Can stress cause hives? Before answering this question, a short discussion of stress is required. Stress is a factor that can affect the health of individuals in many ways. Stress can either be for short periods of time or it can be a constant daily problem. In most cases, short term stress can be dealt with reasonably well and often health effects are not long lasting. However, constant stress on an individual usually means the development of some sort of more serious health problem. This is because the body is always in “high speed” mode when under continuous stress. The body cannot sustain operating in this mode for too long and health problems develop. These problems can include constant headaches, sleep disorders, heart problems, high blood pressure, depression and anxiety, weight gain, weight loss, diabetes, stomach problems such as digestion related ailments, loss of energy, diabetes, repeated colds or flu, etc. In essence, when the body is subject to continuous stress, the immune system is affected and the body starts to break down in any number of ways.

The problems listed above are documented health problems that stress can cause. Everyone is unique and is affected by stress in different ways. One way, not mentioned above, is skin affects. Stress can play a role in acne outbreaks. Can stress cause hives as well? The answer to this question is yes. Stress has been linked to hives and rash outbreaks in people. This can be due to a short stressful event or can result from continuous stress that finally manifests itself as hives or a skin rash. A rash caused by stress is fully described at this stress rash page. Stress also plays a role in other types of skin problems such as dermatographism. A survey of individuals with this skin problem illustrates that suffers of dermatographism strongly feel that stress is the cause of their skin condition.

Stress can do many things to the body. Although it is often difficult to connect stress directly with specific skin and health problems, it does play a role. Indeed, the sudden appearance of a skin rash or skin hives, may simply be one way that the body is reacting to stress.

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