Stress itching

In situations of emotional distress the body can launch an SOS through the skin: treating the symptoms is not enough, it is important to look for the cause of stress.

It is said that the eyes are the mirror of the soul. What if it were the skin that really expressed our moods? Think about when you become “red with shame,” or “white with fear.”

Or, even worse, when you are seized by an annoying itch, difficult to send away, which is not attributable to any pathological cause.

Numerous studies have investigated in recent decades the link between the psyche and the body, with particular attention to what are called psychosomatic diseases: these are disorders that, despite being triggered by a psychological malaise, manifest themselves on a physical level, often to the detriment of our skin.

For example, we talk about stress dermatitis when the symptoms of this pathology appear or worsen in particularly intense and worrying periods. If, however, it is only an intense and sudden itchy sensation that occurs, then it is a so-called “stress itch”.

A wake-up call

The mechanism that triggers stress itching is not yet fully understood: it has been hypothesized that a psychological malaise is able to activate the immune cells of the skin, giving rise to an inflammatory process.

According to others, stress would cause the production of substances that make the nerve fibers of the skin more sensitive, causing precisely the sensation of itching.

However, it is now clear that stress is one of the fundamental components in skin diseases: in some cases it contributes to worsening pre-existing disorders, determined for example by allergies or infections; in others, however, it seems to be the only trigger.

In this case the itching must be considered an alarm bell, a signal of discomfort sent by our unconscious. Usually those who suffer from it are people who have difficulty verbalizing their emotions, who deny their feelings. And so it is the body (and in particular the skin) that externalizes what the mind cannot express.

Caring for body and mind

The diagnosis of stress itching is performed by the dermatologist when the itching appears suddenly, in conjunction with an emotionally complex period, and without it being possible to identify, through in-depth analysis, any pathological cause, such as a contact allergy, a bacterial or viral infection or an autoimmune reaction.

In this case, treating the symptoms is only a palliative: the most effective therapy will be to understand the reason or event that triggered the malaise and try, as far as possible, to remove or overcome it. It may help to engage in some relaxation practices, such as yoga or meditation, or, in cases where the discomfort originates deeply, consider a path of psychotherapy.

In periods when the itching becomes more intense, and pushes you to scratch insistently, the dermatologist can however recommend a soothing cream that contains substances with emollient activity such as panthenol that facilitates the natural regeneration of the skin, decreasing inflammation and giving relief from annoying itching.

It will also be useful to take some precautions: how to take short baths with warm water and use cotton fiber or silk clothing that does not irritate the skin and use moisturizing creams rich in emollients daily on the whole body.