Psychiatrist and dermatologist explain the reaction in the body and tell how to diagnose the problem
Recent testimonials from two influencers have drawn attention to another expression of anxiety: allergic reactions. It is a reaction of the body to levels of stress, anxiety or panic disorder.
“The skin has several nerve endings, which is why it is the most affected. When we experience stress and a whirlwind of emotions, anxiety, we release many hormones, one of which is cortisol, which causes the immune system to release skin catecholamines which will cause a sum reaction in the skin, leading to an allergic reaction,” explains psychiatrist Jaqueline Bifano, in an interview with Terra.
Dermatologist Lucas Miranda, a member of the Brazilian Society of Dermatology (SBD), adds that “emotional allergy” is not a term that exists in medicine. In technical terms, what usually happens, as he explains, is the aggravation of allergies or skin lesions following stress.
“Allergy is a term that refers to an exaggerated immune reaction to a product that comes into contact with that skin. In fact, stress can worsen skin conditions such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis and even some causes of allergy”, specifies the dermatologist. According to him, these lesions are usually reddish, itchy, itchy plaques that spread into the skin.
Technical terms explain the accounts of Virginia Fonseca and Boo Unzueta. The WePink owner’s case came to light in December. When she was interviewed on PodCats, the influencer revealed that the allergic reaction occurred before her attendance at the 2022 People’s Choice Awards in Los Angeles.
“It also gave me an emotional allergy. My elbow was like a courtship,” Virginia said, noting that it was a case of anxiety. In a post on Instagram she also spoke about the topic, underlining that during the event “I was nervous” – she received the award for Brazilian Influencer of the Year for the occasion.
Most recently, last week, it was Boo’s turn to tell her story about PodDelas. “This week has been very tense for me, I was robbed, then I had a panic attack, I had a lot, my anxiety attacked a lot and my body spoke to me. (…) I had an allergic crisis emotional, I was all covered in bumps,” he detailed, pointing to his arms, the region of the body affected by the allergy.
But how do you know if the allergic reaction has an emotional background?
For the psychiatrist Jaqueline Bifano, when the anti-allergic does not work and the patient goes through moments of emotional instability, it is worth referring him to a psychologist or psychiatrist. This professional will investigate the emotional causes to treat them.
The dermatologist also points out that this is the way to go since the complete history and all tests did not indicate the presence of an infectious agent. “We associate an illness with emotional factors when all other possible causes are excluded,” she points out.
Regarding the psychological and/or psychiatric follow-up, the duration and method of treatment vary according to the diagnosed problem. Jaqueline exemplifies: in the case cited by Virginia, in which anxiety was generated by an event, she quickly recovered after the episode; when the origin of the problem is linked to more serious conditions such as depression or generalized anxiety, the allergic reaction can persist longer.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
