rash - Caregiver stress symptom?

dearfoam
dearfoam Member Posts: 82
in Caregivers #1
So, had a tiny, itchy rash pop up over coldest part of winter. Went away with moisturizer and less heater use as weather warmed. Since I went up north to check on dad when his tumors were discovered 5 wks ago, rash came back a bit as we used heater there. Went away when we got to my home (in the south). Stress of all this has been adding up and I am a itching machine now. My normal spring allergies have been over for a couple of weeks, and I haven't changed my food, detergents, lotion, shampoo, etc., but the past week or so has been ruthless.

Has anyone else experienced all-over itching as a symptom of all the stress?

Comments

  • mswijiknyc
    mswijiknyc Member Posts: 421
    #2
    me too
    With me it was hives that would pop up at random times with no apparent cause, then my face would swell. The worse the stress the worse the hives. I knew it wasn't an allergic reaction as I never ate, drank, or breathed the same thing twice each time it happened. The body doesn't have a good way to get rid of the stress sometimes, so it comes out in other ways.

    For me Benadryl worked, but the side affect was it knocked me out for a few hours. That wasn't necessarily a bad thing as I needed the sleep anyhow. So do what works to get rid of the itchies, and try your best to alleviate the stress.

    And no fibbing, you gotta be stressed! Be good to yourself.

    April
  • ketziah35
    ketziah35 Member Posts: 1,145
    #3
    Eczema?
    I use xtra strength hydrocortisone. If that doesn't work I end up going to the doc for some creme.
  • dearfoam
    dearfoam Member Posts: 82
    #4
    ketziah35 said:

    Eczema?
    I use xtra strength hydrocortisone. If that doesn't work I end up going to the doc for some creme.

    never been dx with ecxema, but maybe?
    i am taking some zyrtec to see how i do. had mild itchiness today. will probably go see my dermatologist soon since i can't realistically slather my whole body in cortisone cream! thins your skin, and i am in the sunny, sunny south. definitly don't want to risk the sunburns.
  • dearfoam
    dearfoam Member Posts: 82
    #5
    mswijiknyc said:

    me too
    With me it was hives that would pop up at random times with no apparent cause, then my face would swell. The worse the stress the worse the hives. I knew it wasn't an allergic reaction as I never ate, drank, or breathed the same thing twice each time it happened. The body doesn't have a good way to get rid of the stress sometimes, so it comes out in other ways.

    For me Benadryl worked, but the side affect was it knocked me out for a few hours. That wasn't necessarily a bad thing as I needed the sleep anyhow. So do what works to get rid of the itchies, and try your best to alleviate the stress.

    And no fibbing, you gotta be stressed! Be good to yourself.

    April

    oh yes, super stressed!
    my back has taken the brunt of it all. seeing my massage therapist once a week when i can. my chest is super tight too. sometimes hurts just to take a deep breath. dad's taking a nap, so surely i can stand a little exercise and stretching!
  • dearfoam
    dearfoam Member Posts: 82
    #6
    dearfoam said:

    oh yes, super stressed!
    my back has taken the brunt of it all. seeing my massage therapist once a week when i can. my chest is super tight too. sometimes hurts just to take a deep breath. dad's taking a nap, so surely i can stand a little exercise and stretching!

    hives vs rash
    i really can't say i know the difference. it pops up like tiny, tiny goosebumps from head to toe.
  • mswijiknyc
    mswijiknyc Member Posts: 421
    #7
    dearfoam said:

    hives vs rash
    i really can't say i know the difference. it pops up like tiny, tiny goosebumps from head to toe.

    Difference
    Hives are (for me at least) look like huge mosquito bites that pop up in minutes, usually in all the unmentionable places. Yay me :) could be eczema too. My hives don't show up much for now, but if they pop up again off to the docs I go!
  • mswijiknyc
    mswijiknyc Member Posts: 421
    #8
    dearfoam said:

    hives vs rash
    i really can't say i know the difference. it pops up like tiny, tiny goosebumps from head to toe.

    Difference
    Hives are (for me at least) look like huge mosquito bites that pop up in minutes, usually in all the unmentionable places. Yay me :) could be eczema too. My hives don't show up much for now, but if they pop up again off to the docs I go!
  • ketziah35
    ketziah35 Member Posts: 1,145
    #9
    dearfoam said:

    never been dx with ecxema, but maybe?
    i am taking some zyrtec to see how i do. had mild itchiness today. will probably go see my dermatologist soon since i can't realistically slather my whole body in cortisone cream! thins your skin, and i am in the sunny, sunny south. definitly don't want to risk the sunburns.

    Take a bath with the xtra
    Take a bath with the xtra moisturizing baby oil (grEen top). Pat dry and lather urself with some ultra healing lotion. Jergans.

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