Atopic Dermatitis And Stress: What Is Their Relationship?
While we generally don’t associate physical issues with those of an emotional type, such as stress, the reality is that the relationship between the two is close (indeed, all emotional issues have a physiological correlate). Here we are going to treat atopic dermatitis, also known as “atopic skin”, which many people suffer from in silence, out of shame, even causing them to experience difficulty in interacting with others. How is it possible ?
Atopic dermatitis is a disease that affects the skin and causes intense and severe itching. The lesions that occur on the skin are often called “eczema,” and look like spreading patches that are very itchy. They can appear all over the body and also on the face.
It is important to mention that atopic dermatitis has no cure. Those who suffer from it can avoid it or relieve the symptoms with specific treatments, but the risk of it appearing will always be present. This is because certain seasons, such as fall or winter, can make rashes worse. Proper hydration and proper treatment can keep it at bay.
Atopic dermatitis and its impact on children
Atopic dermatitis can affect children from an early age. They are unruly, restless, unable to sleep well at night and, if they are babies, may cry for a long time for no apparent reason. All of these problems can be associated with a lack of concentration during schooling due to lack of sleep.
However, we cannot ignore the emotional consequences that atopic dermatitis causes in young children. Due to the itching and the unbearable discomfort, they can be irritable, upset and angry, creating very tense situations at the same time. The reason for all of this is the stress caused by this skin condition.
But that’s not all. Dermatitis can generate a great deal of insecurity and dependence. To better illustrate this, we bring a fragment of the testimony of a mother, Delphine, whose son Hugo began to suffer from atopic dermatitis at the age of 4 months:
As we can see, this skin problem can cause a strong feeling of insecurity making it difficult to relate to other children. If we don’t help the child overcome this early on by providing the necessary tools so that their self-esteem is not affected, the consequences could become chronic in adulthood.
Adults with atopic dermatitis
An adult with atopic dermatitis suffers in a different way. The problem in adulthood compromises and tests emotional management. People are irritable and irritable. They can also present with anxiety problems and even fall into depression. Here are some examples of real life situations.
Talking in front of other people can be a real pain for an adult with atopic dermatitis. The nerves can cause an unexpected eruption at the inconvenient time. The shame this causes can increase his anxiety, which in turn worsens the problem of dermatitis. So that a circle is created from which it is difficult to get out.
There are other situations where the adult may not feel comfortable, such as going to the beach or even having intimate relationships with other people. The main problem, in this case, is the wounds that dermatitis rashes sometimes leave. If the sufferer is scratching, the problem increases and the marks may take a long time to disappear.
The fact of not knowing when the dermatitis will appear, if it will, in what way, if it will affect the face… All this triggers a stress which does not help at all. Indeed, s i dermatitis can cause stress, it aggravates dermatitis. This situation can cause the person with dermatitis to see their self-esteem reduced due to insecurity, fear and shame. It can also lead, in some cases, to depression.
As we have seen, especially through testimonials, dermatitis and stress are circumstances that generally come together and form a circle in which the person suffers, and a lot. These people cannot predict when dermatitis will start, in what dire situation it will appear, and when it will decide to go away.
To the frustration that this situation generates for these people is often added that of the search for an adequate treatment. Indeed, each skin is different and not all react well to the same type of solution. Moreover, although it is possible to have the tools to prevent or control a dermatitis rash, the following question will always be latent: when will the next time come?
Our thoughts When we feel negative emotions, our body tends to react and send us physical signals; however, the skin functions …
