The first time I got a rash creeping across my back, I was swamped with work deadlines. Then, initially, I thought of it as an allergic reaction to something I ate. But as the patches spread to my arm and other parts of the body, I had to go see a doctor where I understood that it wasn't just my skin, but it was my body signaling me that the level of stress I was enduring was not good for it.

Stress is not only psychological, but it also impacts your skin. For most, it can lead to physical manifestations, such as hives or rashes, for extended periods or acutely. These reactions are known as "stress rashes," resulting from your body's exaggerated response to emotional stress.

What Is a Stress Rash?

Stress rashes often look like hives, which are also referred to as urticaria. They can be in a variety of sizes and be anywhere on the body. These itchy, swollen welts may resemble mosquito bites or larger splotches. Appearance of hives can greatly differ depending on your skin color. On black or brown skin, it manifests in raised patches, often almost similar in color or slightly darker than natural color and hence not easily recognized initially.

On lighter skin, however, hives characteristically present as red or pink patches, which appear to be more obvious than their black counterparts. These variations reveal that knowledge about how the conditions appear in different skin types will enable one to receive correct diagnoses and proper care.

Hives tend to feel warm to the touch, sometimes even itching or tingling. At worst, multiple patches can fuse to cover large portions of the body.

How Stress Causes Rashes on Skin

The body activates the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis when it is stressed. This process releases stress hormones like cortisol and increases mast cells that produce histamine-a chemical causing itching and irritation symptomatic of hives.

This has been studied in a 2021 Dermatology Practical and Conceptual paper where it was shown how the release of histamine due to stress results in inflammation that could flare up or even start skin conditions. Not only can stress cause hives, but it can also exacerbate eczema-like other skin conditions.

Do Your Rash Symptoms Stem From Stress?

If you have been experiencing mysterious rashes during periods of extreme tension, you are not alone. A 2018 publication in Advances in Dermatology and Allergology found significant evidence of a relationship between chronic itchiness and stress. The research showed that under stress, your threshold for scratching may decrease, so even the mildest provocations become unbearable. Among the signs that your rash is caused by stress are its sudden appearance during emotionally taxing times.

- Temporary nature (lasting less than 6 weeks)

- Correlation with other stress symptoms like headaches or fatigue

Should You See a Doctor For Treating A Stress Rash

In most cases, stress rashes are not cause for alarm and can be managed at home. However, if your symptoms persist for longer than six weeks, it may signal chronic hives, which often require medical intervention. A dermatologist can evaluate your condition and recommend treatments like antihistamines or corticosteroids.

Seek medical attention right away if your rash is accompanied by swelling, difficulty breathing, or other signs of an allergic reaction.

Natural Remedies for Stress Rashes at Home

Most stress rashes heal with proper care. Some natural remedies to soothe the skin and alleviate symptoms are as follows:

Cool Compress: Apply a cold compress to the affected areas to reduce swelling and irritation.

Lukewarm Bath: Soak in oatmeal or a milk bath for soothing of the skin.

Fragrance-free lotions: The lotions should be fragrance free, colorless, and free from other allergens to avoid irritation.

Staying Hydrated: Drinking plenty of water helps keep the entire body healthy, including your skin.

Avoid Triggers: Limit alcohol, caffeine, and high humidity/heat exposure as these might trigger hives.

Wear Loose Clothes: Avoid tight or coarse fabrics that might irritate your rash.

Manage Stress for Long-Term Remedy

While managing the physical manifestations of a stress rash is important, it is the root cause—stress—that needs to be addressed for long-term relief. Introducing some stress management techniques into one's daily life can decrease flare-ups and improve the general well-being:

• Talking to a therapist or joining a support group can provide tools to better manage stress.
• Meditation, yoga, and deep breathing exercises are proven ways to lower your stress levels.
• Exercise releases endorphins which act as natural stress releasers. Choose exercise options that won't exacerbate your hives, such as swimming or gentle yoga. Do things you love. It might be baking, dancing, painting, or kickboxing.
• Eating nutritious meals and getting enough sleep are fundamental to maintaining your body’s resilience against stress.

