Skin problems in stressful situations

[Erec]

Over the years, I have had skin problems (dermatitis, psoriasis) that worsened during times of stress. There is certainly a genetic predisposition (but I was the first in my family to develop psoriasis), but I am fairly certain that the reactivation of trauma is a determining factor. One thing that happens to me is that, in the presence of negative or emotionally intense stress, some areas of my skin suddenly become inflamed within seconds, sometimes even bleeding.

The strangest episode was when I tried to read a collection of lectures by John Bowlby: I found what I was reading very interesting, but the skin on my forearm became so inflamed that it hurt. I would like to ask if any of you have ever experienced such sudden and intense inflammatory reactions.

[NarcKiddo]

I have not experienced such sudden and intense reactions. However I suffer from pompholyx eczema that reliably forms on my hands at times of stress. Sometimes it is the first thing that makes me aware of increased stress, given I am so used to living with a pretty heavy stress level generally. It is only controlled by prescription steroid creams - over the counter strength does nothing.

[Erec]

Yes, I understand you, I also need topical corticosteroid medications. The strange thing is that sometimes this type of dermatological inflammation "flares up" as quickly as a person blushes.
One factor that increases the risk of psoriasis is lithium intake, which is unfortunate because that particular drug could have positive effects in cases of C-PTSD.

[Kizzie]

Hey Erec, I suffer from psoriasis although mine doesn't seem to be as reactive as yours. My GP sent me to a dermatology clinic for UV treatments (light therapy). I was going 3 times/week and now I'm down to 1/week which tells you how effective it is. I also have a prescription spray for if I'm away and or sick and can't get to light therapy for a bit.   

Here in Canada the treatments are covered except for a co-pay of $20/month which makes it very affordable. All you do is stand in a both for 1 few minutes and you're done. (NK, my clinic has a UV light machine that is just for hands so there may be something like that where you live)

Anyway, just a thought but perhaps if you try light therapy the inflammatory response will calm over time like mine did. 

[Erec]

In fact, I'm not even sure whether rapid-onset dermatitis and psoriasis are two aspects of the same problem, or whether they're two separate issues. The former happens to me more frequently, the latter is more related to lithium intake. I know there are UV treatments, but in my case, dermatologists have always prescribed corticosteroid creams. (By the way, I've been taking lithium again for a few weeks now; I hope it doesn't reactivate my psoriasis.) The correlation between inflammation and mental health problems has been the subject of much research for a few years now, but I don't recall any studies on dermatological issues.

[Kizzie]

It is interesting Erec and I hope we see more research into the physical impacts of CPTSD in general.  There's so much more healthcare needs to know and be able to treat when it comes to us.

[dollyvee]

Hey Erec,

I had frequent eczema as a child in addition to numerous "allergies." Interestingly, the only food related allergy I had been confirmed for at the time was chocolate. Because of recent health issues (wrote about elsewhere on the forum), I have come back to these allergies/issues. Mast cells (and mast cell activation) can be triggered by stress. Some of the symptoms that present with it frequently are skin issues (hives etc). Certain people predisposed to having inflammatory genetic markers (as well as the genetics for developing mastocitisis (sp?)) can present with this and lead to a lot of complex and varying symptoms in people. Now, when I eat something that I think might be a trigger, I will have itchy elbows etc for example (a place of eczema as a child).

dolly