fullness of emotions, but they are already getting sick.
Here, with a high probability, we are talking about the perinatal period. It is quite possible that during pregnancy, the mother could experience serious fears that were passed on to the child. (Read about how we solved this situation with psychosomatic allergies here).
In this case, the baby’s condition will gradually improve through the mother’s work on herself. Because his health is very closely related to his mother’s health.
A little later, when a person grows up and goes to school, he can also be susceptible to stress and fear.
Many parents demand to study for good grades and thus try to put pressure “so that something normal comes out of the child in this life.”
This again creates constant tension that he has to come to terms with. And through the body, the skin shows that the emotional state of such children is very restless.
