Skin Care Recommendations For Every Decade Of Life
Most bruises happen when you suffer an injury that fails to break the skin, but crushes the small blood vessels underneath. Blood then leaks and becomes trapped under the surface, leaving the telltale mark.
If you work out a lot, you might notice random bruising on your legs, primarily in fatty areas that are exposed, like your thighs or buttocks, said Dr. Abigail Waldman, a dermatologist at Brigham and Womens Hospital.
Here are other possible causes of easy bruising:
How Are Rashes Caused By Stress
Under stress, a chemical reaction on the skin is triggered, thus the skin tends to become sensitized. The nervous system senses the stress the body is undergoing and causes increased production of cortisol along with other hormones. These stimulate the sebaceous glands to release more oil, leading to rashes due to the irritation of the skin.
What To Do When Stress Gives You Hives
Most people associate hives the raised, puffy welts on your skin that spread when scratched with an allergic reaction, but there are a number of factors that can cause them. One of these factors is stress, and if you find yourself breaking out in hives without another likely cause, its possible that stress is to blame. We spoke to Mary Stevenson, an assistant professor of dermatology at NYU Langone, to learn more about what causes stress hives, and what to do and what not to do if you have them.
What do stress hives look like?Stress hives can look a little like bug bites: both are red, puffy, and itchy, and may appear initially as individual bumps, says Stevenson. However, hives are more often irregular in shape and can join together in larger patches, especially if you scratch them. A bad case of hives may appear as a single large patch of puffy, raised skin.
Why do I have hives?If youre noticing hives or a rashlike reaction, its wise to do a survey of your last few days to look for possible causes before deciding stress is to blame, says Stevenson. Maybe you changed your laundry detergent that week, or you ate all these new foods or started a new medication, she says. Unlike stress, many of these are factors that can be easily eliminated.
Read Also: How To Manage Stress In College
The Way Stress Shows On Faces
Chronic stress can show on your face in two ways. First, the hormones that your body releases when you feel stress can lead to physiological changes that negatively impact your skin. Second, feeling stressed may also lead to bad habits such as grinding your teeth or biting your lips.
Read on to learn more about the specific ways stress may show on your face.
You Could Have Blood Cancer
Easy bruising is a common symptom among people with blood cancer, per the UK charity Leukaemia Care. People develop these bruises due to a dearth of healthy blood cells in the bone marrow. They aren’t producing enough platelets needed for clotting. One telltale signs of cancer-related bruises: They tend to occur in unexpected places, like the back or hands. People often develop multiple, unexplained bruises at a time, and they can take longer to fade away.
RELATED: What Is Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia? Cancer Doctors Explain the Symptoms and Treatment Options
You May Like: How Do I Deal With Stress And Anxiety
What Causes Anxiety Disorders
We dont fully understand what causes anxiety disorders. But it is thought that the following factors can cause anxiety.
Genetics. Some people seem to be born more anxious than others. You may get anxiety through your genes.
Life experience. This could be bad experiences such as being abused or losing a loved one. It could also include big changes in life such as moving home, losing your job or pregnancy.
Drugs. Caffeine in coffee and alcohol can make you feel anxious. Illegal drugs, also known as street drugs can also have an effect.
Circumstances. Sometimes you know what is causing your anxiety. When the problem goes, so does your anxiety.
How Is Cushings Syndrome Treated
The type of treatment depends on the underlying cause of the high cortisol levels. If you use glucocorticoids, your healthcare provider will likely lower the dosage or prescribe a non-glucocorticoid medication. If a tumor is causing Cushings syndrome, it might need to be killed with radiation or removed surgically. Another option is for your healthcare provider to prescribe a medication such as ketoconazole that will slow down the production of cortisol. You may work with several healthcare providers to treat the tumor and Cushings syndrome symptoms.
If Cushings syndrome is properly treated, the disease may go away after two to 18 months. Be sure to stay in contact with your healthcare provider during that period.