Suicides are one of the leading causes of death around the world. While it is easy to say that the person who chose to take their lives did it of their own violation, Harvard psychologist Dr. Matthew Nock, explains the other side. “90% of people who try and kill themselves say, I didn't want to die per se. I wanted to escape from seemingly intolerable.” Speaking on the On Purpose podcast with Jay Shetty, Dr. Nock pointed out that the link between work pressure and suicidal thoughts varies by race and ethnicity.

The concerning rise in suicide cases tied to work pressure has fueled a social media conversation about toxic work culture. What was once considered a normal part of the professional grind is now being openly challenged, as people share personal stories of the anxiety, depression, and isolation caused by unhealthy work environments.

What Professions Are At High Risk Of Suicide?

According to Dr. Matthew Nock, certain careers are linked to a higher risk of suicide.

Police Officers

He noted that physicians and police officers are among those at high risk. He mentioned a spike in suicides among New York City police officers, who are predominantly white men, and shared that female police officers, in particular, face a higher risk, even when accounting for factors like age, race, and ethnicity.

According to a 2025 study published in the Police Practice and Research, on average, 21.4 out of every 100,000 officers died by suicide each year.

The study showed that the suicide rate was much higher for male officers (22.7 per 100,000) than for female officers (12.7 per 100,000).

Physicians

Dr. Nock explained that access to means is a significant factor in these high-risk professions, which helps explain why physicians, police officers, and military members have a much higher risk of suicide compared to others.

Another study published in 2024 The BMJ, showed that the number of suicides among doctors has been going down, female doctors are still at a much higher risk than other people.

When looking at all the data, male doctors were found to have a 5% higher risk of suicide compared to the general population.

In a more recent analysis of the last few years, the overall suicide rate for doctors has decreased, which is good news. But even with this improvement, female doctors still have a 24% higher risk than the general public.

Why We Need To Talk More About Suicide

Dr. Nock stresses the importance of openly discussing suicide, particularly in schools. He compared it to fire drills or earthquake preparedness, saying that since 15% of people will experience suicidal thoughts, it's crucial to equip everyone with a safety plan..Dr. Matthew Nock said, "We know that asking about suicide, talking about suicide, does not make people suicidal."

He noted that the people who act on suicidal thoughts often show different signs than those who just have the thoughts. While depression is a strong predictor of having suicidal thoughts, other factors like anxiety, aggressiveness, poor behavioral control, and drug or alcohol use are more closely linked to a person actually attempting suicide.

He believes that a small educational module on suicide in health class could help save lives by teaching people what to do if they or someone they know is struggling.

While we all know air pollution affects our health, did you know that it was actually driving cancer cases higher? This has led to a big rise in health problems worldwide. Past studies show that air pollution is linked to about seven million premature deaths each year and contributes to over 3% of all years of healthy life lost globally. This revelation was a big concern for public health, and to fix it, many measures were taken.

While some countries like the US showed promising results in bettering public health, a recent study in the International Journal of Public Health showed that this positive trend is not yet showed up in China.

How Is PM2 Pollution Affecting Our Health?

One of the most dangerous types of air pollution is called fine particulate matter, or PM2.5. These tiny particles come from car exhaust, factory smoke, and even from the smoke created by burning solid fuels inside homes. Because they are so incredibly small, they can stay suspended in the air for a long time and, when we breathe them in, they go deep into our lungs.

Once inside the body, PM2.5 can cause inflammation and even change our genes, which increases our risk for many illnesses, especially tracheal, bronchial, and lung (TBL) cancers. A new study looked at how much PM2.5 pollution has affected TBL cancer rates in China, Japan, South Korea, and the United States from 1990 to 2021.

