Stress can negatively affect your health by contributing to problems such as heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Although many people are aware of this, it can be hard to see a direct connection between your stress levels and your health. If you have eczema, however, the connection may be much more obvious.
Stress is a common trigger for eczema flare-ups. The hormones your body releases when you're under stress — such as cortisol — suppress your immune system. This can cause an inflammatory response in your skin leading to eczema flare-ups, which can cause you more stress, feeding an unpleasant cycle. Learning to control your stress can therefore help you control your eczema and improve your overall health.
Learning how to cope with stress isn't easy. But people with eczema may have an advantage since the consequences of not dealing with your stress are immediate and obvious, forcing you to make time for it. Here are some effective ways you can manage the stress in your life to help control your eczema and enjoy greater emotional well-being:
Learn relaxation techniques. Joining a yoga or meditation class can help you to learn some formal relaxation techniques. You can also benefit from practicing information relaxation methods throughout your day. Try focusing on deep, slow breathing the next time you feel your stress level rising. Going for a walk in nature, reading, or snuggling with your dog can also be relaxing. Everyone is different, so experiment to find the stress reduction techniques that work for you.
Get enough sleep. Sleeping a full eight hours can be challenging for anyone, but it can be especially difficult if you're waking up often because of itchy skin. Taking a warm bath before bed and applying moisturizer may help prevent your eczema from itching during the night. Practice good sleep hygiene by keeping your bedroom cool and dark and turning off your screens a couple of hours before bedtime.
While it may not seem like there are many positives to having eczema, it can push you to deal with the things that are causing stress in your life. Not only will your skin be better off if you learn to handle stress and anxiety, you'll be happier and healthier as well.