Recommended Reading: Can Stress Cause Fast Heart Rate
Why Am I All The Sudden Bruising Easily
You may begin to bruise easily if you arent getting enough iron. Thats because your body needs iron to keep your blood cells healthy. If your blood cells arent healthy, your body wont be able to get the oxygen that it needs to function. This may make your skin more susceptible to bruising. Other symptoms of iron deficiency include:
What Are The Symptoms Of Cushings Syndrome
Cushings syndrome has some unique symptoms as well as some that could point towards a variety of other syndromes. Not everyone has the same symptoms. Possible symptoms include:
Rapid weight gain in the face , abdomen, the back of the neck and chest.
- A red, round face.
- Weak muscles and thinner arms and legs.
- Libido changes and erectile dysfunction.
- Stunted growth in children.
Read Also: Does Stress Make You Tired
You Cant Seem To Focus
If you find that you are having a hard time concentrating on everything from work to your favorite TV show, it may be related to your anxiety.
Some of the more-surprising psychological and cognitive symptoms of anxiety include poor concentration, lack of focus, and distractibility explained the experts at the University of California Santa Cruz Office of Counseling and Psychological Services.
Use The 3 Ps Approach To Daily Tasks
When youre suffering from long COVID, even the gentlest activity can seem exhausting. By making small changes to how you pace, plan, and prioritize your daily tasks, though, you can conserve energy and get more done during the day.
| Pace, Plan, and Prioritize |
| Pace yourself by breaking large tasks into smaller, more manageable ones and building in rests during and between activities. For example, spread household chores throughout the day, taking a break between each one. Sit down while youre in the shower, brushing your teeth, or doing the dishes. Read or work at the computer for short bursts, taking plenty of rest in between. |
| Plan ways to space out tasks or schedule them for the times of day when you feel more energetic. Go to the grocery store when its less crowded, for example. Cook enough food to freeze leftovers to eat when you dont feel up to cooking, or plan on wearing only clothes that dont need to be ironed. |
| Prioritize the tasks and activities that are really necessary and look for energy saving alternatives. Online shop to save you going to the store, for example, arrange for a friend to help you pay bills or do any heavy lifting, or put off yardwork until youre feeling stronger. |
Don’t Miss: How To Reverse Stress Related Hair Loss
Surgery For Severe Blushing
Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy is an operation to cure severe facial blushing. The operation is performed under general anaesthesia. Its a treatment of last resort when all other options have been exhausted. The cure rate for facial blushing is around 90%.Possible complications of this operation include:
- Risks of surgery including allergic reaction to the anaesthetic, haemorrhage and infection
- Droop to the eyelid caused by nerve damage
- Compensatory sweating, which means other areas of the body such as the legs and chest sweat heavily instead
- Chronically dry hands.
What Is Anxiety Disorder
Everyone experiences anxiety from time to time. This is normal. Anxiety becomes a disorder when it and its symptoms and feelings interfere with a normal lifestyle.
Anxiety disorder isnt a medical term and shouldnt be misinterpreted as a medical diagnosis or disease. Anxiety disorder is a label used to describe when anxiety becomes problematic.
You can take our free online anxiety disorder test to see if you have anxiety disorder, and if so, to what degree.
The anxiety disorder symptoms video below answers the questions, “What are anxiety symptoms?” “What causes anxiety symptoms?” And, “How to get rid of anxiety symptoms?”
Don’t Miss: What To Do When Feeling Overwhelmed And Stressed
How Can I Reduce My Risk Of Or Prevent Cushings Syndrome
You always need cortisol in your body. You need it to function. It manages your respiration, turns your food into energy, regulates your blood sugar, helps you cope with stress and more. Cortisol is not your bodys enemy, but too much of it can be. Have your healthcare provider monitor your cortisol levels closely if youre on glucocorticoids or steroids. Unfortunately, theres no way to prevent a tumor that causes Cushings syndrome.