Has Pollution-Related Health Risk Decreased Everywhere?

The study, which used data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) project, found some important trends:

Overall Cancer Rates Are Declining

The good news is that globally, the number of deaths and years of healthy life lost due to TBL cancer linked to PM2.5 pollution are going down. This positive trend was consistent in all the countries studied: China, Japan, South Korea, and the U.S.

China's Unique Challenge

Despite this global trend, China faced a much higher death rate from TBL cancer linked to PM2.5 compared to the other three countries. While their rates are decreasing, they still remain significantly higher than the worldwide average.

Household Pollution Hits Women Harder

The research also looked at pollution from burning solid fuels inside homes. The global death rate from TBL cancer linked to this type of pollution has remained stable, but it's actually increasing for women while it's decreasing for men. This highlights a specific danger for women in homes that rely on these fuels.

Will This Pollution Cancer Trend Keep Rising?

Looking ahead, researchers predict that the global death rate for TBL cancer caused by PM2.5 will actually increase over the next 29 years. However, the study notes that countries like China, South Korea, and the U.S. are expected to see a significant drop in their rates, while Japan's numbers are expected to stay about the same.

Overall, this study shows that while air pollution is a serious global health risk, the efforts to reduce PM2.5 exposure in many countries are making a real, positive difference.

Maintaining our gut health is not as easy as it seems. Even things like how you do your bowel movements could reveal how healthy your gut actually is. According to Dr. Saurabh Sethi, a board-certified gastroenterologist, many of us are making common mistakes on the toilet that can lead to real health problems. Here are three crucial habits to change to improve your gut health. Here are three mistakes' people make will they are in the washroom.

3 Bathroom Mistakes You Are Making

Stop Straining

Pushing or straining when you poop can cause serious issues like hemorrhoids, which are swollen veins in your rectum and anus, and anal fissures, which are small tears in the lining of your anus. In more severe cases, it can even lead to rectal prolapse, where part of the rectum slides out of the anus. Instead of forcing it, focus on taking deep breaths. This helps your abdominal muscles relax and allows your body to do its job naturally, reducing the risk of painful complications.

Put Down Your Phone

Scrolling on your phone while on the toilet can be a bad habit. Spending extra time on the toilet, even if you’re not straining, puts pressure on the delicate veins in your rectum. This can cause them to swell, significantly increasing your risk of hemorrhoids. To protect yourself, it’s best to keep your bathroom breaks short—ideally, under five minutes.

Don't Ignore the Urge

When you feel the need to poop, it's important not to hold it in, which makes it much more difficult to pass later, leading to and worsening constipation. When you feel the need to go, listen to your body. Holding it in causes your stool to get harder and drier, which makes constipation much worse and more painful later on. Train your gut to go when it says it's time.

Simple Ways To Improve Your Bowel Movements

Go at the Same Time Each Day

Try to create a routine. If you're often straining without success, try sitting on the toilet about 30-60 minutes after a meal, when your colon is naturally more active. A little stretching or a short walk beforehand can also help things get moving.

Use a Stool for Your Feet

The natural position for a bowel movement is squatting. You can mimic this position on a regular toilet by placing a small stool under your feet to raise your knees above your hips. This simple change helps your muscles relax and can make bowel movements easier and more complete.

Focus on Fiber and Fluids

Fiber is essential for creating soft stool that's easy to pass. Most adults should aim for 25 to 35 grams a day. Just remember to add it to your diet slowly. As you increase your fiber, be sure to drink more water and other non-caffeinated fluids, since caffeine can dehydrate you and make stool harder.

When to Seek Help

While these tips are a great starting point, sometimes you need more personalized help. You should talk to your doctor if you notice any of these signs:

• A recent, unexplained change in your bowel habits
• Blood in your stool
• Unexplained stomach pain
• A pelvic health physical therapist can also provide a full evaluation and create a personalized plan to improve your bowel health.