Production Maturation And Survival Of Leukocytes
Common progenitor cells, referred to as stem cells, are located in the bone marrow and give rise to erythroblasts, myeloblasts and megakaryoblasts. Three quarters of the nucleated cells in the bone marrow are committed to the production of leukocytes. These stem cells proliferate and differentiate into granulocytes , monocytes and lymphocytes, which together comprise the absolute white blood cell count. Approximately 1.6 billion granulocytes per kg of body weight are produced each day, and 50 to 75 percent of these cells are neutrophils.2 An abnormal elevation in the neutrophil count occurs much more commonly than an increase in eosinophils or basophils.
The maturation of white blood cells in the bone marrow and their release into the circulation are influenced by colony-stimulating factors, interleukins, tumor necrosis factor and complement components.3 Approximately 90 percent of white blood cells remain in storage in the bone marrow, 2 to 3 percent are circulating and 7 to 8 percent are located in tissue compartments.
The cells within the bone marrow compartment are classified into two populations: those that are in the process of DNA synthesis and maturation and those that are in a storage phase awaiting release into the circulating pool. The storage of maturing cells allows for rapid response to the demand for increased white blood cells, with a two- to threefold increase in circulating leukocytes possible in just four to five hours.
Also Check: How To Deal With Anxiety Depression And Stress
Can Stress And Anxiety Cause Easy Bruising
Ask U.S. doctors your own question and get educational, text answers â it’s anonymous and free!
Ask U.S. doctors your own question and get educational, text answers â it’s anonymous and free!
HealthTap doctors are based in the U.S., board certified, and available by text or video.
Graying Hair And Hair Loss
Common wisdom says stress can make your hair go gray. However, its only recently that scientists have figured out why. Cells called melanocytes produce a pigment called melanin that gives your hair its color.
A 2020 study published in Nature found that sympathetic nervous activity from stress can cause the stem cells that create melanocytes to disappear. Once these cells disappear, new cells lose their color and turn gray.
Chronic stress can also disrupt your hairs growing cycle and lead to a condition called telogen effluvium. Telogen effluvium causes a larger than normal amount of hair to fall out.
Read Also: How To Cope With Emotional Stress
When To See A Medical Or Mental Health Professional
Anxiety disorders are easier to treat when caught early. See a medical or mental health professional if:
- You think you are worrying too much and its interfering with your normal lifestyle.
- You avoid situations and circumstances because of anxiety or fear.
- You have become afraid of the strong feelings of anxiety or fear.
- You believe anxiety and fear are uncontrollable.
- You are using alcohol or drugs to manage your anxiety or other mental health concerns.
- You think your anxiety is linked to a medical health problem or medication.
- You have suicidal thoughts. Seek immediate help.
- Your worries dont subside or get worse over time.
- Your anxiety is causing problems with sleep and rest.
- Anxiety is interfering with your work, family, or social interactions.
Why Do I Get Bruising When I Work Out
Excessive Physical Stress Can Cause Bruising. Working out excessively can cause a great deal of pressure and strain that results in burst blood vessels. When this happens, bruises may appear inexplicably. If you strain excessively while exercising, you can cause microscopic tears to form in your muscles.
Also Check: How To Help People With Stress
Other Ways Stress Affects Your Face
Other ways stress can affect your face include:
- Tooth damage. Many people adopt the habit of teeth grinding when they feel stressed or anxious. Over time, this can cause permanent damage to your teeth.
- Temporomandibular joint dysfunction . TMD is a group of health problems that affect the joint where your jaw connects to your skull. It can be caused by repeated clenching of your teeth.
- Face flushing. Stress can cause you to change your breathing habits. These breathing habits can cause your face to flush temporarily.
- Sore lips. Many people chew their lips or the inside of their mouths when they feel stressed.
Some causes of stress like a sudden death in the family or an unexpected job loss are unavoidable. However, finding ways to cope with stress and minimize avoidable stress can help you better manage it.
Some ways you can cope with stress include:
Causes Of Thin Skin And Easy Bruising
Easy Bruising of Thin Skin
- Causes of Thin Skin. With age, your skin becomes thinner and loses some of the protective fatty layer that helps cushion your blood vessels against injury.
- Thin Skin as a Result of Medications. Several medications can thin your skin.
- Preventive Measures. Hydration is key.
- Emu Oil.
- Natural Remedies.
Recommended Reading: How Can I Control Stress And Anxiety
Youre Losing Your Hair
Your levels of stress and anxiety may be playing a role in your hair loss. According to the Mayo Clinic, there are three main stress-related types of hair loss:
- Telogen effluvium. This is when significant stress pushes a larger than normal number of your hair follicles into a resting phase. Hair that is in this phase can fall out easily while shampooing or combing.
- Trichotillomania. This is an anxiety-related compulsive urge to pull the hair from your scalp, eyebrows or other areas of your body.
- Alopecia areata. This is when your immune system attacks the hair follicles causing hair loss. Stress is believed to contribute to alopecia areata.
You Have A Bleeding Disorder
Bruising in and of itself may not be a big deal. But when it’s accompanied by other symptoms, like nosebleeds, heavy periods, or excessive bleeding after surgery, then you might suspect something more than just accidental bruising. “It’s the company it keeps, the frequency that it occurs, even the severity by which it occurs,” Dr. Ragni explains.
The most common bleeding disorder, called von Willebrand disease, is a genetic condition caused by a missing or defective clotting protein, according to the National Hemophilia Foundation. It affects up to 1% of the population.
People with bleeding disorders require specialized treatment, beginning with a thorough evaluation by a hematologist.
Recommended Reading: How To Treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Naturally
How Anxiety Contributes To Bone Pain
Anxiety can make everyday life more challenging, causing symptoms like racing thoughts, difficulty concentrating, and constant worry. However, anxiety can cause physical symptoms as well, including pain. This guide will help you identify when bone pain might be a symptom of anxiety and when you should visit a sports injury clinic.
What Can I Do To Manage My Symptoms
You can learn to manage your symptoms by looking after yourself. Selfcare is how you take care of your diet, sleep, exercise, daily routine, relationships and how you are feeling.
Lifestyle
Making small lifestyle changes can improve your wellbeing and can help your recovery.
Routine helps many people with their mental wellbeing. It will help to give a structure to your day and may give you a sense of purpose. This could be a simple routine such as eating at the same time each day, going to bed at the same time each day and buying food once per week.
Breathing exercises
Breathing exercises can help to calm you when you are feeling anxious. Or having a panic attack. You will get the most benefit if you do them regularly, as part of your daily routine.
There is more information about breathing exercises in the further reading section at the bottom of this page.
Support groups
You could join a support group. A support group is where people come together to share information, experiences and give each other support.
You might be able to find a local group by searching online.
Rethink Mental Illness have support groups in some areas. You can find out what is available in your area if you follow this link:
Or you can call the Rethink Mental Illness Advice Service on 0300 5000 927 for more information.
Recovery College
You can find more information about Recovery by clicking here.
Read Also: How Can You De Stress Yourself
Anxiety Easy Bruising Fatigue And Jumpiness Or Easily Startled
- Medical Author: Nayana Ambardekar, MD
Reviewed on 6/15/2020
These symptoms can be associated with a variety of medical conditions, including generalized anxiety disorder and acute stress reaction. If you have started a new medication recently, these symptoms may also be a side effect of the medication. If you feel that the symptoms could be due to your medication or if these symptoms persist, see your doctor.
While the list below can be considered as a guide to educate yourself about these conditions, this is not a substitute for a diagnosis from a health care provider. There are many other medical conditions that also can be associated with your symptoms and signs. Here are a number of those from MedicineNet:
